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SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 5, 2023

Volume 16 - No.49 • 16 Pages

Marcos unveils PH path to progress

by Jean Mangaluz

Tagalog most spoken language in 15 US cities besides English and Spanish – study

TAGALOG is the most spoken language besides English and Spanish in households across 15 different U.S. cities, according to a new study.

The wider study found what languages are most popular in each U.S. state and revealed Tagalog to be the most used language in Nevada (besides English and Spanish).

The Word Finder X study found that Tagalog is the most spoken language

Marcos presented the plan in a launching ceremony in the Metropolitan Theater in Manila, together with Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, United States Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, and Economic Development Chief Arsenio Balisacan.

“Encapsulated within the NIASD is the blueprint that will accelerate the country’s

innovation governance as well as promote a culture of innovation among scientists, researchers, entrepreneurs, engineers, and of course, citizens,” said Marcos in his speech.

According to the president, the document represents a commitment to integrate

House OKs proposed P5.768 trillion 2024 budget on final reading u PAGE 2

Divorce bill an uphill battle – Tulfo

MANILA — While a Senate panel has approved a consolidated measure that provides for absolute divorce based on various grounds, Sen. Raffy Tulfo has expressed belief that the proposal is facing an “uphill battle” in the upper chamber.

Tulfo, one of the senators who signed the committee report recommending the passage of the divorce bill, said religion is a big factor why other members of the Senate would not support the legal dissolution of marriage.

Marcos, Duterte trust, performance ratings dip

by red Mendoza ManilaTimes.net

THE performance and trust ratings of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte dipped in the second quarter, independent pollster OCTA Research said on Tuesday, September 26.

Its second quarter Tugon ng Masa Survey conducted from July 22-26, 2023,

showed Marcos’ trust ratings at 75 percent, 8 percent lower than the 83 percent trust rating in the first quarter.

Only 8 percent of Filipinos distrust him, while 17 percent of adult Filipinos are undecided.

The president’s trust rating is highest in the National Capital Region at 81 percent and among socioeconomic class D and E at 76 percent.

by gabriel Pabico lalu Inquirer.net

MANILA — The proposed P5.768 trillion 2024 budget was approved by the House of Representatives on third and final reading late Wednesday night, September 27, just before session was adjourned.

House Bill No. 8980, which contains the General Appropriations Bill (GAB), was approved with 296 lawmakers in the affirmative, 3 in the negative, and zero abstentions.

The House was able to pass the GAB on the same day that the bill was approved on second reading thanks to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s certification of the proposed measure as urgent.

With the approval, the House can transmit the GAB to the Senate on time, allowing senators to study the proposed budget for a longer time.

PH, US, Japan boost security cooperation

by Javier Joe isMael, Franco Jose baroña ManilaTimes.net

THE Philippines, the United States and Japan will craft a “work plan” that would advance their trilateral cooperation, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Saturday, September 23 as the three states explore ways to further promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

the second trilateral ministerial meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 23.

Manalo, Blinken and former Japanese foreign minister Hayashi Yoshimasa convened the first Philippine-U.S.-Japan ministerial meeting in Jakarta in July.

DFA spokesman Ma. Teresita Daza said the ministers “will come up with a work plan” after discussing possible u PAGE 2

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, U.S. State Secretary Antony Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko convened

MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday, September 27, led the launch of the National Innovation Agenda and Strategy Document (NIASD).

LANTERN MAKING SKILLS. Traditional Christmas lantern maker Leoning de Guzman Toledo, 70, makes it look easy at her workshop in Kamuning, Quezon City, on Monday, September 25. She said she has been making lanterns for over two decades now, a skill that financed the education of her three children who became a pharmacist, an engineer and a businessman.

PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

Inquirer.net

Sen. Raffy Tulfo on February 14, 2023. Senate photo

Divorce bill an uphill battle...

“I think religion is one big factor. We are all religious. Because of religion, we don’t have divorce as their pastors would lobby not to support it. They cannot go against the church,” he told “The Chiefs” on OneNewsPh last Saturday night, September 23.

He added that he could not say who among the remaining 23 senators would support the divorce bill. Committee Report No. 124, which recommended the passage of the measure, was signed by Tulfo, its author Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III, Senate President Pro-Tempore

Loren Legarda and Senators Pia Cayetano, Imee Marcos, Robinhood Padilla and Grace Poe.

Although they signed the committee report, Poe and Cayetano indicated their intentions to interpellate and introduce amendments to the proposed measure.

Tulfo, who has a television show, said he is in favor of the proposed divorce bill after he received and continues to receive complaints about husbands maltreating and abusing their wives.

“I’m in favor of divorce due to the number of complaints of husbands beating their wives. The wives wanted to file annulment, but it’s an expensive and long process.

It’s difficult for a woman to

move on. She can’t live with another man as she might be sued,” he added.

For the senator, a marriage can be dissolved only with strong reasons like the wife being abused by the husband who is a drunkard, womanizer, addict and the like.

Last week, the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality approved a consolidated measure that provides for absolute divorce based on various grounds, including five years of separation, whether continuous or broken, and the commission of the crime of rape before or after marriage. (by Cecille Suerte Felipe/Philstar.com) n

Marcos, Duterte trust...

The Visayas gave the lowest trust rating of 63 percent, which is also his lowest rating among the class ABC socioeconomic group.

The president’s performance rating was 71 percent, a 9 percent drop from his 80 percent rating last March 2023.

Only 10 percent were dissatisfied with the president’s performance, while 19 percent of adult Filipinos were unsure about his performance.

His satisfaction ratings were high among Class D at 71 percent and Class E at 72 percent, while his lowest among socioeconomic classes is at Class ABC at 62 percent.

Meanwhile, Duterte’s rating, though high at 83 percent, was also lower than the 87 percent she got in

the previous quarter. Only 2 percent of the respondents distrust her, and 14 percent were ambivalent.

Her trust rating in Mindanao was highest — 97 percent, while her trust rating in Luzon was the lowest at 75 percent.

Among socioeconomic classes, Class E had the highest trust rating for the vice president at 92 percent, while Class ABC had the lowest at 78 percent.

Duterte’s performance rating also remained high, with 82 percent of Filipino adults happy about her performance, slightly lower than the 84 percent recorded in the March survey.

Her performance rating was highest in Mindanao at 96 percent, while her lowest satisfaction ratings came from the NCR at 73 percent and Balanced Luzon at 74 percent.

Marcos unveils PH path to progress...

innovation into the national agenda.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez garnered trust ratings of 56 percent and 54 percent, respectively, in the same survey.

Zubiri’s ratings increased by 6 percentage points, while Romualdez dipped by 1 percentage point.

On the other hand, Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo’s trust rating is at 27 percent, a decrease of 12 percentage points from the 39 percent reported in March 2023.

Among congressional leaders, Zubiri got a 57 percent performance rating, while Romualdez received a 55 percent.

