092223 - San Diego Edition

USA

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 to foreignborn populations recorded in the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS),

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.

Scammers utilize more sophisticated methods of “phishing” via email, text

PH boosts WPS watch with new US aircraft

by Francisco Tuyay and Franco Jose c. Baroña ManilaTimes.net

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

Senate panel OKs absolute divorce bill

by cecille suerTe Felipe Philstar.com

MANILA — A Senate panel has approved a consolidated measure that provides for absolute divorce based on various grounds, including five years of separation whether continuous or broken, and commission of the crime of rape before or after marriage.

The Committee Report 124 – prepared and submitted by the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality – recommended the approval of Senate Bill 2443, which defined absolute divorce as the “legal termination of a marriage by a court in a legal proceeding.”

Once divorce is granted, the status of both parties will be reverted to single for all legal intents and purposes, including the right to contract a subsequent marriage.

SB 2443 is a substitution of consolidated

Activists back with kin after baring abduction

by carMela reyes-esTrope Frances ManGosinG Krixia suBinGsuBinG Inquirer.net

MANILA — The two environmental activists who went missing on Sept. 2 and were later reported to be in government custody after leaving the “leftist movement” were finally reunited with their families on Tuesday afternoon, September 19.

From Bulacan province where they were in the custody of the 70th Infantry Battalion (IB), Jonila Castro and Jhed Tamano were brought to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) office in Manila to ensure that they would be on “neutral ground” upon

THE SCRIPT.

Senate Bills 147, 213, 237, 554, 555, 1198 and 2047 on the Dissolution of Marriage Act sponsored by committee chair Sen. Risa Hontiveros.

“The state should ensure that the court proceedings for the grant of absolute divorce will be expeditious, inexpensive and affordable, particularly for indigent litigants,” the measure read.

In February, the House of Representatives expressed openness to a bill that may finally pave the way for divorce, after it approved in principle a measure providing for the dissolution of marriage.

“The Philippines will soon join the rest of the world in the legalization of absolute divorce after the House committee on population and family relations approved in principle several bills on divorce and dissolution of marriage,” divorce advocate

u PAGE 2

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

cannot determine by these particular images that 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

Maharlika Investment Fund challenge goes to Philippine Supreme Court

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 nine-member Board of Directors.”

Named respondents in the petition were Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Finance u PAGE 4

US alarmed by coral destruction in West Philippine Sea

by Michael punonGBayan pia lee-BraGo Philstar.com

MANILA — The United States – through its top diplomat in the Philippines –has expressed alarm over the destruction of corals in the Rozul Shoal near Palawan, widely believed to have been perpetrated by the Chinese.

“Troubling @CoastGuardPH and @TeamWESCOM reports on coral destruction around Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal. Habitat damage harms ecosystems and negatively affects lives and livelihoods,”

U.S. Ambassador Carlson said on Wednesday, Sept. 20 in a post on social media platform

X. “We are working with our #FriendsPartnersAllies to protect Philippines natural resources,” she said.

On Saturday, September 16, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Command reported the plunder of corals in Rozul Reef, with the Chinese suspected to be behind it.

On Monday, September 18, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) issued a statement expressing serious concern over the destruction

u PAGE 3

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

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

PRESIDENTIAL ADVICE. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. urged the members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on

shun corruption and abuse so they could earn the people’s trust, as he emphasized the

CHUCKING

Environmental activists Jonila Castro and Jhed Tamano accuse the military of kidnapping them, in a press conference by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac). Screen capture of the press conference of the NTF-Elcac

Senate panel OKs absolute...

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said.

A report by news agency AFP showed that the Philippines is the only state outside Vatican

PH boosts WPS watch with new US...

that outlaws divorce, with the Catholic Church opposing the practice as it is against its teachings. Those who favor divorce say

the ban makes it difficult for concerned individuals to escape violent or abusive spouses, or even for couples to amicably cut ties. n

Advocates urge UN action on ‘alarming’...

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

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. (by Gaea Katreena Cabico/Philstar.com) n

Undocumented Filipinos in US now...

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 is a 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) n

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 US-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.

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 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.

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

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 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

A protester raises a placard during a demonstration in observance of the International Human Rights day in Manila last December 10, 2022. Philstar.com photo

PAGE 1

of the corals, but without mentioning China.

“We are seriously concerned about reports of the destruction of corals in Rozul Reef, a maritime feature located in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone,” the DFA said.

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

“We, therefore, call on everyone concerned to act responsibly and cease all activities that can damage our precious marine environment. The well-being of millions of people who depend on the South China Sea for their livelihood is at stake,” the DFA said.

In Zamboanga, President Marcos said his administration is eyeing a fishing ban in some areas to address overfishing and to secure the country’s fish stocks.

A militant fishers group earlier reported a 70 percent drop in fish catch, citing Chinese harassment as well as the destruction of breeding grounds for fish as main reason.

“Sometimes, you should not catch all the fish so that there will be supply in the next season,” Marcos said in an interview with reporters.

“There are places that should not be regarded as fishing areas because they are for breeding... to increase the population of the fish,” he added.

Marcos cited the need to improve the fishery and the livestock sectors, noting that they are part of developing the country’s agriculture.

“Fisheries form part of our development plan...the catch of our fishermen has decreased because the areas where the fishes grow have been destroyed,” he said.

“After that, we will come up with an area for processing. That is our plan for fisheries,” he said.

Alarming news

On Sunday, September 17, Japanese Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa said the harvesting of corals in Rozul Reef is “alarming.”

