100523 - Las Vegas Edition

Filipino American SAG-AFTRA members speak out about industry reforms

IN a powerful display of unity and determination, hundreds of Asian American members of the Screen Actors Guild American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) gathered in New York on Thursday, Sept. 28 to advocate for significant reforms within the entertainment industry. The rally brought together actors, producers, and industry advocates to address critical issues impacting the Asian American community ahead of the scheduled Oct. 2 meeting with executives from major studios.

Joel dela Fuente, a seasoned actor known for his role in ‘Man in the High Castle’, highlighted the urgency of regulating artificial intelligence (AI) in the industry. He stressed the importance of ensuring that AI technology respects the integrity of storytelling and emphasizes the value that real actors bring to productions.

“It’s existential, we’re fighting for our lives.

PH national pleads guilty to large-scale US immigration fraud

BOSTON – A Filipino from California pleaded guilty Sept. 27 in federal court in Boston to running a large-scale marriage fraud “agency” that arranged hundreds of sham marriages to circumvent immigration laws. This included, among other things, obtaining green cards under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) by claiming the undocumented clients had been abused by alleged American spouses.

Marcialito Biol Benitez, a.k.a “Mars,” 49, a Philippine national residing in Los Angeles, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and immigration document fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for Jan. 10, 2024. Benitez was arrested and charged in April 2022.

Benitez operated what he and others referred to as an “agency” that arranged hundreds of sham marriages between foreign national “clients” and U.S. citizens, including at least one foreign national who resided in Massachusetts. The agency then prepared and submitted false petitions, applications, and other documents to substantiate the sham marriages and secure adjustment of

White House honors Fil-Ams in celebration of Filipino American History Month

saying Filipinos and Filipino Americans “have helped forge the very idea of America.”

The country is home to 4.4 million Filipinos and Filipino Americans, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, making them

US to ‘invoke’

defense pact in attack on PH

THE United States will “surely invoke” its Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the Philippines if an armed attack against the country’s “assets, including those of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), is committed in the South China Sea,” a U.S. official told a congressional hearing in Washington early Friday, September 29.

Lindsey Ford, deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Defense Department, gave this assurance before the U.S. House of Representatives, which tackled China’s continued aggression in the waters, including laser pointing and water cannon attacks against Philippine personnel.

“The [Defense] department has been incredibly clear when it comes to our treaty commitments to the Philippines,” Ford told Rep. Young Kim of California, who also heads the subcommittee on Indo-Pacific of

the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

“We have said repeatedly and will continue to say that we stand by those commitments,” Ford said as Kim raised criticisms of the U.S.’s commitment to the Philippines.

“Is the U.S. prepared to back up its Mutual Defense Treaty with military force? And what message would it send to other countries in the region if the U.S. doesn’t respond forcefully enough to an event that triggers that treaty?” the U.S. lawmaker asked.

In response, Ford noted the “credibility” of Washington’s military partnership with Manila, which she described as “a bedrock part” of the U.S.’ security in the Indo-Pacific and globally.

Aside from securing the U.S. military

u PAGE 2

Napoles acquitted of plunder but found guilty of corruption

by Franco Jose c. Baroña ManilaTimes.net

THE Sandiganbayan on

Monday, October 2 acquitted

Janet Lim Napoles and a former lawmaker of plunder but she was found guilty of corruption in connection with the use of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

The court convicted Napoles of nine counts of corruption of a public official and Apec partylist representative Edgar Valdez of nine counts of direct bribery.

Both were sentenced to up to six years in jail and fined nearly

P27 million.

Napoles was believed to have masterminded the PDAF or pork barrel scam. Several lawmakers were accused of misusing their PDAF, a program designed to allow legislators to fund small-scale infrastructure or community projects. The scam that was first exposed in 2013 involved the funding of ghost projects "implemented" through the companies run by Napoles.

Based on court testimonies, the funds were processed through non-existent foundations and fake non-

governmental organizations supposedly established under the wing of the JLN Group of Companies, the holding company of Napoles.

The employees of Napoles were named as incorporators or directors and each foundation or NGO served as an official recipient of a particular legislator's PDAF. Some lawmakers were reported to have earned big kickbacks for funneling their pork barrel to Napoles' NGOs.

The Supreme Court has ruled that PDAF was unconstitutional. n

“This Filipino American History Month, the BidenHarris Administration is proud to honor generations of Filipino Americans who have ensured our nation remains a land of hope, opportunity, and optimism,” the White House added.

Meanwhile, Biden took to X, formerly known as u PAGE 2

QUEST FOR JUSTICE CONTINUES

Percy Lapid memorial service sparks call to action

by MoMar G. Visaya AJPress

PERCY Mabasa, known by his broadcast name Percy Lapid, was an unwavering radio broadcaster who dedicated 35 years of his life to exposing corruption among the powerful. Thousands of listeners tuned in to his program, drawn by his fearless opinions. A year ago, he was shot dead on his way home and his death serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing assault on freedom of expression in the Philippines.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and Rappler have documented the deaths of 198 journalists in the country since 1986, all targeted due to their commitment to their profession. Notably, during Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s presidency, 103 journalists lost their lives, with 32 of them falling victim to the Maguindanao massacre. Under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration, three journalists, including Percy Lapid, were killed.

Fearing for their lives after receiving threats, Percy Lapid’s 14-member family sought refuge in the United States, believing that the current Philippine administration couldn’t ensure their safety.

Survey: Filipinos distrust China amid bullying at West Philippine Sea

MANILA — China’s continued aggression over the disputed West Philippine Sea territories is causing growing discontent among Filipinos.

This sentiment is shown by a recent survey conducted by Oculum Research and Analytics.

China is the least trusted country among 1,200 respondents in the poll released on September 27, with 51% registering their disapproval.

The United States, Beijing’s archnemesis on the global stage, notched the highest approval, at 62%.

China recently sparked a diplomatic row after it installed a 300-meter floating barrier along Scarborough Shoal to prevent the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and fishermen from entering the area, which Beijing claims to be theirs.

Authorities slammed the blockage as a “clear violation of international law.”

The PCG last week cut off a portion of the barrier under the orders of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesperson of the PCG for the West Philippine Sea, vowed to remove any future obstruction that may hinder fisherfolk from

earning a living.

“In the coming months, if ever that barrier will once again be in place, the PCG will do whatever it takes for us to remove the barrier,” Tarriela told reporters.

The Philippines is also accusing Chinese maritime militia vessels of massive coral harvesting that left patches of bleached and destructed corals along Rozul (Iroquios) Reef and Sabina (Escoda) Shoal, both part of Manila’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

“We noticed coral harvesting in their swarming areas. When they left, we pinpointed it and sent divers to do an underwater survey; they saw that no corals were left – it was damaged, and there was debris,” Vice Admiral Albert Carlos, head of the Western Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said in a news forum on Septepmber 17. “[Whether] the damage is old or new, but from the eyes of the Navy divers, it looks recent.” China’s billion-dollar disinformation campaign has been warned by the U.S. State Department to challenge the “integrity of the global u PAGE 2

Survey: Filipinos distrust China amid bullying...

information space.”

“When you look at the pieces of the puzzle and you put it together, you see a breathtaking ambition on the part of China to seek information dominance in key regions of the world,” James Rubin, the State Department’s Global Engagement Center special envoy and coordinator, told reporters on September 28.

“If we don’t allow this information manipulation to be stopped, there’s going to be a slow, steady destruction of democratic values. We don’t want to see an Orwellian mix of fact and fiction in our world,” he added.

National Security Council Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya previously divulged China’s “psychological warfare” to weaken the Philippines’s standing on the West Philippine Sea by deploying “political operators” engaged in propaganda. He added China is taking advantage of the political divisiveness engulfing Filipinos.

Headlines of China’s provocation caused Filipinos to sour on the world’s second superpower, Oculum chief political analyst Dennis Coronacion said.

“Several incidents of harassment committed against the Philippine Coast Guard and the Filipino fishermen by the Chinese Coast Guard in the disputed waters have always

resulted in negative public perception toward China,” Coronacion, a political science professor at the University of Santo Tomas, said in a release.

“Past and present surveys indicate that the Filipinos have felt strongly about this geopolitical issue.”

In the July 2022 poll conducted by Pulse Asia, 36% of Filipinos are wary of China compared to 33% who registered their trust. Russia and India also notched high disapprovals, at 36% and 32%, respectively.

Three years earlier, a Social Weather Stations survey classified China’s approval rating as “bad,” plunging to a -33 score amid warmer relations between the two countries at the time.

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Manny Mogato said that despite former president Rodrigo Duterte cozying up with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Beijing’s persistent bullying already left an indelible mark on the Filipino consciousness.

“Even during the six-year term of former president Rodrigo Duterte, who was considered the most popular leader in power, he failed to influence Filipinos to raise trust ratings in China,” he said in a release. “Duterte did not hide the fact that he was an avid fan of China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, and he had tried to bring the country

White House honors Fil-Ams in...

closer to Beijing and Moscow and, at the same time, distance from its traditional security ally, the United States.”

Mogato added that Filipinos’ inclination to democracy, freedom and the rule of law made them more trustful to Western countries such as the United States and Canada.

China has refused to recognize the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration adjudicating that the nine-dash line on Beijing maps violated Manila’s 200-nautical mile EEZ.

Recently, the Chinese Foreign Ministry warned the Philippines not to make any provocations anymore.

The Oculum survey obtained responses from 1,200 Filipinos nationwide, randomly selected through a computer-assisted tool. It has a ± 3-percent margin of error at the national level.

Other people behind Oculum include chief statistician Joseph Mercado, former vice president for research, extension, planning and development at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines; project manager Romero Lopez, associate editor at PressONE; and oversight board members Msgr. Pedro Quitorio III, director of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines media office; and Felipe Salvosa II, editor at the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. (Philstar.com)

Twitter, to say he and First Lady Jill Biden are “thrilled” to celebrate the month, which honors “the rich heritage and traditions of millions of Filipino Americans.”

“To our Filipino American community: Thank you for all you do to ensure our nation continues to be the land of opportunity,” the president said.

Meanwhile, Harris remarked that the community contributes “contribute to our nation’s success every single day.”