The survey had 1,200 respondents. It had a nationwide margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent and plus or minus 6 percent across major areas. n

“This comprehensive document provides the country’s vision and long-term goals for innovation, serving as a roadmap and strategy guide to improve innovation governance, deepen and accelerate innovation efforts, and foster the integration of public-private partnerships in advancing innovation,” said the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) in a statement.

The document aligns with Republic Act 11293 or the Philippine Innovation Act. The NIASD was approved by Marcos on June 30, 2023.

According to Neda, the NIASD has plans from 2023 to 2032.

With the theme of “Reshaping the Future, Advancing Filipinnovation,” the event has over 700 guests, including Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, Neda Chief Arsenio Balisacan, and more. n

House OKs proposed P5.768 trillion...

Currently, it is still unclear what amendments would be made to the GAB, as no committee amendments were raised.

House committee on appropriations chairman and Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co, however, said that they are looking to realign confidential funds in the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education towards defenseoriented agencies.

Before the bill was approved, Deputy Majority Leader and Pangasinan 6th District Rep. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas moved to assign a small committee to thresh out the different individual amendments by different lawmakers.

I move to create a small committee to receive and resolve all individual amendments to House Bill No. 8980,” Primicias-Agabas said.

• Appropriations senior vice chair and Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo

• Majority Leader and Zamboanga City 2nd District Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe

“Consistent with our parliamentary precedent, besides English and Spanish in the following cities:

The small committee will be composed of:

• Rep. Elizaldy Co

• Minority Leader and 4Ps party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan. n

Tagalog most spoken language in 15...

Nevada

•Reno, Nevada

•Gilbert, Arizona

•Corpus Christi, Texas

•Jacksonville, Florida

•Chesapeake, Virginia

•Norfolk, Virginia

•Virginia Beach, Virginia.

The wider study found what languages are most popular in each U.S. state and revealed Tagalog to be the most used language in Nevada (besides English and Spanish). (Inquirer. net) n

YOUNG WEAVER. Leianzy Mamites, a member of the Bagobo-Tagabawa tribe, wows visitors with her weaving prowess during the FiestaKucha Kadayawan 2023 at the Philippine Women’s College in Davao City on Tuesday, September 26. The group of Mamites, a beneficiary of the Department of Trade and Industry’s livelihood assistance, was invited to showcase its products.

PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.

The opening of the Second Regular Session of the 19th Congress at the House of Representatives, Quezon City, Monday, July 24, 2023.

Inquirer Photo / Nino Jesus Orbeta

PH, US, Japan boost security...

activities under the trilateral cooperation.

The U.S. State Department said the officials also agreed to “continue to call out behavior that is inconsistent with international law,” including China’s recent actions near Ayungin Shoal that interfered with the Philippines’ lawful exercise of high seas freedom of navigation.”

On the security cooperation, the ministers sought ways to enhance their countries’ partnership on maritime domain awareness, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts.

“They committed to uphold our shared values of freedom, democracy and respect for human rights, and reaffirmed our shared vision, as equal and sovereign partners, for a free and open Indo-Pacific region that upholds international law,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.

The three officials also discussed ways to support economic resiliency and enhance engagements on energy, infrastructure and digital economy issues.

In his remarks, Blinken said the U.S. looks forward to strengthening the partnership “to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, and also to foster, to strengthen economic resilience and to promote the common prosperity of our people.”

“I think all three countries believe strongly that our collaboration, not only on a bilateral basis but on a trilateral basis, can produce very positive benefits not only for our countries but also for other countries and partners in the region and beyond,” he said.

Kamikawa, meanwhile, underscored the importance of “multilayered collaboration with allies and like-minded countries” for upholding a rules-based order, especially with what Japan labeled as “recent severe strategic environment” in the region, including the situation in the South China Sea.

The meeting builds on the September 6 trilateral talks among President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio in Jakarta, Indonesia, where they discussed the maritime security environment in the South China Sea and reviewed ways in which their three countries could enhance trilateral maritime cooperation, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts.

The trilateral meeting comes as China continues its aggression in the disputed waters amid a report that two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels have been shadowed by a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship while patrolling Escoda (Sabina) Shoal and Rozul (Iroquois) Reef, features in the West Philippine Sea that are part of the country’s exclusive economic zone, from September 1 to 21.

Ray Powell, SeaLight director, said on Saturday that the BRP Cabra and BRP Sindangan arrived at Escoda Shoal in the early morning of September 19.

Powell said the two vessels “appeared to examine its northeast approaches before entering the shoal’s interior from the southeast and remaining there

overnight.”

On the other hand, CCG 4301 left its patrol near Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal and arrived at midday of the same day to observe the PCG vessels from the west.

Powell, who is also the project lead for Project Myoushu at Stanford University’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, said later that evening, the CCG ship briefly went back to China’s naval base located at the artificial island near Mischief Reef before returning to Sabina Shoal.

The following day, September 20, he said 10 Chinese maritime militia ships were deployed from Mischief Reef “apparently concerned” that the PCG ships would attempt to approach its outpost aboard the grounded BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal.

He said the maritime militia ships took up blocking positions east of Ayungin, joining two others that were already there.

However, the two PCG ships moved north from Escoda Shoal to inspect Rozul Reef while CCG 4301 “ranged 120 kilometers (km) to the east for reasons that are not clear, finally turning back to the northwest toward Rozul Reef at 4 a.m. on September 21.

“CCG 4201 arrived at Rozul Reef 1600 on September 21, just as the two PCG ships started for home,” said Powell, a 2021 fellow at Stanford’s Distinguished Careers Institute.

He said the CCG ship “shadowed” the PCG vessels for 120 km and did not turn back until they were about 30 km southwest of Escoda Shoal.

Powell said the CCG ship was mostly “dark” or was not broadcasting its automatic information system (AIS) during that period.

He said CCG ships frequently resort to dark operations when they do not want to be detected.

AIS is a signaling system used to identify a vessel’s type, position, course, speed and other navigation safety information, and is required by the International Maritime Organization for larger nonmilitary ships operating in international waters.

‘Hypocritical’

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. described as “hypocritical” the recent statement issued by China that the grounded BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal is actually causing “irrevocable harm” to the marine environment.

“Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. China continues to damage the [West Philippine Sea] by its illegal reclamation activities in the [South China Sea], and it was found to be a violator of international law in the 2016 Arbitral Award when such activities damaged the marine environment,” Teodoro said in a statement issued on Saturday.

“Disingenuous propaganda lines such as this only serve to expose China’s insincerity and will only heighten the mistrust by the Filipino people and the rest of the world of the Chinese Government,” he added.

The Philippine government has announced that it will pursue the filing

of environmental cases against China for its numerous destructive activities in the West Philippine Sea for many years.

The announcement came just days after the PCG confirmed the report recently released by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Command about the severe damage inflicted upon the marine environment and coral reef in the seabed of Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal.

These were the same areas where approximately 33 Chinese maritime vessels were monitored to be “swarming” from August 9 to September 11.

China, however, denied “harvesting” and damaging the corals off Rozul Reef and said that the Philippines was “creating a political drama from fiction.”