“Very alarming news. Our oceans are the lifeblood of our planet & coral reefs are its colorful heartbeats. Let’s preserve & protect these vital ecosystems for generations to come,” Koshikawa said in a post, also on X.

“In the territorial waters & EEZ around

PAGE 2

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

Japan’s Ogasawara Islands, a large-scale poaching of precious corals by foreign vessels occurred 10 years ago, causing marine environmental & economic damages to Japan, leading to diplomatic issue and strict JCG (Japan Coast Guard) controls,” Koshikawa said, also on X.

According to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, multiple vessels believed to be Chinese coral vessels have been operating since September 2014 in the waters near the Ogasawara Islands.

On Tuesday, September 19, Philippine Coast Guard-West Philippine Sea (PCGWPS) spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said they have deployed two vessels around Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal to conduct patrol and make another underwater survey.

“As we speak right now, the Commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard Admiral Artemio Abu has deployed two Coast Guard vessels to conduct another maritime patrol in these two areas,” Tarriela said on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon program.

The vessels, he said, would also “follow up on the underwater survey, for us to have a clearer understanding of the extent of the damage.” He said the PCG has submitted reports regarding the coral destruction to the National Task Force on WPS, the Department of Justice and the DFA.

“So whatever legal and diplomatic actions that are needed, I know for a fact that these agencies would do well in performing their responsibilities,” he added.

He also explained that while they have no concrete proof of Chinese role in the plunder of corals, PCG monitoring showed Chinese ships had been around the area for months prior to the discovery of the coral destruction.

“Based on the Coast Guard’s monitoring of the Chinese maritime militia, this has been happening for months already. It was last April when we started, together with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, monitoring the swarming of the Chinese maritime militia in these areas,” he said.

New patrol aircraft

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro led on Tuesday the formal turnover to the Philippines of a Cessna-208B (C-208B) Grand Caravan EX Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft from the Chief of Joint US Military Assistance Group (JUSMAG)-Philippines Col. Edward Evans, yesterday.

“It will be used for all operations, all types

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

of operations,” Teodoro told reporters during turnover ceremonies at the Clark Air Base in Mabalacat City, Pampanga.

AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said the aircraft would definitely be used to patrol the West Philippine Sea.

“Yes definitely, this aircraft will boost our capability of patrolling our maritime seas and, as mentioned by the Commander of Western Command (WESCOM), Vice Admiral (Alberto) Carlos, our ability to protect our sovereign rights in our exclusive economic zone (EEZ) depends highly on the equipment that we have,” he stressed.

“So definitely this aircraft will help us, will boost our capability in making sure that we secure our territory and our sovereign rights,” Brawner said.

Philippine Air Force Commanding General Lt. Gen. Stephen Parreño called the new aircraft “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. Sinabi kanina ng ating (Secretary of National Defense) that it will be used for all types of missions depending on the need, and during humanitarian assistance and disaster response,” he added. Teodoro also said the Philippines is now “hearing a chorus of nations” supporting its stand on the maritime row with China.

“Because of the fact that we have international law and order, which includes freedom of navigation and an international airspace as justification for what we are doing, we hear a chorus of nations supporting us because we are in the right,” he stressed.

He said a review of the AFP modernization program is critical. “So this cannot be delayed and we are working day and night to try to establish our own systems and whatever capabilities that we can get from our treaty partners and other allies, we’re trying to converge this into interoperable systems, its critical, highly critical that we get it now,” he added.

“Another national security goal, which is of paramount importance now, is the ability to secure the territorial integrity of our country, to secure our sovereign rights and our jurisdiction,” he emphasized.

“National peace cannot be sustained if we cannot secure our sovereign rights in areas which rightfully belong to the Filipino people,” he said. — Alexis Romero, Evelyn Macairan n

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

As AI rapidly develops,

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 messagebased 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 support-related 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 AI-generated 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) n

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.

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. n

Activists back with kin...

their release. They were accompanied by Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas. After a closed-door meeting with CHR officials, both women had a tearful reunion with their respective families who had been scouring police stations for weeks to find them.

“While we did not know what would happen to us while we were under custody, we drew strength from the belief that there were people in the outside world waiting for us,” said the 21-year-old Castro. “Now, we need to focus on what our country needs. We need to continue the fight against reclamation activities for the sake of the fisherfolk of Manila Bay.”

‘Threatened’

In a press briefing organized in the morning of Tuesday by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac), she and Tamano confirmed they were kidnapped by the military on Sept. 2.

“We chose to speak up today because it’s important that the truth comes out. Were we abducted or did we voluntarily surrender? The truth is we were abducted by the military,” Castro said at the briefing held at the Plaridel municipal hall in Bulacan.

“We were forced to surrender because we were threatened. It’s not true that we wanted the military to take custody of us,” she added, debunking the government’s claim that both women had yielded to authorities for their own protection after deciding to leave the communist movement.

“The issue here is the blatant facism of the military that we want to uncover today. The truth here is the issue on the Manila Bay reclamation. Fishermen are losing their source of livelihood,” Castro said in a firm, defiant voice that broke at times.

Seated beside her was the 22-year-old Tamano who, according to environmental and rights groups, is a coordinator for the Community and Church Program for Manila Bay of the Ecumenical Bishops’ Forum. Castro, on the other hand, is a community organizer for Akap-Ka Manila Bay, which is opposed to reclamation activities.