The celebration of Filipino American History Month in October commemorates the first recorded presence of Filipinos in the continental United States, which occurred on October 18, 1587, when “Luzones Indios” came ashore from the Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de Esperanza and landed at what is now Morro Bay, California, according to the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS). October 1992 was the month dedicated to Filipino Americans and celebrated in the United

States, a year after FANHS passed a proclamation. In 2009, U.S. Congress declared October as Filipino American History Month, and in 2015, then-President Barack Obama celebrated the first FAHM at the White House.

For 2023, FANHS shared this year’s theme as “1898: Recognizing 125 years of Philippine-American History,” marking the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Paris agreement between Spain and the United States that ended the Spanish American War and led to the U.S. annexation of the Philippines.

“As a result of the Treaty of Paris, Filipino people gained access to the U.S. during an era when other Asian countries were prohibited from doing so,” FANHS wrote.

Through the treaty, Filipino migrants were considered U.S. nationals until 1965 and could migrate to the U.S. and its territories without restrictions.

With this, many Filipinos

contributed to the agricultural labor force in Hawaii and the west coast of the U.S.

The Pensionado Act of 1903 paved the way for Filipino students to attend U.S. universities until 1943, while American curricula and educational systems were introduced to the Philippines, FAHNS shared. This resulted in English proficiency and the recruitment of Filipino nurses, teachers and other professionals to the U.S.

“The year 1898 also marks an important year in Philippine history. After centuries of Filipinos fighting against Spanish colonizers – with the most successful uprising being the Philippine Revolution (1896-1898) – the people of the Philippines declared their independence on June 12, 1898,” according to FAHNS. Throughout October, areas across the U.S. proclaim their own recognitions of the month, host celebrations and festivals, and other activities to highlight the community’s contributions to the country’s history. n

US to ‘invoke’ defense pact in attack...

PAGE 1

foothold in the Philippines through the nine Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites across the country, Ford said Washington is also helping an American company operating in Subic in operating

a shipyard it sees as a “critical strategic infrastructure.”

“The fact that U.S. companies are cooperating and helping to build jobs and make sure that that strategic area stays in friendly hands, I think, is incredibly important,” Ford added.

In the same congressional hearing, Vice Admiral Andrew Tiongson, U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area commander, said that the PCG has “our largest security sector assistance program with them.”

Tiongson responded to a comment by Kentucky Rep. Andy Barr about the lack of available assets by the PCG to defend itself.

“In fact, when you talk about assets, we, through the interagency partnerships, built an entire training center to help them with operations, as well as maintenance of the vessels that they do have,” Tiongson shared.

He said under the U.S. program, the PCG hopes to grow its personnel from “5,000 to their goal of about 35,000.”

He said the PCG was “still working on that, but they’re well into that right now. And we have assigned a maritime adviser to them to help along that growth projection.”

State Department’s Assistant Secretary for Multilateral Affairs Jung Pak also said “part of the State Department’s goals is to make sure that we’re consulting frequently and in-depth to talk about exactly what the Philippines needs.”

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko, and Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo held a trilateral meeting in New York on September 22, when the three agreed to continue to call out behavior that is with international law, including China’s recent actions near Second Thomas Shoal that interfered with the Philippines’ lawful exercise of high seas freedom of navigation.

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

‘Moro-moro’

But while the U.S. has been supportive of the PCG and its activities in the South China Sea, the Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute (ACPSSI), a Manilabased think tank, has called for an investigation into the “ moro-moro” instigated by the PCG when it claimed that it “successfully removed” the floating barrier installed by its Chinese counterparts at the entrance of Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal).

In a media briefing on Saturday, September 30 in Quezon City, ACPSSI president Herman Tiu Laurel echoed the declaration by the China Coast Guard (CCG) that the claim by Commo. Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesman on the West Philippine Sea (WPS), was “fictitious” and “fabricated.”

A CCG spokesman said in a statement this week that the nets were deployed temporarily simply to prevent a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel from “illegally” entering the Huangyan Island, China’s name for Bajo de

Masinloc, without authorization from the Chinese government and supposedly “stirred up trouble in a provocative manner.”

The spokesman said the CCG “took necessary measures in accordance with the law to effectively restrict the Philippine vessel, including calling and warning, route restrictions and temporarily setting blocking nets on the lagoon.”

The CCG presented images showing the BFAR ship being blocked by its vessels, the blocking nets it set and its recovery of the nets after.

Laurel said that, on the other hand, Commodore Tarriela announced to the public on September 25 through a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the PCG has 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. upon the recommendation of the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS). He said the announcement was accompanied by videos and several photos of the operation.

The problem with Tarriela’s videos and photos was that they failed to show the entire length of the floating barrier and that the “so-called evidence was a 6-meter rope with a few floaters attached,” the ACPSSI president said.

“It should also be pointed out that the rusted anchor with a few meters of rope, which the PCG retrieved, could not be part of a floating barrier system that’s meant to be temporary,” he added.

Laurel also noted that based on the accounts of the CCG spokesman, the 300-meter floating barrier “was voluntarily removed” by the CCG on September 23 after they successfully prevented the BFAR vessel from entering the lagoon, and “normal control was restored” in the area.

The CCG photos showed the “long and bulky” floating barrier on the deck of one of its ships.

“Tarriela did not even attempt to present evidence of the 300-meter barrier the PCG says it had removed,” said Laurel.

Furthermore, he said the PCG official gave the date for the operation to remove the floating barrier as September 25.

“This could probably be the reason why Tarriela’s divers were unable to present any photos of the actual floating barrier that they supposedly removed since it was already taken away by the CCG two days before,” Laurel said.

“The moro-moro and subsequent loquacious bragging of Tarriela revealed certain truths: That the Philippine government, the [Department of Foreign Affairs] and the PCG have been lying about what is actually transpiring in the South China Sea for the past decade,” he added.

Laurel said this also confirms what he has been frequently pointing out in the past: that there is no harassment of Filipino fishermen by the CCG in the South China Sea.

“Fish sanctuaries, such as Bajo de Masinloc, are off limits to all fishermen, and because of the CCG, these sanctuaries in the South China Sea are guarded from illegal activities,” he said.

Laurel said the PCG does not have the capacity to enforce the protection of fish sanctuaries and yet “ignorantly demands fishermen should be allowed to pursue their activities in u PAGE 5

Filipino American SAG-AFTRA members...

And we’re fighting for the integrity because it’s not just that actors will disappear. It shows that there is a lack of understanding of what we do,” Dela Fuente told the Asian Journal.

Ivory Jeans Aquino, a member of SAG-AFTRA for over 15 years, shared her thoughts on the ongoing rally, emphasizing the importance of unity within the community. She expressed her optimism about the progress made in negotiations, particularly regarding fair wages and compensation for actors.

“It’s about showing up making my voice heard because it’s like in a democracy, one person gets to vote. And then essentially, if it shows that any one person matters, and so it trickles out, we all matter collectively, the community matters and that’s what we’re here to stand for,” she said.

One crucial issue raised during the rally was the emergence of AI in the industry. Aquino shed light on the producers’ proposal to utilize actors’ likeness perpetually, which raised concerns about fair compensation for background actors. She also expressed the need for reasonable auditioning practices that take into consideration actors’ schedules and commitments.

“One point that was really not fair, period, is the producers were wanting to have background actors come in for one session... and own it for perpetuity, and pay

them once, use it over and over,” Aquino lamented. Another critical issue discussed was the need for fair compensation in the face of the evolving landscape of streaming platforms.

Dela Fuente pointed out the inherent disparities within the industry, emphasizing that actors are essential to interpreting the human condition and conveying stories in a unique and authentic manner.

“People are being enriched in these corporations that produce our work. That’s all I can really say. They can make arguments that say that they’re not making any money but you can see that the individual bonuses that were given out and you see what we’re being paid, because somebody’s making money off of our work,” he shared.

Percy Lapid memorial service sparks call...

In a memorial service on Sunday, October 1, Percy Lapid’s friends and supporters gathered in Los Angeles and New York to commemorate his life and his stance against injustice and corruption.

Dela Fuente is a principal cast member of the show “Man in the High Castle,” one of the most widely-streamed shows on Prime Video. It received positive reviews for its thought-provoking premise, strong performances, and high production values. He played the character Chief Inspector Takeshi Kido, a high-ranking officer in the Japanese Pacific States’ Kempeitai, known for his complex and morally ambiguous character arc. Reflecting on his experience with the highly-streamed show, Dela Fuente candidly shared that the residuals received are minimal, considering the show’s popularity and impact on Amazon’s streaming platform. He underscored the need for more equitable compensation for artists whose work fuels corporations.

Among those in attendance in New York were notable personalities such as Maria Ressa, Sheila Coronel, Noel Pangilinan, Loida Nicolas Lewis, Liza and Mark Mabasa, Percy’s widow and son. Mark Mabasa, in a poignant speech, shared updates on his father’s case and decried the indiscriminate killings that seem to hold no value for human life, especially among journalists dedicated to informing the public.

“Aminin man natin o hindi, kumibo man tayo o hindi, hindi natin maitatanggi ang kaliwa’t kanan at walang habas na pagpaslang na tila wala ng halaga ang buhay ng tao, lalo na sa mga mamamahayag na ang ginagawa lamang ay maipaabot sa ating mga mamamayan at mamulat

sa katotohanan buhat pa ng nakaraang administrasyon,” he said. (Whether we admit it or not. Whether we move or not. We cannot deny the left and right and indiscriminate killings that seem to have no value to human life, especially to journalists who are only doing things to reach our people and make them aware of the truth since the previous administration.)

Columbia University’s School of Journalism professor Sheila Coronel echoed this sentiment, saying that the culture of impunity runs deep in the Philippines, citing the names of some journalists who were killed in the line of duty.

“Impunity is so deeply embedded in the Philippines. We must think that we build democracy and democratic institutions, brick by brick, case by case,” Coronel said.

“The obstacles to justice are formidable, but we have a few victories – Ampatuan; half victories – Marlene Esperat, Edgar Damalerio, even if they’re

incomplete, they show that impunity need not be the norm. Justice is attainable if we fight for it.”

Something that Nobel Prize winner Maria Ressa agreed with, and promised the Mabasa family support in fighting for justice.

“Marlene Esperat is a name our generation of journalists won’t forget. We will help make Percy Lapid, Percy Mabasa, a name just this generation won’t forget,” Ressa said.