“If the Philippines truly cares about the ecological environment of the South China Sea, it should tow away the illegally ‘grounded’ warship at Ren’ai Jiao (Ayungin Shoal) as soon as possible, stop it from discharging polluted water into the ocean and not let the rusting warship bring irrevocable harm to the ocean,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said on Thursday, September 21, referring to Ayungin Shoal by its name assigned by Beijing.

‘No factual basis’

Herman Tiu Laurel, Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute president, said the allegation made by the PCG and the AFP that China was somehow responsible for the destruction of the corals in the Rozul Reef is without “solid, factual basis.”

He pointed out that coral destruction in the South China Sea has been a “half-century-old problem” caused by destructive dynamite and cyanide fishing.

Such illegal fishing practices were due to the government’s neglect of the Filipino fishermen’s economic plight, failure of the policing by the PCG and in recent decades due to the warming of the oceans and rising acidity of the sea, said Laurel.

He cited a survey of Philippine coral reefs conducted from 2015 to 2017 and published in the Philippine Journal of Science that showed there are no longer any reefs in excellent condition and 90 percent were classified as either poor or fair.

Laurel further cited a 2017 report by the United Nations wherein it was predicted that all 29 World Heritage coral reefs, including one in the Philippines, will die by 2100 unless carbon emissions are drastically reduced.

He said another contributing factor to the destruction of corals is the unhampered dynamite and cyanide fishing.

“Blast fishing and dynamite fishing are practices of many subsistence Filipino fishermen desperate for sizable catches to sustain family incomes severely depleted by decades of increasing poverty, poverty that the Philippine government has not been able to alleviate,” Laurel said during a forum on Saturday.

“Nor has the PCG been able to stop the practice of illegal and deleterious fishing practices,” he added. (With reports from the Philippine News Agency) n

What payment methods are telltale signs of scams?

PAYMENT methods that scammers insist you use like gift cards, cryptocurrency and wire transfer are telltale signs of scams, the Federal Trade Commission reported at a Sept. 22 Ethnic Media Services news briefing.

For the first six months of 2023, $4.4 billion dollars were lost across over 1.1 million reports of consumer fraud, per the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network — “and we know from our working experience, and from surveys, this is only the true tip of the iceberg,” said Lois Greisman, Associate Director of the FTC Division of Marketing Practices.

Forms of contact, payment

The primary point of contact that scammers use to reach people is social media, by which $658 million was reported lost in the first half of 2023. Phone calls have the highest per person reported losses, with a median loss of $1,400 per person.

“Just as scammers like certain forms of contact, like the telephone, which are most effective at getting someone to part with their money,” said Greisman, “they like certain types of payment because they can take the money with very little trail, while for the consumer it’s virtually impossible to get this money back.”

By far the greatest losses by payment method owe to bank transfers, for which $901 million was reported lost in the first six months of 2023 alone.

An example of this scam: “I get a call. I am told my grandson has been in a car accident, can’t find an insurance card, and needs surgery right away. The only way he can get it is if I go to my bank and I ask them to transfer $7,895 to an account in Canada,” Greisman said.

Other common payment methods include wire transfers, by which $164 million was lost in the first half of 2023; credit cards, by which $123 million was lost; gift cards, by which $109 million was lost; debit cards, amounting to $106 million; and payment apps like Zelle and Venmo, and Cash App, amounting to $102 million.

Much of these losses owe to imposter, lottery, investment, and business fraud — for example, “You get a phone call from the IRS that you owe back taxes, or from the sheriff’s office that there’s a warrant out for your arrest, or you’ve won the lottery and all you have to do is pay a processing fee” by sending or reading aloud the numbers of “a gift card for $100, or a few hundred,” Greisman said.

In the case of larger payments in the thousands and tens of thousands through cryptocurrency and wire transfers, “there may be an ‘expert’ online who wants to teach you how to get rich quick trading cryptocurrency, or becoming an entrepreneur by selling on eBay,” she added.

Sophia Siddiqui, an attorney for the FTC Division of Marketing Practices, said that due to low regulations, cryptocurrency has been on the rise over recent years as “the payment method preferred by scammers. Through online trading groups or social media, they’ll say they’re making millions in cryptocurrency, and that they’re offering investment advice for a limited time for an upfront $10,000 fee. You pay using their link, they put that money in their crypto wallet, and never contact you again.”

Never send money “to someone you don’t know or trust, who pressures you to pay immediately, or says that a certain payment method like a wire, gift card, or crypto is the only way to pay,” said Siddiqui.

Owing to low regulations and small paper trails, it’s very unlikely that money lost to cryptocurrency and wire scams, and gift cards can be recovered. Conversely, credit cards offer the best protections under federal law.

Stopping scams

“If you call your bank and say you didn’t authorize a charge on your credit card, they have to investigate, and you shouldn’t be liable for more than $50 — many banks won’t even charge you that,” said Siddiqui.

Likewise, for a gift card like Amazon, or a wire transfer like Western Union, “contact the company and ask them to reverse the charge. If you send cash or a gift card in the mail, ask USPS to intercept the package. If you give a scammer your social security number, go to identitytheft. gov to see what steps to take, like monitoring your credit,”

Features OpiniOn Out of school

A more comprehensive study is needed, but the data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority this week provides a glimpse into another troubling aspect of education in this country. In 2022, according to the PSA study, 18.6 percent of Filipinos aged five to 24 did not attend school. This translates into about 7.85 million children and youths, the PSA said.

Asked about the reasons for staying out of school, the biggest percentage at 21.1 cited the completion of a college or post-secondary degree. Employment was the second biggest reason cited, at 19.7 percent, followed by lack of interest (12.6 percent), marriage (10.7 percent) and the high cost of education or financial problems (9.9 percent).

Editorial

While education is no sure-fire guarantee of personal advancement, it generally opens opportunities and raises the chances of improving the quality of life. Education also plays a critical role in national competitiveness and prosperity. The most competitive countries give top priority to education and innovation, pouring resources into the provision of quality education that is accessible to all their citizens.

In the Philippines, universal free education

from kindergarten to tertiary level has not translated into quality education. The COVID lockdowns worsened the problem, with education stakeholders concerned that the learning gap became wider during the two years of forced shift to a blended education mode dominated by remote learning. The economic tsunami caused by the pandemic also worsened the capability of many parents to finance the formal education of their children. There are many other expenses apart from tuition and basic miscellaneous fees that parents must shoulder in sending their children to school. During the pandemic lockdowns, many parents especially those with several schoolage children could not afford the gadget requirements for blended learning, despite state subsidies and donations from private

groups.

Even before the lockdowns, the government was already grappling with a high dropout rate in basic education as well as learning gaps that were manifested in the results of international tests, including one that showed Filipino 10-year-olds faring poorly in reading comprehension,

mathematics and science. The government is tweaking the K-12 curriculum to address the learning gaps. Teachers, meanwhile, continue to press for better pay, resources and working conditions. The PSA report should give more urgency to the reforms needed in the education sector. (Philstar. com)

Triple whammy in our territorial waters

IT’S bad enough that our Philippine Coast Guard vessels and boats bringing food, water and other supplies to our troops stationed at BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal are continuously being harassed

and bullied, our fishermen regularly being prevented from plying their livelihood by Chinese Coast Guard and militia vessels – and now, our precious coral reefs in seabeds within our exclusive economic zone are slowly but surely being destroyed.