Flanking the two women were NTF-Elcac Director Alexander Umpar on one side and Lt. Col. Rommel dela Cruz, commanding officer of the 70th IB, on the other. Both officials seemed surprised at the unexpected turn of events, with the latter glancing frequently at NTF-Elcac spokesperson Undersecretary Joel Egco, who served as the moderator at the event.

Tamano confirmed that she and Castro were kidnapped and did not surrender voluntarily to the military.

“We were walking on the road on Sept. 2 when a sport utility vehicle (SUV) stopped in front of us and we were forced to board it. That is the truth. We thought it was a syndicate,” she said.

At the time of their disappearance in Orion, Bataan province, both were preparing for relief operations in the province whose coastal towns are among the many areas threatened by reclamation projects in Manila Bay.

Military: They were rescued Dela Cruz, who as head of the 70th IB is in charge of military operations in Bulacan and Pampanga provinces, said that he and his men rescued Castro and Tamano after receiving a report that they were missing.

He insisted that both voluntarily surrendered to his unit and that Tamano had even admitted to carrying firearms and being involved in encounters between the military and communist rebels.

“They (Castro and Tamano) signed their affidavits with their lawyer [that they were voluntarily yielding to the government]. We were not even there when they signed their statements,” Dela Cruz said.

For his part, Umpar asserted that he was “standing by the report of our military.” “We are here to take good care of the welfare of activists who return to the fold of the law,” he said.

Tamano, however, denied that they were armed at the time they were kidnapped.

Before the press briefing was cut short by NTF-Elcac officials, Castro disclosed that she and Tamano had proof that they were abducted, adding that they lost their belongings while trying to resist the men who were forcing them into the SUV.

“We didn’t surrender. In fact, we lost our slippers. What we are wearing now are not ours,” she said.

“We were abducted. We were blindfolded. Our arms were tied. We and our families were threatened. We were interrogated. I denied what we have signed in that affidavit. They are the ones who made up the stories in that affidavit,” she added.

Outside the municipal hall, their supporters from the “Surface Jonila and Jhed Network” called on the military and the local government to immediately release them.

‘We felt betrayed’

The NTF-Elcac in a statement Tuesday said it stood by Dela Cruz’s account, noting that it was backed up by the activists’ respective affidavits narrating their whereabouts from the time they decided to leave the underground movement until their arrival at the 70th IB headquarters in Bulacan “with the help of a friend.”

“We are appalled as we are deeply saddened by the unfortunate turn of events during this morning’s press conference… We felt betrayed,” it said, adding that it was also standing by the report of Bataan policemen.

“Whatever caused their sudden change of heart is beyond us. Earlier engagements by task force officials with the two students regarding the veracity and truthfulness of their affidavits were convincing enough to merit their public appearance. We were hoodwinked,” the NTF-Elcac stated.

It said that if the two women’s intention was to humiliate the task force, “we shall remain unfazed and committed to fulfilling our mandate for the greater good of the people and of the country.”

In a press briefing on Friday, September 15, National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said that Castro and Tamano surrendered to the 70th IB on Sept. 12, then executed sworn affidavits in front of lawyers from the Public Attorney’s Office and CHR.

Malaya also threatened to file charges against groups that claimed the two were kidnapped by authorities.

This is not the first time, however, that activists who had been reported missing were presented by military officials or policemen.

On June 2, Patricia Cierva and Cedric Casaño suddenly reappeared alongside 18 other “confessed rebels” who surrendered to Cagayan Gov. Manuel

u PAGE 5

Maharlika Investment Fund challenge...

Secretary Benjamin Diokno, the Senate, and the House of 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 illtimed 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. n

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

Dateline PhiliPPines

Frasco to present Philippines’ sustainable tourism plans at UNWTO global forum

by roseTTe adel Philstar.com

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, September 22 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 Secretary-General 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 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. n

Lawmakers vow to pass Marcos’ priority bills

by alexis roMero Philstar.com

MANILA — 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 yesterday 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

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 to5 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 gettogether 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. n

Activists back with kin...

PAGE 4

Mamba. The mass surrender was facilitated by the local military unit and the Cagayan Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

At a press briefing, youth organizer Cierva and Casaño, the Kabataan Partylist coordinator in

Isabela province, belied reports they were taken by the military, contrary to rights group Karapatan’s claim that they were abducted by members of the 501st IB during a supposed encounter on May 18.

—With reports from Jane Bautista And Inquirer Research n

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

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

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

Babe’s Eye View

BaBe Romualdez

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.

Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio joined the complainants to revive the case. Along with Xi, 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. 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

for Gibo, whom they described as a decisive leader whose professional competence and wealth of experience can “help build upon our gains in the defense and security of our country.”

an artificial island housing a military outpost. Protecting marine biodiversity is a concern not just of the Philippines but of the world. The country can mobilize international support to stop massive environmental destruction in the South China Sea. (Philstar.com)

On The Move

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 S egundo e cla R R ome R o

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 orchestrated the confiscation of

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

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,

and congressmen.

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 hand-raisings 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

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

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.

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

* * * babeseyeview@gmail.com

Return of dark days but without martial law

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.

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 (Thursday, Manila time).

“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 areabased 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) n

PH is 13th in Asia-Pacific, 60th in world in talent ranking for 2023

by aric John sy cua

ManilaTimes.net

THE Philippines is the 13th Asia-Pacific (APAC) nation in the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) World Talent Ranking (WTR) for 2023, which was released on Thursday, Sept. 21. Globally, the Philippines ranked 60th out of 64 countries, dropping from 54th in 2022.

The country is also ranked 24th out of 27 countries with a population of over 20 million people.