As Mark reflected on his father as a devoted family man, husband, and father of six, he expressed deep sorrow that Percy’s cherished profession and beloved homeland became the very reason for his tragic demise. He talked about some of the lessons his father taught them.

“Sa iniwang aral ng aming ama, “Ang pagsasabi ng katotohanan ay hindi itinuturing na katapangan, kung hindi obligasyon ng bawat isa sa atin” at sa aming puso, alam namin na nagawa nya ang tungkulin niya sa bayan,” the PAGE 5

PH national pleads guilty to large-scale...

clients’ immigration statuses for a fee of between $20,000 and $35,000 in cash.

Benitez operated the agency out of brick-and-mortar offices in Los Angeles, where he employed his co-conspirators as staff. Among other things, Benitez’s staff allegedly assisted with arranging marriages, submitting fraudulent marriage and immigration documents for the agency’s clients — including false tax returns as well as recruiting U.S. citizens to marry the agency’s clients in exchange for payment.

After pairing foreign national clients with citizen spouses, Benitez’s agency staged fake wedding ceremonies at chapels, parks, and other locations, performed by hired online officiants. For many clients, the agency would take photos of undocumented clients and citizen spouses in front of prop wedding decorations for later submission with immigration petitions.

Benitez’s agency then submitted fraudulent, marriagebased immigration petitions to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the federal agency responsible for granting lawful permanent resident status.

Benitez’s agency coached clients and spouses through interviews with USCIS and advised

clients about maintaining the appearance of legitimate marriage to their spouses. Benitez’s agency arranged sham marriages and submitted fraudulent immigration documents for at least 600 clients between October 2016 and March 2022.

Benitez’s agency would assist certain clients — typically those whose spouses became unresponsive or uncooperative — with obtaining green cards under VAWA by claiming the undocumented clients had been abused by alleged American spouses. Specifically, the agency would submit

fraudulent applications on clients’ behalf for temporary restraining orders against spouses based on fabricated domestic violence allegations.

Benitez’s agency would then submit the restraining order documentation along with immigration petitions to USCIS, in order to take advantage of VAWA provisions that permit non-citizen victims of spousal abuse to apply for lawful permanent resident status without their spouses’ involvement.

Benitez is the seventh defendant to plead guilty in this case. (Inquirer.net)

From left: Survivor Kevin Baclig is shown with four of the victims, including his wife Angelica Quijano Baclig, Joel Villegas, Adela Villegas, and Junmark Quijano. Contributed photo

Playwright Kristine Reyes Sibyl Santiago

Among those who attended the AAPI solidarity rally were Filipino American SAG-AFTRA members Ivory Aquino, Sibyl Santiago, Sorika Wolf, Joel dela Fuente, among others.

Percy Lapid memorial service sparks call...

young Mabasa said, controlling his emotions. (The lesson left by our father, “Telling the truth is not considered courage, it is the obligation of each of us” and in our hearts, we know that he has done his duty to his country.)

“Kapag nakikita mong mali, dapat sitahin mo, hindi para pulaan kung hindi para magkaroon pa ng pagkakataon na maitama ito,” he recounted, echoing his father’s core belief that had driven him throughout his career. (When you see something wrong you should point it out not to criticize but to have a chance to correct it.)

He also shared that his uncle Roy Mabasa had a meeting with the United States Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, and they talked about the unresolved nature of Percy’s case, emphasizing the critical need for media freedom and protection.

The ambassador took to X (formerly Twitter) to express her frustration, declaring, “Nearly one year later, Percy Lapid’s case remains UNRESOLVED. Journalists deserve to do their work free of violence, intimidation, and harassment.”

The discussion also focused on the state of press freedom in the Philippines, where journalists continue to face unprecedented threats and dangers.

Noel Pangilinan, a professor at the College of Mount Saint Vincent, cited reports that the Philippines ranks as the seventh most dangerous country for journalists globally, where 85 journalists have been killed with impunity between 1992 and 2021.

From September 2012 to August 2022, 14 cases of murdered journalists remained unsolved, leaving perpetrators free to roam.

Speaking from her experience as a journalist in the Philippines, Coronel talked about two high-profile cases, Marlene Esperat and Edgar Damalerio. Esperat was a chemist turned journalist, who dared to expose rampant corruption within the Department of Agriculture.

Marlene’s investigation revealed that a staggering 60% of funds allocated to aid impoverished farmers were lining the pockets of unscrupulous officials.

Edgar Damalerio, a radio host and newspaper editor in Pagadian, faced a similar fate. His unrelenting pursuit of justice led him to uncover the embezzlement of substantial funds meant for a bridge project. This revelation enraged those in power, culminating in his targeted assassination in 2002.

Coronel underscored that achieving justice is a laborious process, often fraught with roadblocks. Even with public pressure, it took three years to apprehend Edgar Malaria’s killer. In the infamous Ampatuan massacre case, where 32 journalists fell victim to a powerful political clan, justice took a staggering ten years to be served.

As the panel discussion concluded, Ressa posed a thought-provoking question to the audience, the same one she asks in her book ‘How to Stand Up to Dictators’.

“The question that I asked in the book is a simple one that I

Filipino American SAG-AFTRA members...

will ask every single person in this room. Simple question. What are you willing to sacrifice for the truth?” Ressa said. “Because ultimately, if we don’t have that, we have nothing.”

For his part, Mabasa concluded his talk by asking the audience to join their family in their quest for justice. “Kung meron man kaming hihilingin sa inyo, iyon ay ang samahan kami sa laban na ito. Dahil alam natin na hindi magpapatuloy ang aksyon ng gobyerno kung walang sigaw ng Hustiya para kay Percy Lapid at sa lahat ng mamamahayag na walang awang pinaslang,” he said. “Hindi titigil ang pagpatay kung hindi mahuhuli ang mga makapangyarihang mamamatay tao. Muli naming ipinaaalaala na wag naman sana maibilang lamang sa istatistiko ang nangyari sa aming ama. Tulungan niyo po kami na makamit ang hustisya.” (If there is anything we ask of you, it is to join us in this fight. Because we know that the government’s action will not continue without the cry of Justice for Percy Lapid and all the journalists who were mercilessly murdered. The killings will not stop unless the powerful killers are caught. We hope that our father’s death will not just become part of statistics. Please help us achieve justice.)

Community organizations such as the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) and the U.S. Filipinos for Good Governance have set up a GoFundMe account to help support Mabasa’s family. n

The rallying cry for industry reforms reverberated further as attendees discussed the potential ramifications of failing to address these crucial issues. The work stoppage caused by strikes not only impacts the actors but has a ripple effect, affecting numerous ancillary businesses associated with productions.

Dela Fuente shared insights into the economic repercussions of the strike, saying, “Imagine the cost and of course they imagine the cost of that and times hundreds of shows that are shut down. Imagine the cost of all the time imagine the cost to all the ancillary businesses that can’t work because we’re out of because we’re you know, because of the work stoppage. It’s billions of dollars.”

In a resounding call for unity, he emphasized that the fight for industry reforms extends far beyond actors themselves. It is a collective endeavor to reshape an industry that has for too long relied on outdated norms.

For Aquino, being present at the rally was about making her voice heard and standing up for the collective importance of every individual within the community. She emphasized that each voice matters, and together, they can

effect meaningful change.

Aquino commended the union for its support and the valuable programs it offers, such as the SAG conservatory, which allows actors to continue their education.

A member of SAG-AFTRA since 1991, Dela Fuente recalled his project, an ABC after-school special miniseries led to his union membership. He emphasized the significance of being a part of SAG-AFTRA, citing the support in terms of livelihood, pensions, and health programs.

As the rally concluded, the resounding message from Dela

Fuente, Aquino and fellow members of SAG-AFTRA was clear: it is time for the entertainment industry to evolve, embrace inclusivity, and recognize the invaluable contributions of all its stakeholders.

Dela Fuente disclosed his involvement in a spin-off of “The Walking Dead” and addressed the challenges posed by industry strikes. He expresses gratitude for AMC’s willingness to negotiate, ensuring that both parties can continue working together. (Momar G. Visaya/ AJPress)

US to ‘invoke’ defense pact in attack...

these portions of the sea to the possible detriment of the protected marine areas.”

‘Evidence’

The Manila-based think tank’s tirades come as the PCG admitted on Saturday that it could not remove the entire floating barrier installed by the CCG and that it was only its anchor that they could cut and retrieve.

Tarriela said the PCG will use the retrieved anchor as evidence should the Philippine government file charges against China for its activities in the West Philippine Sea.

The PCG and BFAR also encouraged Filipino fisherfolk to sail and catch fish at the Bajo de Masinloc after the “illegal and hazardous” floating barrier was removed.

The area remains free from floating barriers as of Saturday, according to a maritime domain flight conducted by the PCG, although Chinese vessels were

still spotted in the shoal.

Fishermen are not WPS intelligence agents

Ang Probinsyano partyList Rep. Alfred de los Santos, deputy majority leader of the House of Representatives, on Saturday, opposed plans by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to use Filipino fishermen to gather intelligence and evidence in the disputed coastal waters in the WPS and the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

De los Santos issued the statement after fishery group Bigkis ng Mangingisda Federation said that fishermen around Scarborough Shoal are offering to monitor the situation in the WPS as they are “the best source of information on what is happening there.”

AFP Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner had said that the military plans to train fisherfolk in the disputed area as reserve forces to “defend the country” against intrusions by China.

But de los Santos said that putting fishermen as “intelligence agents” may endanger their lives and urged soldiers, professionals and trained reservists to do their job. He added that it was the main reason the House has decided to move the confidential and intelligence funds from civilian agencies to the PCG and other agencies tasked to monitor the situation in the WPS.

“The Philippine Coast Guard has the mandate on maritime and marine environment law enforcement extending out to the EEZ. The Bantay Dagat sea wardens are for coastal fisheries law enforcement,” de los Santos added.