According to a report filed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Western Command (WesCom) and

confirmed by the Philippine Coast Guard that conducted extensive underwater surveys, the marine ecosystems in Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal are dying – if not already dead – most likely caused by the illegal and indiscriminate activities of Chinese vessels that have been swarming the areas, resulting in the massive destruction of coral reefs in

the aforementioned West Philippine Sea features.

From Aug. 9 to Sept. 11 alone this year, approximately 33 Chinese maritime militia vessels in Rozul Reef and 15 in Escoda Shoal were monitored by the Philippine Coast Guard. Quoting divers who conducted the underwater surveys, WesCom chief Vice

The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.

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Babe’s Eye View

BaBe Romualdez

PAGE 10

This satellite photo shows the damage on coral reefs in the Scarborough Shoal due to Chinese fishermen’s harvesting of giant clams. File photo

Dateline PhiliPPines

PH Coast Guard removes shoal barrier

By Franco Jose c. Baroña ManilaTimes.net

THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it has removed the floating barrier installed by the China Coast Guard (CCG) off Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal).

In a report issued late Monday night, September 25, the PCG said it “executed a special operation” to remove the floating barrier that obstructed the southeast entrance of Bajo De Masinloc in compliance with the instruction of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The PCG said the directive was issued by National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, who also sits as chairman of the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS). It did not specify the exact time the operation was conducted.

“The barrier posed a hazard to navigation, a clear violation of international law,” said Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesman on the West Philippine Sea.

“It also hinders the conduct of fishing and livelihood activities of Filipino fisherfolk in Bajo de Masinloc, which is an integral part of the Philippine national territory,” he added.

Tarriela cited the 2016 Arbitral Award that affirmed Bajo de Masinloc as a traditional fishing ground for Filipino fishermen.

“Thus, any obstruction hindering the livelihoods of Filipino fisherfolk in the shoal violates international law. It also infringes on the Philippines’ sovereignty over Bajo de Masinloc,” he said.

Three-pronged fight vs drugs proposed

by Bernadette tamayo ManilaTimes.net

SEN. Christopher “Bong” Go has emphasized the roles of law enforcement, rehabilitation and prevention in combatting drug problems in the country.

The senator, in a chance interview after the launch of the 159th Malasakit Center in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur, on September 15, proposed a three-pronged approach to address illegal drugs.

Go said every administration had its approach to combat the drug problem. He said former president Rodrigo Duterte pursued a “massive campaign” against drugs.

The floating barrier, which measures 300 meters in length, was discovered by the PCG and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) personnel onboard Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas (BRP) Datu Bankaw when they conducted a routine maritime patrol on September 22 in the vicinity of the atoll.

Based on the accounts of Filipino fishermen who frequented the area, three CCG Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) and a Chinese maritime militia service boat installed the floating barrier upon the arrival of the BFAR vessel in the vicinity of the shoal.

Doubts

Manila-based Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute (ACPSSI) President Herman Tiu Laurel, however, questioned the veracity of the photos and videos released by the PCG showing ropes tied to the supposed floating barrier being cut by divers.

Laurel told The Manila Times that the images and videos did not provide other

important details, such as whether the entire barrier was actually removed and the time the operation was conducted.

“The scarcity of important details of the PCG report and video of the barrier removal operation leaves too many questions unanswered, leading to doubts about the authenticity of the operation and report,” he said.

Laurel cited a social media post of the international research network South China Sea Probing Initiative (SCSPI) reviewing the images publicly released by Tarriela.

The post pointed out that a floating barrier is temporarily deployed between two ships, which is “not quite like the one [PCG personnel] removed.”

Meanwhile, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) said it will review all incidents involving Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea since the 2016 Arbitral Award was handed down.

Solicitor General Menardo

What payment methods are telltale...

PAGE

she continued. “If you give a scammer access to your phone or computer, update your security software, run a scan, and delete anything problematic.”

Those facing a scam can report it at reportfraud.ftc. gov, and find information on how to avoid scams in various languages including Arabic, Chinese, Hmong, Korean, Spanish, Russian, Tagalog and Vietnamese

at ftc.gov/languages.

Red flags

The best weapon in the fight against scams is, by far, education, Greisman and Siddiqui agreed.

Never underestimate how persuasive a scammer can be,” said Greisman. “What most helps is informing people about red flags. The bottom line is that how they want you to pay is the red flag. If you get a call or message asking with

“I support President [Ferdinand] Bongbong Marcos [Jr.] in whatever approach [to address the drug problem]. The fight against illegal drugs must continue,” he said in Filipino.

He raised the need to empower law enforcement agencies to earn the trust of the people they are mandated to protect.

Go sought a “competent and corruptionfree police force and other law enforcement agencies to effectively combat drug syndicates.”

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography also raised the need

to rehabilitate drug users. “Most of them are merely victims [of drug syndicates].”

Go has filed a bill to institutionalize a technical vocational education and livelihood program for rehabilitated drug dependents.

He said the third approach centers on prevention, particularly among the youth. “We encourage the youth to get into sports. That is one way to keep them away from drugs.”

Go, also the chairman of the Senate

threats or promising returns for a gift card, a wire transfer, crypto — hang up, delete it, go offline, do whatever you need to do to stop contact. That’s not how a government entity or other institution would reach you.”

Likewise, Siddiqui added, it boils down to this: “Only a scammer will guarantee that you will make a lot of money with no risk.” (Selen Ozturk/ Ethnic media Services) n

Sen. Bong Go ManilaTimes.net file photo

WHAT NOW? Filipino fishermen look at the floating barrier placed by China to stop them from fishing in rich waters. Photo courtesy of the Philippine Coast Guard

Marcos rejects tariff reduction on rice

by CeCille Suerte Felipe, AlexiS romero Philstar.com

MANILA — President Marcos rejected on Tuesday, September 26 a proposal to temporarily cut the tariff on imported rice to lower the prices of the food staple, citing projections that global prices would decrease.

Marcos, also the agriculture secretary, made the remark after a sectoral meeting at Malacañang that tackled the proposed rice tariff reduction.

“We decided with the agriculture and economic managers that … it was not the right time to lower the tariff rates because the projection of world rice prices is that it will go down,” a Palace statement quoted the president as saying.

“So this is not the right time to lower tariffs. Tariffs are generally lowered when the price is going up,” he added.

Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) had recommended a reduction in the tariff on imported rice to help decrease local rice prices.

The tariff cut would eventually lead to the simultaneous lifting of Executive Order No. 39, which set price caps on regular and well-milled rice in the market, she added.

Under the order, the price cap on regular rice is at P41 per kilogram while the mandated price ceiling on well-milled rice is at P45 per kilogram.

During the sectorial meeting, NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan and Agriculture Undersecretaries Leocadio Sebastian and Mercedita Sombilla agreed that it was not the right time to reduce tariff rates because of the downtrend of rice prices in the global market.