The country also ranked 62nd in terms of investment

and development as in 2022. It placed 55th in appeal, and 51st in readiness, dropping from 35th and 43rd respectively in 2022.

Singapore (79.96), Hong Kong (74.35), and Australia (73.12) are the top 3 countries in the APAC region, according to the 2023 competitiveness rating. With the complete score of 100, Switzerland currently tops the chart, followed by Luxembourg (84.39), Iceland (84.33), Belgium (83.75), and the Netherlands (83.34) in the top 5.

According to the IMD, this year’s World Talent Ranking indicates that the Covid-19 pandemic played a

“determining role” in the talent competitiveness landscape, citing the adoption of remote and hybrid work around the world.

“On the one hand, the widespread adoption of remote and hybrid work has implications for how career progression is perceived: 27 percent of the more than 4,000 executives surveyed for the WTR assert that remote work, whether fulltime or part-time, is detrimental to career development in their company,” the IMD said in a press statement on Thursday.

“Notably, the economies in which remote work is

Lawmakers vow to pass Marcos’ priority...

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.

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.

HEART OF THE SHOE. Shoe lasts or molds known as “the heart of the shoe”, where the uppers and soles are attached to create the final shoe shape, are neatly lined up at a factory in SSS Village, Marikina City on Wednesday, Sept. 20. Marikina became the “Shoe Capital of the Philippines” in the 1950s, hosting about 3,000 manufacturers in the 1990s until foreign-made brands started flooding the market. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc

considered less harmful for career development are, on average, also those that excel in the attraction and retention of highly skilled professionals as well as in the levels of female participation in the job market.”

The IMD said this year’s WTR studied 64 economies, with Kuwait entering the list for the first time. They quantified 31 different criteria under investment and development, appeal (which includes cost of living and quality of life), and readiness (which included labor force growth), which involved hard data and survey responses from executives. n

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

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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.” n

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AT SCRIPPS RANCH HIGH SCHOOL

A mandatory site visit is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2023, in front of the main office of Scripps Ranch High School 10410 Falcon Way, San Diego, CA 92131. Contractors and subcontractors must preregister with the District prior to attending the site walk at sandiegounified.org/sitewalks. The Bid and Contract Documents may be downloaded free of charge at the District’s online Planroom at sandiegousdplans. com. All bids must be received electronically at or before 1:00 p.m. on OCTOBER 12, 2023

Firms interested in submitting a bid package must go to tinyurl.com/SDUSD-PlanetBids then search under “Bid Opportunities” for “Invitation number” CP24-0395-05-00-00 Lock Cylinders and Rekey at Scripps Ranch HS. For new vendors, please register under “New Vendor Registration.” The project estimate is between $190,000 and $230,000. This is not a PSA project and does not require prequalification. The District requires that Bidders possess any of the following classification(s) of California State Contractors License(s), valid and in good standing, at the time of bid opening and contract award: C-28 or other appropriate license, subject to District approval. SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, George A. Harris III, Director, Fiscal Controls and Information Systems, Facilities Planning and Construction CP24-0395-05-00-00

Other bills that Congress aims to pass by yearend are the waste-to-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

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 AntiAgricultural Smuggling Act; amendment of the cooperative code; new government procurement law; new government auditing code; antifinancial 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 singleuse 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. n

LEGAL SERVICES LEGAL SERVICES

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9017654

Speed Drafts located at 9415 Lavell Street, La Mesa, CA 91941.

Registrant: Nathan Lynd, 9415 Lavell Street, La Mesa, CA 91941.

This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED

LEGAL SERVICES

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9017867

LMC Industries located at 8117 Dorchester St, Spring Valley, CA 91977.

Registrant: Luis Miguel Gabriel Chavez, 8117 Dorchester St, Spring Valley, CA 91977. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 08/29/2023.

Signature: Luis Miguel Gabriel Chavez. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 08/29/2023. AJ 1241 09/01, 09/08, 09/15, 09/22/2023. AJSD 1241

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9016620

CriAgave located at 753 Duval St, San Diego, CA 92102.

Registrant: Peter Contreras, 753 Duval St, San Diego, CA 92102. This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 08/10/2023.

Signature: Peter Contreras. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 08/10/2023.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9017533

Nails For Less & Salon located at 1021 Highland Avenue, Suite B, National City, CA 91950.

Registrant: Yvonne Nguyen, 12662 Belle Fleur Way, San Diego, CA 92128. This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 01/01/2023.

Signature: Yvonne Nguyen. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 08/23/2023.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9017919

Grelaz Complete Auto Repair located at 107 Broadway, Chula Vista, CA 91910.

Registrant: Roger Lazarte, 411 S. Siena St, San Diego, CA 92114.

This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 04/01/2004.

Signature: Roger Lazarte. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 08/30/2023.

AJ 1251 09/08, 09/15, 09/22, and 09/29/2023 AJSD 1251

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9018561

Suarez’s Cleaning Services located at 215 Antoni Glenn #1102, Escondido, CA 92025.

Registrant: Jose Trinidad Suarez III, 215 Antoni Glen #1102, Escondido, CA 92025. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 09/08/2023.

Signature: Jose Trinidad

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9018361

Precious Sessions located at 5450 San Onofre Ter, San Diego, CA 92114.

Registrant: Carolina Serrano, 5450 San Onofre Ter, San Diego, CA 92114. This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 09/06/2023.