He said it would be better to mobilize the Coast Guard auxiliaries and military reservists if the Coast Guard and the AFP need more people to gather evidence and intelligence. (Javier Joe Ismael, Franco Jose C. Baroña and Red Mendoza/ManilaTimes.net)

In a solemn tribute in New York City, Percy Mabasa's wife, Liza, and their son, Mark (4th and 3rd from left), joined the memorial service in New York. The event featured insightful discussions on critical topics including press freedom and democracy in the Philippines, with notable speakers (from left) Noel Pangilinan, Sheila Coronel, Maria Ressa, and Loida Nicolas Lewis. AJ Press Photo by Momar Visaya

Ronny Chieng, actor, comedian and senior correspondent on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show

Ivory Jeans Aquino, known for portraying transgender activist Cecilia Ching in the 2017 series When We Rise and was cast as a principal cast of the unreleased superhero film Batgirl.

Regulate secret funds

IN handling massive amounts of public funds, the less personal discretion is entrusted to public officials, the better for good governance. This principle partly underpinned the decision of the Supreme Court to abolish the congressional pork barrel. Now it turns out that lawmakers aren’t the only ones enjoying control over billions in discretionary funds.

Amid scrutiny of huge amounts of confidential funds allocated to Sara Duterte as Vice President and during her six years as Davao City mayor, the Department of the Interior and Local Government has explained that local government units are allowed by law to have secret funds for dealing with peace and order problems in their communities. DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos, himself a former mayor, said the allocation of confidential funds to LGUs “is just fine… as long as it is not abused.”

Editorial

And there lies the rub, in this land of endemic corruption, where many politicians along with their extended families and business cronies treat public coffers as their personal piggybanks. This is done easily when the requirements for transparency and public accountability in the utilization of people’s money are relaxed. And they are most relaxed in the case of confidential and intelligence funds or CIF. Little wonder that dynasty-building is shamelessly out of control, and murder is rampant in local politics.

CIF allocation requests are rising exponentially each year in the executive branch. Taxpayers won’t begrudge security and certain civilian agencies

Babe’s Eye View

BaBe Romualdez

WHEN President Marcos received confirmation from National Security Adviser Secretary Eduardo Año that indeed, the Chinese Coast Guard had installed a floating rope and net barrier at the Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal, without hesitation the president decisively gave instructions to dismantle the barrier. Secretary Año is chair of the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea, and he was more than happy to immediately order the Philippine Coast Guard to conduct a special operation implementing the president’s directive.

Aside from posing a hazard to navigation, the 300-meter-long floating barrier that obstructed the southeast entrance of Bajo de Masinloc was also preventing fisherfolk from conducting activities in an area that the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration arbitral ruling declared as traditional fishing ground of Filipino fishermen. News of the decisive action taken by the president reverberated well not only among Filipinos but the international community as well. The president made it very clear when he said during a news briefing the other

Just Thinking

DON’T let the view outside your window deceive you.

That’s no romantic Parisian fog; it’s the city smog! I take little comfort in knowing that the haze is not a harbinger of another Taal eruption. Members of our government have thus given the same, now all too familiar advice:

Mask up!

There seems to be no escaping face masks in the Philippines. Even before the not-so-new normal imposed by COVID-19, we Filipinos were ahead of the curve. In January 2020, when Taal Volcano erupted for the first time in 43 years, we raided our local drugstores and stockpiled face masks. Little did we know that our mask hoarding and price gouging would foreshadow the challenges that lay ahead. For the next three years, veiling our faces would become a matter of law.

secret funds. People won’t mind realigning billions in confidential funds to agencies that are clearly in dire need of greater funding, such as the Philippine Coast Guard.

The PCG received a total of P118.7 million in confidential funds in the past 17 years.

Compare this with the P125 million in confidential funds that the Office of the Vice President received in the final months of 2022, and spent in December. Whether it was spent within 19 days, as Vice President Duterte maintains, or just 11 days, as Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo has said, the allocation still speaks volumes about the spending priorities under the current administration.

The P125 million pales in comparison to the even larger secret funds allocated to Davao City when Sara Duterte was the mayor. Annual audit reports on the city conducted by the Commission on Audit showed that the city government incurred a whopping P2.697 billion in confidential expenses from 2016 to 2022, surging from P144 million in 2016 to P460 million annually from 2019 to 2022. Davao’s confidential spending was greater than those of larger or wealthier cities including Cebu, Quezon City, Manila and Makati.

There are state security agencies specifically tasked to maintain peace and order and protect the citizenry. Why should more tax money be allocated outside these agencies for the same

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

day, “We are not looking for trouble, but we will continue to defend the maritime territory of the Philippines and the rights of our fishermen, who have been fishing in those areas for centuries.

With the barrier removed, fishermen were able to catch 164 tons of fish on that day alone, giving a very clear picture of the economic losses our fisherfolk have been suffering due to intimidation and aggression from China Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels in areas within our exclusive economic zone.

There is no doubt our fishermen have long endured Chinese harassment. It is truly heartbreaking to hear fisherfolk recount the struggles they faced at having been deprived of their livelihood, the frustration and helplessness they felt at being unable to put food on the table, lamenting that they have been made to feel like thieves in their own backyard.

What is equally mortifying is the wanton destruction of our coral reefs, with the damage to our reef ecosystem amounting to billions of pesos every year. No leader with any sense of decency and humanity would tolerate such desecration of rich maritime resources that Senate President Migz Zubiri rightly described as “God’s gift” to mankind.

It is extremely ironic that China has the audacity to claim that

The worst days of COVID-19 may be behind us, or so we would hope, but that doesn’t mean we can cast our N95 masks aside. As we live and breathe beneath the sullied skyline, face masks are here to stay. Our very own out-ofhousehold staple. We celebrated International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies (Sept. 7) and World Car-Free Day (Sept. 22) in the shadow of pollutants and vehicular emissions. Yet, alas, there’s more than just environmental pollution in the air. It’s thick with political intrigue, corruption, and the haze of misinformation. Indeed, news on the smog that contaminates our city is overshadowed by smoke and mirrors. By graft, bribery, and plunder.

Enter the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) request for P250 million in confidential funds, ostensibly—and most ironically— for the “safe implementation of various projects and activities under the Good Governance program” in 2022. This request raises eyebrows given the cloud

we are the ones destroying the environment with the presence of the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal. As Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro succinctly pointed out, China’s statement is hypocritical.

“Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!” Secretary Teodoro fired back, pointing out that China continues to damage the West Philippine Sea and the marine environment by conducting illegal reclamation activities in violation of international law.

The president’s decisive action and the courage displayed by the Philippine Coast Guard as well as the Armed Forces of the Philippines have lifted the morale of Filipinos. This is very evident in the comments and reactions to stories carried by international news outlets. For instance, in the report filed by BBC News about the removal of the floating barrier where Bajo de Masinloc was described as “contested territory,” many commenters pointed out that the area is “not contested since it is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone,” with many more expressing their support and admiration for the Philippine Navy, the Armed Forces and the PCG.

It is heartwarming to see the encouragement coming from people in other parts of the world, among them India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, the UK, Ireland, the U.S., saying “Well done,

of corruption that has loomed over our nation for years. COVID-19 may be the defining global pandemic of our time, but corruption is an endemic problem as old as time itself. We are all too familiar with the stories of public funds disappearing into private pockets, of the elected, the appointed, and the powersthat-be steal and then, after, steal more. Our nation’s pockets may run deep, but when it comes to corruption, avarice runs apace.

Particularly, in Vice President Sara Duterte’s case, at a rate of almost P500,000 per hour. That is to say, at P125 million of confidential funds spent in just 11 days. But interestingly, when we put the OVP’s expenditure into question, and rightfully so, it is not simply a money matter. Private siphoning of funds may be nothing new (we’ve seen it many times before in the shape of the “pork barrel” system, discretionary disbursements, etc.), but using the guise of “confidence” raises the stakes in an unfamiliar and

Filipinos! We are proud and stand by you,” “I’m very proud of my brothers and sisters in Philippines,” “God bless the Filipinos for standing up and defending its sovereign territory. May all ASEAN countries stand together as one,” and similar comments.

In fact, support from the international community has been growing, expressing solidarity with the Philippines and its pushback against the continuing aggression of China in the West Philippine Sea. More countries are also keen to conduct joint maritime activities with the Philippines, such as Canada, whose Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Ottawa sailed with BRP Antonio Luna and performed joint maneuvers in the West Philippine Sea a week ago.

Early this month, the Philippines will be hosting joint naval exercises with the U.S. on the fundamentals of anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, anti-air warfare and electronic warfare, with interoperability drills to focus on “warfighting serials.” Dubbed “Samasama” (together), the exercise will also have participants from Japan, Canada, the UK and Australia along with personnel from France, New Zealand and Indonesia.

In a phone call to President Marcos, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed support for the Philippines in

unexpected way. By engaging in corruption through the medium of confidence, Duterte sets herself up against a much higher standard and, possibly, a much harder fall.

The terms “confidential” and “confidence” share etymological roots in the Latin term confidere (to have full trust). The misuse of P125 million is thus not only a pecuniary issue. It is a personal one. The matter on confidential funds is thus, at its heart, a matter of confidence. The OVP has asked us to place our trust in it with P125 million. Regrettably, we cannot.

Some may argue that the subpar state of government services in the Philippines is a result of a weak economy.

“The Philippines is not a rich country,” so I’ve heard. But let’s be clear, our nation boasts an estimated GDP of P24.56 trillion!

Yet, no matter how deep these pockets may be, greed knows no boundaries; it only hungers for more. However deep these pockets go, greed does not go

purpose, and with politicians given wide berth to spend huge amounts as they please? It’s time to put discretionary funds under tighter rein. (Philstar.com)

the face of Chinese aggression. France had earlier offered to help the Philippines develop its submarine force to boost the country’s maritime capabilities.

Certainly, funding support from Congress will bolster the capability of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, NSC, AFP and PCG to conduct intelligence work together with our allies and partners. Surveillance equipment is also being upgraded, with the PCG receiving a boost through the US donation of a P250-million training center and P11 million worth of monitoring equipment to enhance their maritime law enforcement efforts. During her visit last November, U.S.

Vice President Kamala Harris lauded the PCG for being “on the

only farther. It grows wider.

It is not only shocking, but disturbing that, in a country where 50 percent of Filipino families self-rate themselves as poor, where three million families endure involuntary hunger, and where 95 children succumb to malnutrition daily, the appetites and the avarice of the privileged few remain insatiable. Our country’s situation is not a case of lack of means but mismanagement. It provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs. Just not every man’s greed.