Marcos said the price cap would continue to be in effect since it has to be studied carefully.

“We will study it carefully,” the president said when asked if he would lift the policy.

Imee joins rally

Sen. Imee Marcos on Tuesday joined protest actions in front of the Department of Finance (DOF) building calling for the resignation of President Marcos’ economic managers amid plans to reduce or remove tariff on imported rice that would affect local farmers.

“All my friends are here. All our friends who are farmers, fishermen – everyone from Northern Luzon to Central Luzon as well as friends from Southern Luzon are here. I’m just supporting,” said Marcos when asked about her presence at the rally.

The rallyists demanded the resignation of Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno and Balisacan.

Marcos, the eldest sister of President Marcos, brought food and water as a show of support for those opposing DOF’s proposed tariff reduction on imported rice. n

Triple whammy in our territorial...

PAGE 5

Admiral Alberto Carlos said “there is nothing left” of the corals in Rozul Reef, adding that they have been “destroyed, and only debris was there.”

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says that about “25 percent of the ocean’s fish depend on healthy coral reefs” where “fishes and other organisms shelter, find food, reproduce and rear their young in the many nooks and crannies formed by corals.” The rich biodiversity found in the habitat created by corals is also the reason why coral reefs are described as the “rainforests of the sea.”

A report published at the MIT Science Policy review in August 2020 disclosed that coral reefs “provide ecosystem services worth $11 trillion annually by protecting coasts, sustaining fisheries, generating tourism and creating jobs across the tropics,” and that as many as one billion people across the planet depend on coral reefs for food, income and coastal protection.

More than 500 species of coral and more than 2,000 species of fish live in the waters of the Philippines, which is part of the most diverse and biologically complex marine ecosystem in the world known as the “Coral Triangle” that covers 5.7 million square kilometers of ocean waters spanning across parts of Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Timor Leste and the Philippines, according to NOAA.

Three-pronged fight vs drugs...

7

Committee on Sports, has advocated sports-related programs as a means to divert the youth from the lure of illegal drugs and

criminality.

The senator filed Senate Bill (SB) 422, which aims to provide free legal assistance to the country’s uniformed personnel, particularly those

wrongfully accused.

He also proposed SB 428 establishing drug rehabilitation and treatment centers in every province nationwide. n

PH Coast Guard removes...

PAGE 7

Guevarra said whatever details they collect will serve as evidence to support a possible case against China.

“The OSG will gather information on all incidents at the WPS since the

first arbitral award in 2016, including the most recent ones involving reef destruction and floating barriers,” Solicitor General Guevarra said in a statement.

“We need solid evidence that will stand up in any

tribunal,” he added.

Guevarra also said authorities will evaluate all possible legal options before making a recommendation to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and to the Department of Foreign Affairs. n

As early as 2019, Dr. Deo Florence Onda, an oceanographer and professor at the University of the Philippines’ Marine Science Institute, has been warning that the Philippines is losing an estimated P33 billion worth of damage to its reef ecosystem annually, all because of China’s land reclamation activities within our exclusive economic zone.

Aside from illegal fishing activities, Chinese vessels have also been poaching giant clams under the reefs and taking corals and the species therein, which they use as decorative materials, ornaments and jewelry, said maritime law expert Professor Jay Batongbacal.

Videos released by the PCG showed the crushed corals, with “visible discoloration” in the seabed of Escoda Shoal that is indicative of “deliberate activities… undertaken to modify the natural topography of its underwater terrain,” said PCG spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela.

Not surprisingly, reactions to the videos ranged from shock to sadness to anger over the colossal damage that has been wrought upon our marine ecosystem. But what is even

more disturbing – totally infuriating – to many Filipinos is that the destruction of the coral reefs is actually a prelude to land reclamation by the Chinese. In Tagalog, “niluluto tayo sa sariling mantika” (we are being cooked in our own fat) – constructing artificial islands with our own corals. Both Senator Francis Tolentino and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro have warned about this. Intelligence we gathered confirm that these corals are deliberately being crushed, processed and dumped on the seabed.

Since 2013, China has been turning disputed land features in the Spratlys into military bases with ports, runways and other infrastructure. But to use the damaged corals from Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal to make the artificial islands? Absolutely unacceptable.

Support is growing for the filing of cases against China before an international tribunal for the destruction of our corals, and elevating the issue before the UN General Assembly. Calls are also mounting to make China pay billions of pesos not only for the enormous destruction of our coral reefs but for robbing our fisherfolk of their livelihood and threatening the food security of Filipinos. And for those who continue to make a lot of noise complaining about our Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with the United States – wake up! Just think – when the USS Guardian accidentally ran aground on Tubbataha Reef in January 2013, the U.S. paid P87 million for the damage the minesweeper had caused.

China, on the other hand, has built bases in maritime areas that are located within our exclusive economic zone and scoffingly dismisses the destruction of the corals in Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal as “political drama.”

So who is being a responsible member of the community of nations, and who is not? As Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla pointed out, “with or without the territorial dispute, the destruction of the environment is a sin against humanity.”

There is absolutely no justification for this type of behavior by the Chinese. We must do all we can and join hands with the international community in putting a stop to these insane activities, and bring everything to its just conclusion. (Philstar.com) * * *

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

MINI ROLLBACK. A gas station attendant refills the fuel tank of a tricycle in Kalayaan Avenue in Quezon City on Tuesday, September 26. Petroleum prices were slightly rolled back for the first time in 11 weeks, with gasoline and diesel down by PHP0.20 per liter, while kerosene is cheaper by PHP0.50 per liter. PNA photo by Ben Briones

PAGE

Rice dealers display rice and their prices in Sampol Market, at San Jose del Monte Bulacan on May 21, 2023. Philstar.com photo

COMMUNITY JOURNAL

Atty. Gurfinkel answers more immigration questions from Kapamilya in Manila on Citizen Pinoy

IN the sixth and final installment of Citizen Pinoy’s “Your Tanong, My Sagot” in Manila, leading U.S. Immigration Atty.

Michael J. Gurfinkel provides answers to several important immigration inquiries from Kapamilya in the Philippines.

• Vilma’s U.S. citizen son petitioned her back in 2020. She wants to know what is causing the delay with interview schedule.

• Ester has a tourist visa, and she visits the U.S. every year and stays for five months to care for her

sick mother and sister. She wants to know how she can lengthen her stay with her family.

• Karla’s husband filed separate petitions for her and for their daughter. Karla wants to know if it will affect their petitions if her husband naturalizes.