Signature: Carolina Serrano. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 09/06/2023. AJ 1252 09/08, 09/15, 09/22, and 09/29/2023 AJSD 1252

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9019114 SD Lash Ascension located at 1923 Morena Blvd, Ste B, San Diego, CA 92110.

Registrant: Caroline Nguyen, 6308 Rancho Mission Rd, #387, San Diego, CA 92108. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT HAS NOT

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9018400

Mayra’s Cleaning Services Pro located at 702 R Ave Apt#7, National City, CA 91950.

Registrant: Mayra Ramona Iriarte Villanueva, 702 R Ave Apt#7, National City, CA 91950. This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME.

Signature Mayra Ramona Iriarte Villanueva. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 09/06/2023.

AJ 1253 09/08, 09/15, 09/22, and 09/29/2023 AJSD 1253

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9018971

a. Resilient Pathways located at 10439 Prospect Ave Suite H, Santee, CA 92071.

b. Moonhowlers DBA

Howling Moon Coffee located at 10439 Prospect Ave Suite H, Santee, CA 92071. Registrant: Anna Reyes, 12019 Sabre Springs Parkway, Apt 363, San Diego, CA 92128. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 09/13/2023.

Signature: Anna Reyes. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 09/08/2023. AJ 1260 09/22, 09/29, 10/06, and 10/13/2023 AJSD 1260

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9017239

Fast and Fair Flooring located at 4120 Ocean View Blvd, San Diego, CA 92113.

Registrant: Felipe Herrera, 4120 Ocean View Blvd, San Diego, CA 92113. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 08/18/2023.

Signature: Felipe Herrera. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 08/18/2023.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9017405

a. Ivan Camacho El Caballero Del Exito located at 1490 Santa Diana Rd #9, Chula Vista, CA 91913.

b. Ivan Camacho located at 1490 Santa Diana Rd #9, Chula Vista, CA 91913.

Registrant: Jesus Ivan Camacho Davila, 1490 Santa Diana Rd #9, Chula Vista, CA 91913. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 06/19/2022.

Signature: Jesus Ivan Camacho Davila. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 08/22/2023.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9018359 21st Century Auto Detailing located at 1833 Corte Galeana, Chula Vista, CA 91914. Registrant: Jesus Andres Conde, 1833 Corte Galeana, Chula Vista, CA 91914. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 01/11/2018.

Signature: Jesus Andres Conde. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9017697

Five Star Licensing Services located at 4630 Border Village Ct #201-D, San Ysidro, CA 92173.

Registrant: Sandra Navarrete, 232 E Quintard St, Chula Vista, CA 91911. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 07/01/2017. Signature: Sandra Navarrete. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9018042

SJA Investigations located at 2211 Bancroft St, San Diego, CA 92104.

Registrant: Santiago Julian Alves, 2211 Bancroft St, San Diego, CA 92104. This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 08/30/2023.

Signature: Santiago Julian Alves. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 08/31/2023.

and

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9017996 Cash Star USA located at 610 Del Sol Drive #338, San Diego, CA 92108. Registrant: Heather Samantha Vargas, 610 Del Sol Drive #338, San Diego, CA 92108. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.

Signature: Heather Samantha Vargas. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 08/28/2023. AJ 1245 09/01, 09/08, 09/15, 09/22/2023. AJSD 1245

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9017264

Infinite Pathway located at 4921 Dafter Pl, San Diego, CA 92102.

Registrant: Benjamin Ian Jackman Hill, 3880 Rosecrans St, San Diego, CA 92110. This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 08/21/2023.

Signature: Benjamin Ian Jackman Hill. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 08/21/2023. AJ 1250 09/08, 09/15, 09/22, and 09/29/2023 AJSD 1250

From Loft to Limelight: Soho International Film Festival celebrates 14 years of honoring independent films

by MOMar G. Visaya / AJPress

In 2009, Jorge Ballos, founder and president of the Soho International Film Festival (SIFF), embarked on a cinematic journey that would evolve into a significant cultural event. Ballos, a former owner of a modeling agency, was deeply immersed in the world of filmmakers and actors. He recalls, “I was working with a lot of filmmakers, a lot of actors, and then one day I said, let me just start a film festival, which fortunately has become very successful.”

From its humble beginnings in a downtown loft, the festival’s inaugural year garnered around 300 applications, with 20 selected entries showcased over four days. The festival’s growth has been nothing short of remarkable. It transitioned from the Quad Cinemaplex at 34 West 13th Street to its current prestigious location at the Village East by Angelika on Second Avenue.

Now in its 14th year, the 2023 SIFFNYC opened on September 14 with an impressive lineup.

Ballos proudly announced, “We had like over a thousand submissions this year, you know, and the good thing is that we are also a non-profit since 2017.” This year’s festival featured a record-breaking 35 world premieres, along with 6 US premieres, 32 Northeast premieres, and 29 New York premieres.

Sibyl Reymundo-Santiago, SIFFNYC’s executive director and head of programming, expressed her excitement about the diverse range of submissions. “The full list of accepted entries includes submissions from more than 38 countries, ranging from feature and short films, documentaries to series pilots,” she remarked.

The esteemed panel of jurors for the festival included industry leaders and luminaries.

Marci Phillips, the head juror, leads the New York office for the East Coast talent pool for ABC Television Network and Disney+. The panel also featured accomplished professionals like Daryn Simons, Eleonore Dailly, Ernabel Demillo, Ivan Williams, James Tumminia, Jeffrey Jeturian, Susannah D’Arcy, and Cas Sigers Beedles. These distinguished jurors played a crucial role in selecting the festival’s award winners, which were announced at the awards gala on September 21.