My journey in advocating for accountability and justice began in high school, participating in public rallies and calls for change. In 2008, I recall decrying the rampant corruption under the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo administration with a slogan simple yet profound:

“Moderate your greed!” This wasn’t some starry-eyed plea for an unattainable utopia; quite the opposite. It was a pragmatic demand in an imperfect world

frontlines of standing up for the international rules-based order.”

All these recent developments have awakened a greater sense of patriotism among Filipinos who no longer feel helpless and alone, especially with likeminded nations being supportive of efforts to push back and assert our maritime territorial rights and protect our sovereignty in the wake of China’s relentless bullying and aggression. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! (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

that often takes too much and gives too back little.

Every Thursday for the past year and a half, I’ve had the distinct honor of dedicating this column to delve into these imperfections with the aim of understanding them not only better, but more deeply. Even now, as I briefly step away to continue my humanitarian work in Geneva, I hold onto the optimism that the solutions to age-old issues are within our grasp. The problems of our time won’t disappear on their own. The political winds may shift and change, but these issues will not blow over. We must face them, steadfast, ready, and armed. With more than just thoughts, but with just thinking.

* * *

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.

* * * thinkjustly@gmail.com

‘Philippines economy losing steam’

by Lawrence agcaoiLi Philstar.com

MANILA — The Philippine economy is losing steam much faster than anticipated, prompting another foreign bank to slash the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast this year.

In its latest Asia Economic Outlook Q4 2023, ANZ said it has lowered its GDP growth projection for the Philippines to five percent, from 5.8 percent, for this year.

Rising prices still top concern among Filipinos — Pulse Asia

by gaea Katreena caBico Philstar.com

MANILA — Controlling the rising prices of goods and services remained the top concern of most Filipinos, a survey by pollster Pulse Asia showed.

The survey conducted from September 10 to 14 found that 74% of Filipinos said that taming inflation was their “leading urgent national concern” that the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. must address immediately. The figure was 11 percentage points higher than the June survey. “Public sentiment on the matter is virtually unchanged between June 2023 and September 2023 as well as year-on-year,” Pulse Asia noted.

In all regions, managing inflation, which accelerated to 5.3% in August, was the topmost concern. It was highest in Visayas at 80%, followed by Mindanao at 79%, Balance Luzon at 72%, and Metro Manila at 66%.

The survey also found that public disapproval of how the Marcos government is handling inflation has risen to 56% in September from 37% in June.

Only 16% said they approved of the administration’s response to inflation, and 28% were undecided.

A separate Pulse Asia poll showed that the approval rating of Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte has declined by double digits. The two top officials, however, maintained majority support from the public.

Other top concerns

The second top concern of Filipinos was increasing the pay of workers (49%).

Other concerns of the public were creating more jobs (27%), reducing poverty (25%), and fighting graft and corruption in the government (22%), fighting criminality (18%), addressing involuntary hunger (14%), providing assistance to farmers (13), and enforcing the law (11%).

Less than 10% of respondents identified providing support to small entrepreneurs, promoting peace, stopping environmental destruction, defending the integrity of the Philippine territory, reducing taxes, protecting the welfare of migrant workers, and preparing to face any kind of terrorism as their major concerns.

The Marcos administration had majority approval ratings in protecting overseas Filipino workers (74%), helping calamityhit areas (72%), promoting peace (63%), defending national territory (59%), combating crime (57%), enforcing rule of law

UN: Remove all barriers to right to information

by Pia Lee-Brago Philstar.com

MANILA — The United Nations has called on governments to remove all barriers to the right to information, which it described as “the oxygen” that would make democracy and development flourish.

Many states have reportedly adopted laws on access to information, with some even recognizing access to the internet as a legal right, but these laws are often not implemented effectively, UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression Irene Khan revealed.

She noted that various tactics are used to restrict or deny access to information, both online and offline, to investigative journalists, human rights defenders and other civil society representatives.

Khan reported that over the past five years, governments in more than 74 countries have shut down or slowed down the internet or blocked mobile communications for intermittent or prolonged periods. These measures affected access to information and disrupted health, education and other essential services.

“Information, freedom of expression and active participation, online and offline, of youth, civil society and independent media are vital, whether to tackle global challenges, such as climate change and pandemics or to break age-old patterns of discrimination, exclusion and violence,” she said.

In the Philippines, the passage of a Freedom of Information Law is crucial for Filipinos to exercise their right to access government-held information.

Such a law will empower citizen participation in demanding for transparency and accountability from the government. All branches of the government will be mandated to disclose all documents as well as the procedures for accessing these documents.

Khan explained that access to information, whether online or off, enables people to be better informed and better equipped to participate in decision-making, to improve the quality and sustainability of development outcomes.

By empowering citizens, civil society and the media to hold governments and companies to account, she said it makes democracy more meaningful. n

October to see 1.9M metric tons of rice harvest — DA-BPI

by Jean MangaLuz Inquirer.net

MANILA — The Philippines will be able to harvest 1.9 million metric tons this month,

Department of AgricultureBureau of Plant Industry (DABPI) Director Glenn Panganiban on Tuesday, October 3.

“For October, as I’ve mentioned, we are expecting almost 1.9 million metric tons of rice for this month, so that will jump our days to last or our supply of rice to 74 days,” said Panganiiban in a Palace briefing.

Last September, the beginning stock was recorded at 1.38 million metric tons, according to Panganiban’s report.

(55%), providing assistance to farmers (55%), and protecting the environment (54%).

More Filipinos also disapproved of the administration’s work in fighting corruption and reducing poverty.

The survey was conducted at a time when lawmakers deliberated the budget for 2024, the government set price ceiling for rice, and the inflation quickened after a six-month downtrend.

The poll was based on interviews with 1,200 Filipino adults, and had a ± 2.8% error margin at the 95% confidence level. n

“The Q2 2023 outcome was weaker than anticipated and prospects are subdued. Private consumption growth should continue to moderate on the back of slower growth in remittances and an uninspiring pattern of job creation,” ANZ said.

It added that both the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and World Bank have confirmed that the bulk of new job creation has been in agriculture and sales, both of which are low paying.

GDP growth slowed significantly to 4.3 percent in the second quarter from 6.4 percent in the first quarter of the year, bringing the average to 5.3 percent in the first half and way below the government’s six to seven percent target for 2023.

ANZ said the flow of funds data suggests households are dissaving and the only tangible support to household consumption has been credit.

“Consumption credit has been rising in double digits and is also

reflected in sturdy auto sales and consumer goods imports. However, this support is unlikely to be sustained in the face of higher interest rates and tighter bank lending standards,” it said.

According to ANZ, the recent implementation of a new liquidity absorption tool by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) would only enhance the transmission of the increases in the policy rate to lending and deposit rates.

The BSP‘s Monetary Board raised interest rates by 425 basis points between May last year and March this year to tame inflation and stabilize the peso that slumped to an all-time low of 59 to $1 last October.

It maintained a hawkish pause for four straight rate-setting meetings in May, June, August and September amid the inflation downtrend and the stable local currency.

Inflation averaged 6.6 percent and stayed above the BSP’s two to four percent target range after quickening to 5.3 percent in August after easing for six straight months to 4.7 percent in July from a peak of 8.7 percent last January.

“The outlook for inflation has deteriorated, owing to the recent rise in food and energy prices. While the intensity of the emerging El Niño or the effectiveness of the recently imposed rice price ceiling are yet to be established, the momentum in headline CPI (consumer price index) suggests it will fall back into the central bank’s target

range of two to four percent only in Q1 2024, compared with our earlier expectation of Q4 2023,” ANZ said.

ANZ sees inflation accelerating to six percent this year from 5.8 percent last year before easing to 3.5 percent for 2024 and three percent in 2025.

According to ANZ, the Monetary Board is likely to keep the benchmark interest rate at 6.25 percent until the end of next year “Our view is that the BSP will hold the policy rate at 6.25 percent and that a cut is unlikely even in 2024,” it said. For 2025, ANZ expects the BSP to slash interest rates by 50 basis points.

ANZ pointed out that outlook for exports for the Philippines remains muddy.

“Our GDP growth forecasts for key markets for Philippines’ exports suggest weaker demand in 2024. Admittedly, the tech cycle is now reviving but the strength of the rebound is yet to be established. The competitiveness of the Philippines’ electronics industry is also debatable,” it said.

The Philippines managed to trim its trade deficit to $13.2 billion in the second quarter from $14.7 billion in the first quarter owing to weaker domestic demand and improving terms of trade.

“Unfortunately, the more recent surge in food and energy prices will complicate further progress. Food and energy account for 25 percent of the overall import bill,” it said. n

Panganiban added that together with the increased harvest, the price of rice has decreased in several areas. He, however, did not specify the areas with decreasing prices.

“The indicators point that there are decreasing prices observed in the market from our implementation starting last month until today, and then we are expecting an increased supply of our local harvest coming this last quarter – for October, November, and then the rest of the year,” said Panganiban. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has previously hinted at the possibility that the rice price cap may be lifted after the harvest season. n

VEGAS&STYLE

‘We’re gonna be married for the rest of our lives’: Catriona Gray, Sam Milby enjoy wedding planning

MANILA, Philippines — Celebrity couple Sam Milby and Catriona Gray revealed that they are enjoying their wedding planning.

Philstar.com asked the couple about their wedding preparation during the red carpet of ABS-CBN Ball 2023 held at Shangri-La Makati last Saturday.

“We're just really taking out time on the planning and enjoying our time as engaged couple because we're gonna be married for the rest of our lives,” Catriona said.

“We just want to enjoy,” she added.

It was Sam and Catriona's first time to walk on the ABS-CBN Ball red carpet together. The couple seem like getting married in their outfits - Catriona in a sparkling white gown with baby blue boa, and Sam in a black-and-white suit by Edwin Tan.

The "Pinoy Big Brother" alumnus and Miss Universe 2018 announced that they are engaged last February.

In their respective Instagram accounts, the couple posted the same photos of them together.

"Living in an answered prayer with my best friend. I love you, fiancè (eeeeee) @samuelmilby," Catriona captioned her post.