• Allen’s grandmother filed an F-3 petition for his father, which was converted to F-1 when his mother died in 2019. As a derivative, he has aged out, but Allen wants to know if he still qualifies for

YOUR TANONG, MY SAGOT IN MANILA PART 6. Leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel answers immigration questions from Kapamilya in Manila in Part 6 of Citizen Pinoy’s “Your Tanong, My Sagot.” Atty. Gurfinkel answers the following questions – From Karla (top left): My husband filed two separate petitions: one for our daughter and one for myself. Would it affect our petitions if he naturalized?; From Ester (top right): I have a tourist visa, and I go to the U.S. every year and stay for five months to take care of my sick mother and sister. How can I extend my stay?; From Allen (bottom right): My grandmother filed an F-3 petition for my father, which converted to F-1 when my mother died in 2019. As a derivative, I aged out, but do I still qualify for CSPA?; From Vilma (bottom left): My U.S. citizen son filed a petition for me in 2020. I have been waiting for my interview schedule. What is causing the delay? Be sure to tune in for the answers to these questions on Part 6 of “Your Tanong, My Sagot” from Manila, on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, October 1 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. (Advertising Supplement)

PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS

SIBO

Atty. Gurfinkel answers...

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CSPA.

Atty. Gurfinkel answers these questions in Part 6 of “Your Tanong, My Sagot” in Manila. Watch this brandnew episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, October

1 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET through select Cable/ Satellite providers), right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the app for free. (Advertising Supplement)

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a not too well-known disease entity that is becoming more evident and more popular. The symptoms are gastrointestinal in nature: sense of epigastric distress, some anorexia, bloating, diarrhea, and weakness. If left undiagnosed or untreated, it could result in serious complications, dehydration, nutritional deficiencies, and malnutrition. For SIBO, the following should be avoided: lactose dairy, milk, Splenda (sucralose), mannitol sorbitol, corn syrup, soy milk, and many other sweetened food items. Early medical consultation, diagnosis, and treatment are vital, when these symptoms occur at any age.

Physician, RN shortage

show that “moderate-tovigorous physical activity benefits people with a genetic predisposition to type 2 diabetes.” The most active people lowered their risk by a whopping 74 percent, compared to the least active subjects in this 6.8 year-study of 59,325 participants, 40-69 years old (2006 to 2010, and 2013 to 2015) and the more activity, the better, even among those with genetic predisposition to Type 2 diabetes, according to the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Warning – Lectins! Lectins, also known as anti-nutrient, is a protein that binds to some carbohydrates, like sugar and soft drinks, which I call “poisonous” in

to person, it behooves us to be conscious of this warning and minimize our “lectin intake” by avoiding food items that contain lectin.

Pre- and probiotics

The role our complex personal microbiome (living gastrointestinal tract), teeming with over 100 trillion microbial cells (1000 species of bacteria), plays in our health and well-being and disease development is mind-boggling. The good beneficial and harmful bacteria in our gut must be balanced to maintain good stable health. Disruption to the gut microbiota has been associated with inflammatory bowel syndrome, obesity, and other illnesses. While eating health and abstaining from

MTRCB ruling on ‘It’s Showtime’ appeal out this week

By Maila ager Inquirer.net

THE Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) is set to release this week its ruling on the appeal of “It’s Showtime” to reconsider the agency’s decision to suspend the noontime show for 12 airing days.

This is according to the head of MTRCB’s Hearing and Adjudication Committee, Paulino Cases, when the issue was raised by Senator Jinggoy Estrada during a budget hearing in the Senate on Wednesday, September 27.

Cases explained the suspension order was not yet final since the producers of the show had filed a motion for reconsideration (MR).

Estrada then asked when MTRCB would decide on the appeal, to which Cases replied that it would be released sometime within the week.

MTRCB head Diorella “Lala” Sotto-Antonio, who was also present during the budget hearing, pointed out that “It’s Showtime” was given 15 days to file an MR from receipt of the suspension order.

“Because we wanted to give them the chance to cooperate with us, to enter into a dialogue at least or to coordinate. But that did not happen. And we also wanted to give them due process,” she said.

The suspension stemmed from its hosts Vice Ganda and Ion Perez’s alleged “indecent acts” during one

As of May 2022, there were 1,073,616 physicians in active practice in the United States, a large number (117,987) in California, followed by New York (98,341) and then Texas (69,123). The Association of American Medical Colleges estimates the country will have a shortfall of nearly 140,000 physicians by 2033. The projected growth jumps up to 45 percent for advance practice nurses, like nurse practitioners and nurse anesthetists. This is reminiscent of the late 50s and early 60s when my wife and I came to Chicago on December 31,1963 under the U.S. Exchange Visitors Program for our medical internship and residency training, a program designed by the United States to fill in the vacuum (physician shortage) as thousands of American physicians were drafted in the military. A similar program might be in the offing for both physicians and nurses, because roughly 96 million Americans now live in a designated Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA).

Physical activity

Physical activity or physical exercise, as tolerated, has been well-known to be good to the body, for man and his pets and other animals. Exercise reduces the risk for chronic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic illnesses, and for Alzheimer’s and cancer. New studies now

Diabetes T2 has had the lone reputation of being an incurable metabolic disease, but recent clinical studies and experiences among some health-conscious diabetics have shown that with a healthy style, strict diet discipline, and effective weight control, diabetes could be ”reversed.”

themselves. Lectins cannot be digested by our gut. Some lectins are considered deadly poisons, like Castor beans, which contains a potent lectin called “ricin.” Some lectins bind with the walls of the digestive system and cause gastrointestinal problems. It could aggravate leaky gut syndrome. One particular lectin called phytohemagglutinin can lead to diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pains.

Ten common food items that contain a significant amount of lectins are (white bread made from wheat), raw kidney beans, eggplant, potato, barley, soybeans, wheat in general, tomato, peanuts, and lima and navy beans. Lectin also interferes with the digestion, absorption, and utilization of essential minerals like calcium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc from food we eat. When enough lectins pass into the blood stream, they activate the immune system, and have been linked to a major cause of autoimmune diseases.

Washing these food items and boiling them can reduce the lectin level. The amount of lectin we usually consume is lower than the toxic level. As individual resistance or tolerance differs from person

potassium, iron, and a lot of amino acids. A healthy food item. Be well-informed always.

Diabetes T2: Reversible?

Diabetes T2 has had the lone reputation of being an incurable metabolic disease, but recent clinical studies and experiences among some health-conscious diabetics have shown that with a healthy style, strict diet discipline, and effective weight control, diabetes could be ”reversed.” With that strategy, even among those taking insulin who are overweight, could “cure” themselves to a point of no longer needing insulin, following a weight loss of 50 pounds or more, to maintain a normal weight within a year. This strategy should be adopted under medical supervision. This is, of course, a great source of hope for the 37.3 million (10 percent) of people in the United States with DMT2. Let’s take full advantage of the great progress in medical science and technology to attain our potential maximal health and longevity.

* * *

tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs and not abusing antibiotics are essential in maintaining a healthy microbiome, the use of both prebiotic and probiotic supplement every day (not only one or the other) is most beneficial to our gut.

Fish from China

There are concerns about seafood imported from China, because some sources use anti-fungal agents, antibiotics, and other chemicals to keep their seafood thriving for export. Some of the other alarming ingredients found in imported seafood include malachite green, fluoroquinolone, and nitrofuran, which the FDA stated “may increase antibiotic resistance to this critically important class of antibiotics.” We have a lot of sources of seafood in the United States. Pompano fish, for one, is safely grown in aquaculture in Florida. This buttery-tasty and expensive fish may be cheaper coming from China, but Pompano lovers prefer ones farmed in the U.S. A standard serving of 28 grams of Pompano contains 5.2 grams of protein, 1 gram of fish oil saturated fats, and 46 calories only. It also provides vitamin D3, vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, C, E, K, folic acid, calcium,

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

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.