Luis embraces joys of being a first-time father

By charMie Joy paGulonG Philstar.com

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 kating-kati 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.

One of the distinctive features of the SIFFNYC is its commitment to audience engagement. Festivalgoers had the opportunity to vote and determine the winners of the SOHO14 Audience Awards in various categories, including feature films, shorts/series, and exhibition films.

Over the years, the festival has attracted an impressive roster of attendees, including renowned figures such as Octavia Spencer, Pierce Brosnan, Bobby Cannavale, Armand Assante, Luis Guzman, Sean Young, Kevin Jonas, Adam Brody, Eric Roberts, Michael Imperioli, and Steve Schirripa. Their presence at the festival underscores its significance in the world of independent cinema.

Presented by the SOHO Film Forum, a 501(c)(3) organization, SIFFNYC not only celebrates cutting-edge digital technology but also pays homage to traditional storytelling forms. It serves as a platform that encourages both emerging and seasoned filmmakers from New York City and around the world to submit their innovative cinematic works.

Reflecting on the festival’s growth and the anticipation surrounding each edition, Santiago expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “We

are thrilled by the volume of submissions and the caliber of films for this year’s edition of the festival. There is so much anticipation as we eagerly prepare to unveil our talented filmmakers and their remarkable creations on screen!”

Reflecting on the festival’s beginnings, Santiago shares, “I had a chance to kind of hear about it and it was done in a beautiful loft in downtown Manhattan. In the second year, the founder Jorge Ballos asked me to get involved with the festival, and bring it to the next level. It was a perfect fit.”

One of the distinctive aspects of the Soho International Film Festival is its commitment to diversity. Santiago emphasizes, “First of all, it’s run by POCs. Jorge is the founder and the president and an AAPI woman is in charge of programming. That alone already puts us in a different place.” This inclusivity is not just in leadership but also in the selection of films. Santiago, herself a filmmaker, believes in a nuanced approach to storytelling. “We approach our films that we accept on a very different level because we all know what goes into making an important story.”

This year, the festival has partnered with Gigil, a Manilabased advertising agency, to further emphasize its dedication to mixing genres and showcasing diverse perspectives. Santiago explains, “Audiences will see where the films come from, and you try to have a very good mix, and it seems to come naturally. I feel like maybe just being a female programmer and also having a diverse background, born here and raised here, it’s automatic for me to just really see stories, diversity.”

The festival’s support for Filipino filmmakers holds a special place in Santiago’s heart.

“I always say it’d be great if we can find Filipino films that could compete internationally but I really do make the effort every year to find them so whenever I see a submission from a Filipino or a Fil-Am filmmaker from the Philippines, I look at them and I try to see how I can fit into programming.”

Addressing the challenges of running a film festival, Santiago likens it to producing a film.

“It’s production, except that I’m producing for 125 filmmakers at the same time.” Despite the hurdles, the collaborative nature of the festival is what makes it a rewarding endeavor. “It’s an

Luis Manzano on being a dad: ‘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.’ Photo from Instagram/@luckymanzano

Sibyl Santiago and founder Jorge Ballos (right) with Asian Persuasion’s Kevin Kreider AJPress photos by Momar G. Visaya

Sibyl Santiago, SIFF’s executive director and head of programming SIFF founder Jorge Ballos Photo courtesy of SIFF

Ballos and Santiago with Asian Persuasion stars KC Concepcion and Paolo Montalban

AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya

Ballos and Santiago with Robin Givens

Photo courtesy of SIFF

San Diego’s urban forest to benefit from $10M federal grant

US Forest Service grants announced nationwide

SAN DIEGO – The City of San Diego has been awarded $10 million from the federal government for planting trees in communities throughout the city, part of an ongoing effort to grow and improve San Diego’s urban forest.

The grant, announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, was among $1 billion in funding to be distributed to cities across the nation. The grants are intended to be used to plant and maintain trees, to aid in combating extreme heat and climate change. The Forest Service selected 385 grant proposals from all 50 states to fund projects working to increase equitable access to trees and nature.

“We are honored to be selected for this generous grant,” said City Transportation Director Bethany Bezak. “This was a highly competitive process, and we plan to use these funds to beautify the city and improve the quality of life for all San Diegans.”

This grant funding will be used for the city’s “Ready, Set, Grow San Diego” program, which seeks to address climate action goals and promote tree equity. The city plans to conduct extensive community outreach to engage residents in planning and participation in the project.

Grant-funded activities will include planting trees, and preserving trees through well expansions and removal of tree grates.

“We are thrilled to receive this funding which will improve San Diego’s urban forest in our city’s historically underserved communities with new trees and expansion in growing space around our existing trees,” said

Trees

Brian Widener, City Forester for the City of San Diego. “Trees provide shade, ecosystem services and a host of other benefits to make a greener and more livable San Diego!”

Thousands of trees will be planted, thanks to this federal funding, according to Widener.

Among the benefits provided by urban trees are cooler city streets, improved air quality, and overall public health. Studies show that communities with access to trees and green spaces are associated with improved health outcomes, reduced crime, lower average temperatures, and an influx of other kinds of investments and new economic

Classic holiday hit ‘Jingle

Bell Rock’ gets update

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

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

For the first time since its original release by legendary recording artist Bobby Helms over 60 years ago, it will be heard worldwide in different languages and also several English duet versions. Professional celebrity vocalists in each country have joined the musical mission to “Jingle Bell Rock the World.” Each artist adds their own musical style and lyric variations to fit their language’s translation of the famous tune.