Dolly de Leon calls for safeguards in entertainment industry amid rise of AI

by HannaH Mallorca Inquirer.net

WITH the emergence of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in television and film, Dolly de Leon lent her voice and influence to call on entertainment industry leaders to provide safeguards to those who are at risk of losing their jobs to the fast-rising technology.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News, which was uploaded on its YouTube channel, De Leon said show business should be wary about the emergence of AI as it is starting to make a mark in the entertainment industry.

my forever

Late Dolphy gets ‘long-overdue’ recognition

by Nathalie tomada Philstar.com

IN true comedy fashion, something funny happened when entertainment industry people gathered for the third Film Industry Month’s closing ceremony to honor comedy icons and idols led by the late Rodolfo Quizon Sr., popularly known as Dolphy.

The Film Development Council of the Philippines, helmed by Tirso Cruz II, dedicated the entire month of September to the celebration of Philippine comedy. The monthlong series of events culminated with the recognition of the King of Comedy, who passed away in 2012 at the age of 83.

“This is really our way of recognizing Tito Dolphy, Da King, no one can dispute that he’s really the king of comedy and that will be forever. I think it will take many, many more years for someone to come close to what Dolphy has established and done. And the most important thing is what he has done for Philippine cinema,” said Tirso.

“It’s a long overdue recognition for somebody who should be a National Artist,” also noted veteran director and FDCP technical consultant Jose Javier Reyes.

It was Maricel Soriano, bestknown for working with Dolphy in the sitcom John En Marsha, who presented the citation onstage at Acacia Hotel Manila in Alabang. Receiving on behalf of the Quizons was Dolphy’s son Eric Quizon.

“Thank you for honoring my dad because if you honor him, you honor us as well. Our family is very grateful for this recognition,” began Eric whose mic suddenly went off as he started to quote a line from his late father’s book, prompting him to dispense some anecdotes about how his father was ‘making his presence felt.’

“This is not the first time.

Two days ago, I was reading his book, my TV turned on its own. Yesterday, I was at the bathroom, yung salamin ko sa banyo umiilaw yun ‘pag pinipindot. Pero bumukas siya, sumara, bumukas ulit. Then somebody told me, it might be your Dad. So, I guess Dad this is for you (laughs),” Eric said.

To which the FDCP chair quipped: “Eto kasi ‘di mo pinapansin yung ‘pag bukas ng ilaw. Ah ganun ayaw mo ako pansinin, pwes tanggalan kita ng mic.”

Eric further said, “I guess, He’s just trying to tell me something. Probably, he wants to convey his gratitude to FDCP. If I may quote from his book, hindi ko marating ito mag-isa. You’re honoring my dad but my dad said you’ll never be the great man that he is without his co-actors. Remember, in comedy, it’s a give and take. You also need to have a good partner. Kung hindi magagaling yung kasama mo, hindi ka rin mag-shashine (If the people you’re with are not good, you won’t be able to shine).”

Eric then expressed his big hopes for comedy.

“You know, in the last couple of years, comedy was like a dying art. I guess, this, with what the FDCP is doing, hopefully, mabalik natin ulit ang ningning ng komedya,” he said. This would set the tone of the night, which went on to honor other artists for their important

and tremendous contributions to the business of making people laugh, namely, Ai-Ai delas Alas, Eugene Domingo, Vice Ganda, Michael V and TVJ (Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon).

Except for Michael V, the rest of the honorees were a no-show due to various reasons. The two female comedians Ai-Ai and Eugene, who were in the U.S. and Europe at the time of the awarding, were respectively represented by son Sancho Vito and bestfriend, director Chris Martinez.

Meanwhile, the anticipated meeting of TVJ and Vice, hosts from rival noontime shows E.A.T. and It’s Showtime, didn’t happen as the former sent their sons to represent them, while Vice gave a message through a representative from Star Cinema, the producer of the comedian’s biggest blockbusters films.

“I dedicate this honor to everyone who continues to trust and support my brand of comedy,” read Vice’s message through rep Daniel Saniana. “I draw strength from you to continuously bring joy and happiness.

“To the LGBTQIA+ community, this is our victory. It is a symbol that we are recognized by the industry we love so much. Long live the Film Development Council of the Philippines and all the Filipino comedians who tirelessly make us all happy! Thank you very much!”

Receiving on behalf of TVJ were their sons — Quezon City Vice Mayor Gian Sotto, Oyo Sotto and Jako de Leon.

Gian said, “A simple message lang po na gustong iparating ng aming tatlong tatay. It’s always been in their heart itong word na ito, which is we rise by lifting each other up.

“Sa totoo lang po, wala tayong ibang gustong gawin sa industriyang ito kundi magbigay ng saya at iangat talaga yung kapwa natin. And our hope and prayer is that we continue to help each other out.

“Let’s pull each other up because this is the only way for Philippine cinema to be known all throughout the world. We are truly humbled and truly grateful for this recognition for TVJ.”

Jako, for his part, said, “One thing that I was thinking about earlier, on the way here, was a quote. It says, ‘No person has ever been honored for what they’ve received. People are honored for what they’ve given.’

for us who are here for our dads, we’re very proud of it. It’s very humbling and very grateful, we’re very grateful for it.”

Oyo also reiterated the messages of thanks, “Congratulations, Daddy, Ninong Tito and Tito Joey! And thank You, God, for everything!”

Michael V, creator, brains and star of the longest-running gag show Bubble Gang and other comedy shows, who made sure to accept his award personally, made audiences laugh and reflect, as how comedy should be, with his thank you speech. This as he also gave a thought-provoking statement about the current state of comedy.

“I just want to make an announcement that after receiving this award tonight, I’m planning to shift careers. I will probably sign up with Vivamax to be a full-time sexy star dahil hirap na hirap na po ako maging komedyante,” began the comedian also fondly called Bitoy.

“Every generation, mas naging mahirap magpatawa. We get more and more restrictions when it comes to making jokes and punchlines. Nowadays, ‘di ka na pwede mag-joke tungkol sa superhero na African-American, na bading na suicidal na police na may kapansanan. “

Kahit ang punchline mo ay tungkol sa pagiging superhero at walang kinalaman sa race, gender, mental and physical health ng isang tao, yun at yun ang pupunahin ng mga netizens na mga dalubhasa na ngayon.

“It takes a certain level of intelligence to come up with a very entertaining punchline but a very shallow level of opinionated ignorance to destroy it. It turns out comedy is not as universal as before, and what is funny to some may not be funny to others anymore.”

Michael V then highlighted how “true” comedians will never hold back and will exert all effort to roll with the punches and keep going.

“Pero ang totoong komedyante po ay hindi magpapa-pigil. We learn, we adapt and we persevere. Ako, personally, kahit ganoon ang situation, asahan niyo po hindi ako titigil na hahanap ng paraan kahit papaano mapangiti at mapatawa kayo lahat.”

“Unless direk Joey Reyes gets me for a Vivamax full-length movie,” Michael V jokingly concluded.

The closing ceremony ended with the Film Academy of the Philippines announcing Iti Mapukpukaw (The Missing) as the country’s official entry to the 2024 Oscars.

“Papunta na tayo ‘dun. We’re lagging behind, but I think it will happen. Ngayon pa lang, may sportscasters na AI. Nangyayari na ‘yun (We’re getting there… Currently, there’s such a thing as AI sportscasters. It’s happening.) It’s something that we need to watch out for,” said the Golden Globe and BAFTA nominee, and FAMAS Best Supporting actress.

The actress then noted that people appear to be fascinated with what AI can do, they should keep a watchful eye on AI since more than replace the jobs of many workers, it can affect the industry in general.

“Kailangan nating bantayan. Huwag tayong mag-relax at matuwa masyado sa AI kasi that could mean lost jobs for the people (We must be vigilant. Let’s not get too complacent or celebrate AI too much lest we forget that it could mean lost jobs for other people),” she said.

Hollywood, of which De Leon

has had a taste of with “Triangle of Sadness,” recently came under protests mounted by actors and writers who enjoined studios to provide them AI protection.

De Leon is currently in the US for the Hollywood premiere of “A Very Good Girl” with co-star Kathryn Bernardo.

Eddie Garcia Bill

Meanwhile, de Leon is “very hopeful” that the Eddie Garcia bill would eventually be turned into law, saying “many sectors” are in favor of it.

“We’re in the middle of talks now. We’re all making sure that the Eddie Garcia bill will be passed. We’re very hopeful because many sectors support it. Nasa upper house na siya (It’s currently in the upper house),” she said.

The bill, which is named to pay tribute to the late actor Eddie Garcia, aims to protect the rights of workers in the TV, film, and

radio industry. It was approved by the House of Representatives on third reading last February.

During the interview, the “Iti Mapukpukaw” star noted that the film industry would return to its rightful position in entertainment since she said watching movies in cinemas has a “different experience.”

“People kind of lost hope na parang hindi na talaga babalik, tapos magiging streaming at ‘yun na lang ang way of watching entertainment. Pero ako, I always knew na hindi mawawala ang cinema. Iba pa rin ang experience watching sa theater, diba,” she said.

(People kind of lost hope, as if the film industry wouldn’t return and streaming would be the only way of watching entertainment. But for me, I always knew that cinema wouldn’t go away. Nothing beats the experience of watching a film in a theater, right?)

SB19 launches own company 1Z Entertainment with Pablo as CEO

by HannaH Mallorca Inquirer.net

SB19 — consisting of Pablo, Josh, Stell, Ken, and Justin — took a leap in their careers as they officially launched their own company 1Z Entertainment, months after declaring they have transitioned into being selfmanaged stars.

The P-pop supergroup made the announcement during a YouTube live on Sunday, Oct. 1, where their leader Pablo will take on the role as the chief executive office (CEO). The video also showed SB19 unveiling 1Z’s “identity and logo,” which they hoped will create a “new standard of Filipino artists.”

“Sobrang excited ako kasi pinaka-pride namin itong 1Z Entertainment. Isa ito sa mga biggest achievements namin in life… 1Z Entertainment is built by the members of SB19 together with all the people behind the camera. Kasama namin sila sa 1Z (I’m so excited because 1Z Entertainment is our pride. It’s one of our biggest achievements in life. 1Z Entertainment is built by the members of SB19 together with the people behind the camera who are with us),” Pablo said. Pablo said their company aims to “challenge everything we see in the industry,” while promoting “Filipino music, Filipino talent, and the whole Filipino culture.”