* * *

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

Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel answers the questions of Kapamilya from Manila – Vilma (left) and Ester (right).

Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel is shown here with Karla (left photo) and with Allen (right photo).

Pia Wurtzbach, Colombia’s Ariadna Gutierrez reunite at Paris fashion event

By HannaH Mallorca Inquirer.net

IT’S the reunion that every pageant fan was waiting for.

Pia Wurtzbach and Colombian model Ariadna Gutierrez have finally reunited at a fashion event in Paris, eight years after the Filipina-German beauty queen was crowned Miss Universe in 2015 — a crowning moment that everyone knew all too well.

Gutierrez was mistakenly announced by TV host Steve Harvey as the winner of the international beauty pageant, but a few minutes later, he was made to retract his words and declared Wurtzbach to be that year’s Miss Universe.

The incident was considered to be one of the most iconic, if not controversial, moments in pageant history, with Gutierrez being forced to relinquish her crown that had been placed on her head only briefly by the then reigning

HOUSING

Miss Universe Paulina Vega. It would have been a back-toback win for Colombia, if not for the Filipina beauty that got in the way.

Fast forward to the present, the two beauty queens appeared to have moved on from the incident and have now reunited at a fashion event in Paris, as seen on Wurtzbach’s Instagram

account on Tuesday, Sept. 26.

“The reunion you’ve all been waiting for,” she wrote.

On the other hand, Gutierrez expressed her joy over seeing Wurtzbach again on her Instagram Stories, where she was seen getting chummy with the latter.

“It’s been almost 8 years

MTRCB ruling on ‘It’s Showtime’...

of its segments, “Isip Bata,” aired last July 25, in which the TV host-comedian could be seen licking cake icing from his real-life partner’s finger.

Sotto-Antonio, who inhibited herself from voting, explained the decision to

suspend was unanimous as the board only had to vote whether to suspend “It’s Showtime” for six or 12 days.

When Estrada asked about the opinion of some quarters that the penalty meted by the regulatory body was “too severe,” Sotto pointed out that there were

also a lot of people saying the program should have ben canceled or the suspension should have been extended. Cases confirmed this, saying there were people who wanted harsher penalty of one year suspension or cancellation of the program. n

(From left) Ariadna Gutierrez, Pia Wurtzbach. Photo from Instagram/@piawurtzbach

PAGE 12

“It’s Showtime” hosts.

Photo from Instagram/@praybeytbenjamin

Sauce culture and culinary heritage: A conversation with Chef Jerome Grant

by MoMar G. Visaya / AJPress

Filipinos have an undying love for their sawsawan, concocting the perfect blend of sweet, sour, and spicy for every dish. It’s a world where a medley of flavors, from tangy, vinegarbased concoctions to sweet and sour condiments, come together in perfect harmony. Whether it’s a dash of calamansi in fish sauce or a fusion of banana ketchup, vinegar, and soy sauce, the art of sauce-making is practically woven into the Filipino DNA.

This culinary tradition holds a special place in the hearts of Filipinos, and Chef Jerome understands this sentiment profoundly. With over a decade of culinary expertise, he has not only mastered the craft of blending diverse flavors but also dedicated himself to representing culture through food all while elevating everyday meals into extraordinary culinary experiences.

For almost four years now, Chef Jerome has been an integral member of the McDonald’s Culinary Council, where he brings his diverse culinary expertise to the table.

We had the opportunity to speak with the Philippineborn chef at the NYC launch of two new sauces at McDonald’s - the Sweet & Spicy Jam and Mambo Sauce. These sauces, set to tease and tantalize taste buds, exemplify Chef Jerome’s dedication to blending flavors that reflect his upbringing and cultural heritage.

“It’s a privilege to represent culture through food. We have this group where we talk about new innovations, we talk about new flavors, and mambo sauce has been on our list for a while,” Chef Jerome told the Asian Journal. His involvement in crafting these iconic sauces demonstrates his passion for introducing new, vibrant flavors to the American palate.

Mambo sauce, inspired by the rich culinary tapestry of Washington, D.C., holds a special place in the chef’s heart. This sweet, spicy, and vinegary sauce embodies the fusion of barbecue and Asian influences. “It’s one of those types of things where you could put it on anything and everything; I even put it on my tocino,” he shared.

The Sweet & Spicy Jam on the other hand, with its unique blend of red pepper, Szechuan peppercorn, cayenne pepper, and apple cider vinegar, promises a

bold, breakfast-inspired dipping experience.

Starting Oct. 9 for a limited time, fans can enjoy these new flavors with all their McDonald’s favorites.

“We get inspiration for the food our fans love by exploring the incredible tastes and flavors found in communities across the country,” said Tariq Hassan, Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer at McDonald’s USA. “Sweet & Spicy Jam and Mambo Sauce live at the intersection of flavor and culture – pulling from decades of rich food history and tradition in local restaurants and home kitchens, and bringing the delicious spice, sweetness, and kick of heat we know today’s customers are craving.”

Since sauce culture is a viral thing on social media, the fast food chain has partnered with six food content creators to celebrate

the arrival of these sauces and for them to review the sauces so they can share pairing suggestion ideas with customers on their respective TikTok channels.

Mahal BBQ

Chef Jerome’s culinary prowess extends beyond his role at McDonald’s.

He is the visionary behind Mahal BBQ, a concept that marries American BBQ with playful Filipino flavors.

“We’re talking about my upbringing, my family’s story through food,” Chef Jerome said. The venture, currently seeking a permanent home, is poised to be a cultural and culinary destination that showcases his Filipino heritage.

“My dream for Mahal is to be able to open up small Mahals across the East Coast,” he shared. His ambition is to provide a platform for guests to immerse themselves in the rich history and traditions of

SAUCE culture is a universe all its own. From dabbling in dipping techniques to stashing extra packets for a rainy day, it’s a world Chef Jerome Grant, a FilipinoAmerican culinary leader, knows intimately.

Chef Mike Lingo, McDonald’s menu innovation team and Chef Jerome Grant, one of the chefs from McDonald’s expert advisory council explain the inspiration behind the addition of two new sauces that will be available across the United States for a limited time starting Oct. 9.

AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya

Chef Jerome Grant is a Filipino-American chef based in Washington, DC and is the chef-owner of Mahal BBQ, an American barbecue concept with a playful twist of Filipino flavors. Chef Jerome is a three-time James Beard Award nominee for Best Chef Mid-Atlantic (2019), Best American Cookbook (2019), and Best New Restaurant (2017) aside from being named by the New York Times as one of the ’16 Black Chefs Changing Food in America’.

Chef Jerome says that you could put the two new sauces “on anything and everything, I even put it on my tocino.” The sauces complement the chicken nuggets, fries, even the burgers and fried chicken sandwiches.