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

The non-English languages and artists include French by Sonith, German by Katrin Lion, Spanish by Destiny Malibu, Portuguese by Danda Brasil, Hindi by She Shree, Croation by Nikita, Norwegian and Swedish by Ronnie Sun, Japanese by Manami, Tamil by Lekha Gopi Meunier aka Lexaholism, Sahoue-Gbe by Wes B, Croatian by Nikita, Slovak by LeRa, Farsi by Fanarak Shahroozi, and Armenian by sisters Blue Nectarine.

opportunities. “This is a great news for the city’s climate equity goals,” said Shelby Busó, Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of San Diego.

“Our Climate Action Plan aims to aggressively reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While we all know that trees are a valuable mitigation measure, they are also integral to achieving additional core benefits such as cleaner air and improved public health outcomes, especially in our Communities of Concern.”

For more information on the City’s urban forest, please visit the Trees program webpage at https://www.sandiego.gov/trees. (City of San Diego Release) n

Luis embraces joys of...

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 n

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

All versions of the songs are available for streaming and downloading on most major services and also on YouTube by searching Bobby Helms Duets Channel. The songs are produced by Hellmut Wolf, and distribution is by Wolf Entertainment. All song versions aare vailable for licensing for commercial use from Jingle Bell Rock

be made to:

inquiries

San Diego city council approves ongoing improvements to public utility services

Water rate increases cover rising cost of purchasing imported water and needed infrastructure improvements

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego City Council on Tuesday, September 19 approved water rate increases that are needed over the next two years to improve customer service technology, repair aging infrastructure and continue to provide safe, reliable water to residents. The increases also cover the rising cost of purchasing imported water for calendar years 2023 through 2025.

A cost-of-service study conducted last year found that if the city’s water rates remained unchanged, there wouldn’t be enough revenue to provide necessary water services for the next two years. The rate increase approved on Tuesday is also attributed to a rate hike from the San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA), the region’s water wholesaler, which buys and imports the water we need for the region.

“The city currently purchases 85% to 90% of all its drinking water, and we work diligently to find ways to keep costs down for our customers,” said Juan Guerreiro, Director of the City’s Public Utilities Department. “This necessary increase will allow us to continue our investments in replacing and rehabilitating our pipelines and maintain reliable water service for the residents of San Diego.”

Following the City Council’s approval on Tuesday, water rates will increase 5% overall beginning Dec. 1, 2023, then increase another 5.2% effective July 1, 2024, for a total one-year increase of 10.2%. Another increase of 8.7% overall will take effect the following year on Jan.

1, 2025.

The city must fund routine rehabilitation and replacement of aging infrastructure to ensure Public Utilities provides reliable service that complies with state and federal regulations. Because the Public Utilities Department is entirely reliant on ratepayer funds to operate the water system, the department gets no money from the city’s General Fund to carry out this critical function.

The city is also continuing its investment in Pure Water San Diego, a landmark waterrecycling program that will greatly reduce the need for the city to purchase imported water. Pure Water is planned to provide nearly half of San Diego’s water supply locally by the end of 2035.

Operations and project needs are analyzed annually, and the increase in 2025 may be lower than this figure. Historically, the city has implemented lower-than-projected increases because the operational needs do not reach the cost assumptions in the cost-of-service study due to process changes and/or efficiencies.

More information about the water rate adjustments is available at sandiego.gov/rateadjustments. Anyone who feels they need financial assistance in paying their water bill can apply for the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (https://www.sandiego.gov/ sites/default/files/maac_lihwap_flyer_color_fin. pdf).

(City of San Diego Release) n

Southeastern Live Well Center celebrates formal grand opening

ELECTED leaders, county officials and community members formally opened the Southeastern Live Well Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, September 20. The two-story, 65,000 squarefoot building and adjacent fourlevel parking structure anchors the corner of Market Street and Euclid Ave. The site covers

nearly five acres. The event celebrated the opening but also marked a new era. The center was built for the community but more importantly, by the community.

and workers helped build the project. And the area’s history and culture were incorporated into the center. The community was brought in at the beginning of the $79 million project. Residents could join one of four advisory committees, attend more than 30 community outreach events,

Residents had a say in the design, color, look, layout and the public art. They requested and received certain amenities. Local businesses u PAGE 11

are integral to meeting San Diego’s commitment to climate change, carbon sequestration, storm water runoff reduction, and water conservation. As part of its urban forest, trees are found on both public and private property and help make communities more sustainable and livable. File photo/www.sandiego.gov

An overhead view of the newly-opened Southeastern Live Well Center. Screengrab from

Music/John Kleiman©. All Licensing

should

The Ace Duran at ace@ dreamnomorestudios.com.

County breaks ground to build new courts, dog park at Waterfront Park

COUNTY Board Chairwoman Nora Vargas and Parks and Recreation officials gathered on Wednesday, August 30 to break ground on a sporty new look for the county’s popular Waterfront Park — the additions of a basketball court, pickleball courts, a dog park, exercise station, table tennis and more.

Mosquitoes test positive for West Nile Virus at Los Peñasquitos Lagoon

A BATCH of mosquitoes collected from the north end of Los Peñasquitos Lagoon adjacent to Del Mar and parts of San Diego recently tested positive for West Nile virus, prompting county environmental health officials to remind people to protect themselves from mosquitoes that can transmit the virus to people.

County officials said people should continue to follow the county’s “Prevent, Protect, Report” guidelines, including finding and dumping out standing water around homes to keep mosquitoes from breeding.