“Sometimes, nabi-view pa kami as nagma-magaling kasi gusto namin ay hands-on kami sa lahat ng ginagawa namin. But in truth,

we’re just so focused on our goal, on the vision that we want to achieve that’s why we couldn’t just blindly follow the things that we were told to do… Tinake namin ang wheel. Since this is also our future, gusto namin hands-on kami sa ginagawa namin,” he said.

(Sometimes, we’re viewed as know-it-alls because we want to be hands-on in everything that we do. But in truth, we’re just so focused on our goal, on the vision that we want to achieve that’s why we couldn’t just blindly follow the things that we were told to do. We took the wheel. Since this is also our future, we want to be handson with everything we do.)

The “La Luna” singer noted that their company aimed to function as an “ecosystem” where artists can help each other create quality content in hopes of “leveling up” the entertainment industry.

“Noong nagkaroon kami ng chance na i-build ‘yung 1Z, it took all the might to take a step forward,” Pablo said. “Sobrang hirap niya kung iisipin. Pero iniisip namin we have vision and we have the people behind us na talagang tutulungan kami na ma-achieve ang [vision] na ‘yun.”

(When we had the chance to build 1Z, it took all the might to take a step forward. It’s hard if you think about it. But we believe in our vision and we have the people behind us who can help us in achieving our vision.)

‘Get you into the zone, break the norm’

Pablo underscored 1Z’s motto to create a “brighter future” for

the next generation of artists, performers and creatives alike.

“We consider this as a sanctuary or a dojo where we work on ourselves, we try to hone our talents and try to develop all the aspects and individualities. This company is inspired by SB19’s key message is to get you into the zone and break the norm,” he said.

“We believe that in breaking norms, we see that the new standard of Filipino artists unfold. It is our mission to hone breakthrough artists who express their limitless creativity and passion through groundbreaking music, arts, and entertainment in an ecosystem that is the zone,” he further explained.

SB19 also took to 1Z’s Instagram account to share their company logo andfuture goals,

The five-piece act previously spoke about managing their own label during their “Pagtatag” media launch last June, where Josh said 1Z is built for the “P-pop and OPM industry.”

“It’s a risk that we’re taking because we believe in Filipino talents. I hope we can help each other to push the arts and culture of the Philippines. This is not an easy path, it’s a big risk we’re taking right now but I hope this can inspire a lot of people who want to challenge the market and to grow the industry,” he said.

SB19 was previously under ShowBT Philippines before confirming earlier this year their “freedom” as self-managed artists.

“And TVJ in the 50 years — this is their 50th year in the industry — they’ve given so much to comedy, music, film and television. And receiving things like this… even

Eric Quizon accepts his late father Dolphy’s award from the Film Development Council of the Philippines chair Tirso Cruz III (rightmost) and technical consultant Jose Javier ‘Joey’ Reyes during the Film Industry Month’s closing ceremony. The actor-director is joined by family friend and long-time co-star of Dolphy, Maricel Soriano. Philstar.com photo

Sam Milby & Catriona Gray Photo from Instagram/@catriona_gray

Dolly de Leon Inquirer.net photo "I (FINALLY) put a ring on it! I love you

koala... now my fiancé," Sam wrote. (Philstar.com)

Premiere of ‘1521: The Quest for Love and Freedom’ celebrates Filipino history in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS - The enchanting aura of Las Vegas was adorned with Filipino culture and history as hundreds gathered at the South Point Cinemark Century Theater for the premiere of "1521: The Quest for Love and Freedom." This groundbreaking film, premiering across the United States, brings to life the story of Datu Lapulapu and his courageous warriors who valiantly defended their land against Spanish invaders in the historic Battle of Mactan in April 1521.

The film's producer, Francis Lara Ho, had a profound vision for this project. He expressed, "We didn't want to make just another movie about the Battle of Mactan. Instead, we sought to craft a beautiful love story between Diwata and Lorenzo, the heart and soul of the film."

"1521: The Quest for Love and Freedom" transports viewers to the pre- Spanish colonial era in the Philippines. The narrative unfolds through the eyes of Lapu-Lapu, portrayed by actor and director Michael Copon. It delves into a passionate love affair between Diwata, played by the awardwinning actress Bea Alonzo, and Lorenzo, portrayed by actor

Hector David Jr., a Spanish soldier under the command of Ferdinand Magellan, played by the seasoned actor Danny Trejo. It is important to note that the film is a work of historical fiction, blending real events with imaginative storytelling. The timing of the premiere is significant, as October marks Filipino American History Month. Filipino American organizations in the Las Vegas area rallied to support the movie, celebrating their heritage and the contributions of Filipinos to American history.

Jacque de Joya, President of the National Federation of Filipino American Association Nevada chapter, highlighted the importance of this event: "With Filipino Americans being the largest Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) group in Las Vegas, this event contributes to the city's commitment to cultural awareness, unity, and intercultural dialogue and understanding."

Gloria T. Caoile, Event Coordinator, echoed these sentiments, saying, "It is heartwarming to see such a large turnout. The acceptance of this event and its recognition as culturally important contributes to

What’s the flavor of the month? Bretman Rock’s ‘Da Fruity Salad’ ice cream collab

the unity and diversity that we are trying to promote within the vibrant tapestry of Las Vegas."

Sonny Vinuya, Director of Outreach for Southern Nevada from the Office of Governor Joe Lombardo, emphasized the film's role in challenging stereotypes and increasing awareness of Filipino American history: "Our exposure to Filipino American heroes is limited, so I am glad this film dispels stereotypes and showcases the rich history and culture of the Filipino community."

As "1521: The Quest for Love and Freedom" graces the screens of Las Vegas and beyond, it serves as a testament to the resilience and love that transcends borders and time. This captivating film not only entertains but also educates and inspires, shedding light on a pivotal chapter of history that deserves recognition.

For those eager to experience this cinematic masterpiece, be sure to check your local listings for showtimes. Don't miss the opportunity to embark on a journey through history and love, courtesy of this remarkable Filipino- American production.

by Kristel sAmbile Inquirer.net

IN a colorful collaboration that celebrates both Filipino American History Month and Honolulu Pride Month, Bretman Rock and Wanderlust Creamery have introduced their latest creation: Da Fruity Salad ice cream.

This vegan and dairy-free treat promises a taste of Bretman’s cherished Filipino fruit salad from his childhood.

Bretman Rock, the social media sensation known for his vibrant personality and unwavering support for LGBTQIA+ causes, has joined forces with Wanderlust Creamery to craft an ice cream flavor that’s not only delicious but also meaningful.

As part of the collaboration, the proceeds from “Da Fruity Salad” will be donated to the Golden Gays, a Philippine nonprofit dedicated to providing support and care facilities for elderly LGBTQIA+ individuals.

The creation of Da Fruity Salad was a labor of love. Wanderlust Creamery’s co-founder Adrienne

Borlongan worked closely with Bretman to capture the essence of the Filipino fruit salad. The dairy-free base is made with lentil milk while the ice cream is enriched with tropical flavors like coconut sport, jackfruit, pineapple and coconut-pandan jellies, maraschino cherries, and peach sorbet pearls, all beautifully swirled with Philippine mango jam.

To celebrate the launch of Da Fruity Salad, Bretman will be making store visits at Wanderlust Creamery’s eight locations in Los Angeles. The flavor is also available for delivery, ensuring

that fans near and far can savor this unique creation. Alongside this fruity collaboration is a selection of flavors dedicated to “growing up Filipino in America” in time for Filipino American History Month, such as the brown butter sans rival, green mango, wanderlust halo halo, mani milk tsokolate, and sapin sapin. Talk about an ice cream collaboration not only brings together the flavors of Filipino heritage but also contributes to a meaningful cause. This is one temptation we would give in to.

Photos courtesy of Vic Esquivel

Photos from Bretman Rock and Wanderlust Creamery/Instagram

TODAY’S column on food contains some data contributed by my classmate and wife, Farida I. Chua, MD, a retired Northwest Indiana pediatrician, an avid reader/researcher, and a fellow in our annual medical missionary in the rural areas of the Philippines.

As I have written in this column in the past, unless we eat food as medicine today, we shall be eating medicine as food tomorrow.

The body: A chemical factory

Whatever food we eat or beverage we drink turn into chemical ingredients, nutrients, after our gastrointestinal tract digests and absorbs them, and our body metabolizes them. Our entire body is run and controlled continuously, non-stop, by chemicals and chemical reactions our own body produces from sustenance we ingest. This is why it is essential that we eat healthy.

Our body is almost a perfect machine, compared to any manmade devices, including artificial intelligence. When we are in pain, the body automatically produces painkillers (natural intrinsic opioid substances) to reduce our discomfort. When we are scared, it produces adrenalin to prepare us (fight or flight) for any danger.

When we are bleeding, it instantly “creates” ingredients to promote clotting to stop the bleeding.

When given vaccination, it reacts by fortifying our immune system and builds a “special army” to fight (specific) future viral/bacteria invaders. And so on and so forth.

Indeed, God has gifted us with a super-wonderful body… which, unfortunately many of us abuse…leading to diseases and self-destruction…thru unhealthy lifestyle and behavior. The food we eat and liquid we drink determines whether we stay healthy or develop illnesses, from simple common cold, or serious ones, like diabetes, heart disease, or even cancer.

Our body is a large, always active, complex, amazing, and mind-boggling chemical laboratory. It automatically produces whatever chemicals we need. Of course, we must provide it the proper and healthy quantity and quality of food as its source of energy to run the chemical factory well. If we use alcohol, tobacco, and/or illicit drugs, no matter how little, the chemical composition is altered, and the negative effects take its toll, many times, in the “background” and may not be immediately obvious, until years down the line. By then, the harm to our health is done.

Inflammatory food items

Some food items cause

Food as medicine

inflammation when ingested. Other foods, the anti-inflammatory ones, cause the opposite –good, healthy, effect of fighting inflammation. Most illnesses start with inflammation (represented by the letters “itis”), as in sinusitis, gastritis, hepatitis, appendicitis, diverticulitis, arthritis, etc.

Inflammatory food items include foods with gluten, lectin, sugars (table sugar, all soft drinks, candies, cookies, bread, most desserts), most carbohydrates, foods made of wheat flour, pasta, processed foods (hot dog, hamburger, bacon, most deli items), burnt meat (from grilling at high heat), soybeans, most fast foods, trans-fats, red meats, alcoholic beverage, tobacco, and foods high in the bad omega-6 and low in good omega-3. These food items are not healthy for any of us, but especially bad for people with gout or arthritis.