Senate resolution hails Kathryn Bernardo’s win at Seoul International Drama Awards

By Maila ager Inquirer.net

A MEASURE congratulating and commending Kathryn Bernardo for being named Outstanding Asian Star at the Seoul International Drama Awards 2023 has been lodged in the Senate.

Senate Resolution No. 810 was filed on Monday, September 25 by Senator Lito Lapid.

“Kathryn Bernardo, a talented and accomplished Filipina actress, has consistently showcased her exemplary skills, dedication, and passion in the field of acting, captivating both local and international audiences, including Filipinos residing abroad,” the resolution reads.

Her performance in the ABS-CBN drama series “2 Good 2 Be True” landed her the Outstanding Asian Star award in the Philippine category at the Seoul International Drama Awards.

Asian Persuasion charms audiences, scoops Audience Award at Soho Film Fest

By MoMar g. Visaya AJPress

She received the award in South Korea last September 21.

According to the resolution, Bernardo’s win does not only mark a “significant milestone in her career” as it also brings “immense pride to the Filipino people.”

“This remarkable achievement by Ms. Bernardo underscores the importance of recognizing and nurturing Filipino talents on the international stage, demonstrating that our artists possess the capability to excel and compete globally,” Lapid said in the resolution.

The Outstanding Asian Star awards are given to actors from six countries in Asia — Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand and the Philippines — where each country would submit a list of nominees.

The actors only compete against fellow nominees from the same country. n

JHETT Tolentino, celebrated for his Tony and Grammy awards, recently took a courageous step into the director’s chair with his debut full-length film, “Asian Persuasion.” The film made its world premiere at the Soho International Film Festival, marking a significant milestone in Tolentino’s illustrious career. The film had two sold-out screenings and it won the Audience Award for full-length feature.

The creative process was not without its challenges, as Tolentino candidly revealed, “Editing was a very excruciating process for me because I love all of them. I had to give up a lot of great scenes and I had to stay objective and stay true to the story.”

“Asian Persuasion” delves into the surge of Asian content, riding the wave of its unprecedented popularity. The film boasts a stellar cast, including industry veterans like Dante Basco, Paulo Montalban, and KC Concepcion. Their seasoned performances added a depth that only accomplished actors can bring. Geneva Carr and Kevin Kreider further elevated the ensemble, leading Tolentino to affirm, “You can never go wrong with casting like this.”

“It was a great project and we had great partners and collaborators,”shared Mike Ang, who wrote the screenplay. “It’s my first time as a filmmaker so

Pia Wurtzbach...

13

since the last time we were together. So happy to see you again @piawurtzbach,” she said. “When time makes sure you meet the right people once again.”

In a December 2015 interview, Wurtzbach confessed that she was feeling “mixed emotions” after winning the Miss Universe crown as she “felt sad” for Gutierrez.

“I felt calm when I was called first runner-up because I felt it was fate. But when they announced that I was Miss Universe, I had mixed emotions. I was happy because I really wanted to win but felt sad for Miss Colombia… I even tried to approach her after [but] I couldn’t get near as she was surrounded by the Latin American contestants.” n

this journey has been very special. I had a vision and other people came to help me make that a reality and I can’t thank them enough.”

Balancing the demands of filming with fundraising posed its own set of challenges during the production phase. Tolentino admitted, “While we were in production, we’re still fundraising, so to me, that was a challenge that really took a lot of time. Instead of just focusing artistically, I had to allocate my time to be a producer.”

When asked about the possibility of returning to Broadway as a producer, Tolentino revealed the financial complexities of the industry. “In one musical, I can make five films,” he pondered. His newfound love for filmmaking stems

from its enduring nature, in stark contrast to the transient nature of live theater.

Tolentino emphasized the invaluable learning curve of his directorial debut. Acknowledging his unconventional path, he immersed himself in studying lenses and frames. Drawing inspiration from directors without formal film education, he said, “I had to look into other directors who did not go to film school also because I did not. I’m an accountant by profession so I had to learn. If I had to change anything, it would be like investing in more equipment like the drone operators, and the Steadicam operators, because that really boosts the feel and the visual of the movie.”

The film stands as a heartfelt tribute to New York, a city that profoundly shaped Tolentino’s career and life’s trajectory. “We owe it to New York. We are all here because of that, and we are where we are because of New York City,” he expressed with heartfelt gratitude.

As “Asian Persuasion” embarks on its festival circuit journey, audiences are in for a treat. The film is set to premiere in the Philippines, with a touring premiere scheduled for November across Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, and Clark in Pampanga. Following its New York debut, the film will enchant audiences at the Richmond International Film Festival in Richmond, Virginia, and San Diego in the coming month. n

Sauce culture and culinary heritage...

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his family’s culinary journey. Through Mahal, Chef Jerome aims to offer an authentic experience, celebrating the fusion of American and Filipino flavors.

Born in Pampanga, Philippines, Chef Jerome moved to the United States at the age of four. Reflecting on his childhood memories, he recalls the natural simplicity of life in the Philippines. “I remember eating snacks on the street. I remember taking baths in buckets,” he shared. These experiences have profoundly shaped his culinary identity and are woven into the fabric of Mahal Barbecue.

Chef Jerome is most notable for his tenure as the inaugural chef of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and

Culture’s Sweet Home Cafe and the National Museum of the American Indian’s Misitam Cafe. His work at both landed him three James Beard Award nominations and was one of the ‘16 Black Chefs Changing Food in America’ by the New York Times in 2019.

During the pandemic, he collaborated with fellow Filipino American chefs for Taste of the Philippines where they showcased and highlighted Filipino cuisine.

While it’s been a while since his last visit to the Philippines, Chef Jerome is eager to reconnect with his roots. “Way overdue for a visit,” he says with a smile. His mother Charry Lorna Paison hails from Cebu, and he’s excited to explore the vibrant culture and cuisine

of his mother’s homeland.

Chef Jerome Grant’s culinary journey so far is a fusion of flavors, culture, and heart. From his role at McDonald’s to his visionary venture, Mahal Barbecue, he is a force in the culinary world. With each dish, he weaves a tale of heritage and tradition, inviting us all to savor the richness of his Filipino roots.

As he dreams of opening small Mahals across the East Coast, it’s clear that Chef Jerome’s influence will continue to grow. So, whether you’re drizzling on some Sweet & Spicy Jam over your burger or fried chicken sandwich or savoring the Mambo Sauce with your fries and nuggets, you’re tasting a bit of his dedication to sharing the rich tapestry of his heritage with the world. n

Kathryn Bernardo was named Outstanding Asian Star at the Seoul International Drama Awards on September 21, 2023.

Photo by Thess Gubi

Jhett Tolentino and Mike Ang celebrate their film’s award with (top, from left) Darin Friedman, Executive Producer; Richard Gervais, investor, and Betty Ng.

Photo by Troi Santos

Jhett Tolentino and Mike Ang celebrate their films’s award with (top, from left) Darin Friedmann, Executive Producer; Richard Gervais, investor, and Betty Ng.

Photo by