This marks the first sign of the disease in mosquitoes this year. However, there have been no locally contracted human West Nile virus cases reported.

If people who become infected suffer symptoms, they are typically mild, including headache, fever, nausea, fatigue, skin rash or swollen glands. But in rare cases, West Nile virus can make people extremely ill and even kill them. In 2015, 44 San Diego County residents tested positive for West Nile virus and six county residents died. West Nile virus is mainly a bird disease, but it can be transmitted to humans by local mosquitoes if they feed off an infected animal, mainly birds, and then bite people.

Protecting against mosquitoes is always important in San Diego County. Mosquitoes like to live and breed near people, in yards and even inside homes. Some invasive types can potentially transmit diseases not naturally found here including chikungunya, dengue and Zika — but only if they first bite an infected person. County officials reiterated

that people should help protect themselves from mosquitoes and potential illnesses by following the county’s “Prevent, Protect, Report” guidelines.

Prevent mosquito breeding

Dump out or remove any item inside or outside of homes that can hold water, such as plant saucers, rain gutters, buckets, garbage cans, toys, old tires, and wheelbarrows. Mosquito fish, available for free by contacting the Vector Control Program, may be used to control mosquito breeding in backyard water sources such as stagnant swimming pools, ponds, fountains and horse troughs.

Protect yourself from mosquito bites

Protect yourself from mosquito-borne illnesses by wearing long sleeves and pants or use insect repellent when outdoors. Use insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535. Make sure screens on windows and doors are in good condition and secured to keep insects out.

Report possible mosquito activity and dead birds

Report increased mosquito activity, or stagnant, green swimming pools and other mosquito-breeding sources, as well as dead birds — dead crows, ravens, jays, hawks and owls — to environmental health’s Vector Control Program by calling (858) 694-2888 or emailing vector@sdcounty. ca.gov. Go to San Diego County’s “Fight the Bite” website – SDFightTheBite. com – to learn how to prevent and protect from these mosquitoes.

(Shauni Lyles/County of San Diego Communications Office)

Southeastern Live Well...

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take tours of another Live Well center and keep up to date on project details through a website.

In the end, the center reflects the community’s wants and needs, and offers county health and social services for a wide range of people in the area.

The services include medical insurance coverage, food and nutrition assistance, family strengthening services, financial and employment assistance, public health, behavioral health, child support, restorative justice, services for older adults and people with disabilities, and military and veterans’ services.

Input from residents led to a wellness and meditation garden, a 4,000 square-foot conference center that can be used for community meeting space, an outdoor area for a coffee cart, dedicated workspace for community organizations, a shared elected official office for meetings with the community, a play area for children in the Family Resource Center waiting area and a walking path along Chollas Creek.

Residents asked for a community cultural display marking the site’s history. A display titled the Tubman Chavez Story is featured inside the building. And they wanted local art representing the area’s history and culture. Fifty pieces of artwork from 33 artists now grace the premises.

The building itself was built to LEED Gold standards which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Solar panels on the roof and parking structure will produce more energy than the building consumes over the course of a year making the facilities Zero Net Energy. EV chargers are available for both the public and county vehicles.

The Live Well Center is now the sixth community service hub in San Diego County. Others Live Well centers are in National City, Chula Vista, Escondido, Lemon Grove and Oceanside.

The Southeastern Live Well Center will hold a community open house next month. Residents are invited to attend from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14.

(Tracy DeFore/County of San Diego Communications Office) n

Vargas said she was very excited to be at the groundbreaking and that the county had engaged the community to add new recreational opportunities that they would use and enjoy. She said she was personally excited about the addition of the dog-park and talked about the importance of parks to society overall.

“I think that so many folks are on social media every day and people are looking at their phones…” Vargas said. “We need to talk to people more. We need to build more community. Because that’s the way we get to know each other and get to really work together. And I think that’s why parks are so important.”

Construction on the $3 million additions have already begun and the plan is to have the new amenities open for the public sometime in the spring of 2024.

The new facilities are being built on a lesser-used portion of the park. They will give big kids and adults the opportunity to join in the healthy fun that the Waterfront Park already offers families and younger children.

In addition to the basketball and pickleball courts and table-tennis area, the new features will include an off-leash dog zone with agility equipment, a five-feature outdoor exercise station, lighting and shaded seating.

At the same time, County Parks and Recreation Director Brian Albright said, the south portion of the park would continue to feature its existing garden, and three Torrey Pines trees there would be moved to the garden portion.

Vargas and Albright said the new amenities would continue to support the county’s goal of emphasizing equity. The new equipment and features would be free to all, including people who may not be able to afford gym memberships or local sports programs.

The county opened the $50 million Waterfront Park in 2014. The project transformed a longtime parking lot and a few old buildings into 12 acres of beautiful, tree-filled civic green space and recreational facilities that created an immensely popular attraction for local residents and tourists alike. The park features a spectacular 830-foot-

long water fountain where families and children play. The fountain runs the length of the park and includes 31 jets that shoot water arcs 10-feet-high into the air. The park’s southeast side also features lots of recreational equipment for families and youngsters, including slides, swings, a huge rope climbing ball, interactive art, picnic tables and more.

For more information about the county’s park system, go to the Department of Parks and Recreation’s website at https://www. sdparks.org.

(Gig Conaughton/County of San Diego Communications Office) n

Brian Albright, Director for the County Parks and Recreation Program, talks about the coming additions to Waterfront Park.

Screen capture from YouTube video