Fishes to avoid

Fishes to avoid because of contaminants in them: King mackerel, marlin, swordfish, albacore tuna (high mercury content, but small light tuna fish is healthy), orange roughy, big-eye tuna, shark, swordfish, tilefish (from Gulf of Mexico). The big fishes eat the smaller fish, resulting in higher mercury and other contaminants in the big fishes.

Cancer fumes

High heat, as in grilling food items like meat, causes the oil to drop to the charcoal below, which causes dangerous (cancercausing) fumes to rise up and “attach” to the meat, which results in advance glycation, making the meat more inflammatory and potentially carcinogenic.

Cooking oil

The recommended cooking oil is light olive oil, and the extra virgin oil for (bread) dips. Avocado oil is also healthy. The 8 harmful seed oils to avoid are corn oil, canola oil, cottonseed oil, grapeseed oil, sunflower oil, rice bran oil, soy oil and safflower oil.

Nightshade vegetables

For those with arthritis, nightshade vegetables ( solanaceae ) are to be avoided as they cause more joint inflammation and pain. These veggies include tomato, potato, eggplant, pepper and paprika. They contain glycoalkaloids (for their protection against predators, like insects, bacteria, fungi, animals), which, unfortunately causes inflammation and pain for people with arthritis.

Purine

Those with gout and/or arthritis should avoid purine, which aggravates pain quickly.

Food items high in purine are venison and red meat and fried foods in general, liver, tongue, kidney, tripe, mackerel, bonito fish, sardines, anchovies, spinach, mushroom, asparagus,

TRIPLE A TO CARLA ABELLANA:

cauliflower, kale, arugula, and cabbage.

Healthy nuts

The recommended healthier nuts for regular daily intake are walnut, pecan, and pistachio. Almond, macadamia, peanuts, and others, for occasional consumption. About 1.5 to 2 ounces of any or a combination of those 3 nuts are healthy daily snacks. Nuts provide fibers, nutrients, vitamins and minerals, protein, and they help lower the LDL, the bad cholesterol.

Anti-inflammatory foods

Besides what has been stated above, here are some of the healthy, anti-inflammatory foods: Fish (ad libitum), chicken without the skin, salmon, small light tuna, pompano, pacific cod, halibut, sole, red snapper, flounder, monkfish, sandfish, sardines, mahi-mahi, unagi (eel), herring, shrimp, oyster, scallops, clams, crabs, wild Alaskan pollock, and occasional tilapia. From the produce aisle: Papaya, pineapple, avocado, pomegranates, jackfruits, apples, sweet potato, celery, onions, garlic, lettuce, radicchio, artichoke and carrots.

Proteolytic enzymes

Items that reduce inflammation and pain among those with arthritis include Bromelain (pineapple), Papain (in papaya), Rutin, Apple, Turmeric, Devil’s claw, Boswellia, and Ginger extract, Mojave Yucca, etc. Together with avoiding foods bad for arthritis, and eating antiinflammatory food items, these ingredients above may be tried if pain is still significant. Google this or check on amazon.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.

* * *

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

* * *

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

Maricel Soriano to celebrities who want to be slapped by her: ‘Masisira ang mukha niyo!’

by HannaH Mallorca Inquirer.net

MARICEL Soriano, who’s known for her fervent acting and realistic slapping scenes in movies and television, issued a word of caution to celebrities who expressed interest in wanting to experience being slapped by her, saying it would hurt. At the media conference for her new series “Linlang,” the Diamond Star said it would be very difficult to hold herself back especially in heavy drama scenes that would require her to be in character.

“Naku, sabi ko, ‘Wag, masisira ang mukha niyo.’ Kasi ang hirap. Siguro, kung comedy, madali, kasi hindi masakit. Eh ganito kapag drama, hindi ko magawa ‘yung i-control kasi ‘yung galit ko [sa character], lahat nandoon. Mahirap i-fake ang [emotions] eh,” she said.

(I told them, “No. Your face will be ruined. Because it’s hard for me to hold back. In comedy perhaps, it would be easy because it wouldn’t be too painful. But in drama, it would be difficult to control because the surge of emotions is high, everything is there. It would be hard to fake my emotions.)

The screen veteran, who stars as the mother of Victor (Paulo Avelino) and Alex (JM de Guzman), in “Linlang” then joked about Kim Chiu’s character Julianna being unfaithful to Victor with Alex.

“Siyempre, ‘yung galit ng nanay dahil dalawa kong anak tinuhog mo? Gan’un dialogue ko [sa series]. Ayan, na-kwento ko na nang slight ha (Of course, I feel the anger as a mother because you had your way with two of my children?

That’s how my dialogue went.

Okay, I already revealed certain scenes already),” she said, which made the cast laugh.

Soriano, however, said she is not offended, but rather takes as a compliment to her acting skills the remarks of celebrities who have

‘The goddess has arrived’

by Tessa Mauricio-arriola ManilaTimes.net

THE Tuviera-owned artist management group,

Triple A, was bubbling with excitement as primetime drama star Carla Abellana officially became a part of their prestigious roster during an elegant dinner party at Sampaguita Gardens.

Triple A, short for All Access to Artists, Inc., went all out to roll out the red carpet for Carla's arrival.

"The goddess has arrived," resounded the voiceover as the porcelain-skinned beauty made her entrance, visibly surprised by the grand reception.

With her shoulder-length hair and a charming strapless summer dress, Carla appeared youthful and radiant, clearly indicating that she had moved beyond the heartaches and disappointments of her past, especially her brief marriage with Tom Rodriguez. Every inch of her personified the belief that the best is yet to come.

As always, the articulate and straightforward daughter of former matinee idol Rey PJ Abellana did not shy away from any questions. In Philippine showbiz, signing with a new management often raises questions about network transfers, and Carla knew she couldn't avoid the inquiry about leaving GMA Network for rival ABS-CBN.

Confirming that her contract with GMA had expired last May, Carla affirmed that discussions were ongoing between network executives and Triple A regarding future projects.

When informed about the buzz surrounding Coco Martin's "Batang Quiapo" on ABS-CBN possibly casting her in the primetime series, she sensibly stated, "For now, there's no offer for any project with ABS-CBN, but if they approach me or extend an invitation, I'll be open to it."

However, Carla reassured her loyal Kapuso fans that there was no need to worry. She emphasized in the interview that loyalty held significant importance to her. If ABS-CBN were to extend an invitation, she admitted that making a decision would be extremely challenging. She would have to balance her loyalty to GMA, where she had made a name for herself, with her career prospects and financial responsibilities.

Triple A CEO and President Michael Tuviera, celebrity hairstylist Celeste Tuviera, Head of Operations Jacqui Cara, and Chief Operating Officer and Chief Finance Officer Jojo Oconer welcome Abellana to the family.

Triple A CEO and President Michael Tuviera, celebrity hairstylist Celeste Tuviera, Head of Operations Jacqui Cara, and Chief Operating Officer and Chief Finance Officer Jojo Oconer welcome Abellana to the family.

Whatever the outcome, one of Carla's most fervent aspirations, which she had already shared with

her new management, is the desire to work with a diverse range of actors, not limiting herself to those within the same network. It's on her bucket list to collaborate with different leading men, including her long-held dream of working with Piolo Pascual.

"Whether it's in a movie or a TV series, anything!" she exclaimed with a laugh.

In the days or weeks to come, Carla's fans will undoubtedly be closely watching to see whether she renews her contract with GMA or chooses the path of a freelancer, especially given Triple A's involvement in TV5 productions.

In the end, having a multitude of options is a positive development for the actress.

When asked how she felt about being referred to as a "goddess," Carla shared, "I believe it all started with GMA when they began calling me the 'Primetime Goddess.' I don't even know where it came from—maybe from the fans. But I know that since then, GMA has always mentioned it when I have a teleserye, so it stuck around, I guess."

Nonetheless, Carla doesn't take the title lightly. Rather than avoiding or denying it, she ensures that her performance aligns as closely as possible with such a grandiose reference.

For those who have missed Carla on the primetime TV block, there's good news. You can soon catch her in the upcoming TV series "Stolen Life" alongside Gabby Concepcion, set to premiere this November on GMA.

What ABS-CBN Ball attendees say they’re ‘forever grateful’ for

by Marinel cruz Inquirer.net

ACTRESS Kim Chiu is grateful that her big sister, Lakam, who was hospitalized early this year, was able to attend the 2023 ABSCBN Ball with her.

Actor Enchong Dee said he was happy to have had the chance to represent the country in an international film festival this year by way of Richard Somes’ “Topakk,” while Robi Domingo was thankful that ABS-CBN has “successfully rebranded” from being a broadcast network to being a storyteller and content provider, “but has remained to be in the service of the Filipino, despite the absence of a broadcasting franchise.”

They were just some of the Kapamilya talents who donned their best outfits and walked the red carpet that was set up at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel on Saturday night, September 30. They agreed that the party’s theme, “Forever Grateful,” suited the general sentiment of Kapamilya talents whose last network-organized get-together was held four long years ago. ‘We are still here’

expressed interest to receive her signature slap.

Co-star Ruby Ruiz, meanwhile, said Soriano’s reputation as someone who delivers the hardest slaps among industry greats may have been “sensationalized” a little, but in actuality, it was the veteran actress’ acting prowess coming into play.

“Noong nakatrabaho ko ‘yung

The Maricel Soriano, naririnig ko nga ‘yung sampal-sampal but after working with her, ‘yung unang eksena pa lang na naka-eksena naming siyang lahat, kasi nga diba sensationalized ‘yung sampal,” Ruiz said. “But people should really see na siya sobrang totoo ang binibigay niyang emosyon at napakahusay ng pag-arte, parang hindi siya umaarte.”

(When I worked with The Maricel Soriano, I’m already aware of her “sampalan” scenes. But after working with her, in our first scene together, people should really see that her emotions and skill in acting are real — and that her slap is merely sensationalized. She’s so good, it almost feels that she’s not acting at all.)

“Ang consequence, halimbawa, kung ang emosyon, galit ‘yun ay kinakailangan ngang sampalin, nadadala lang ‘yung sampal. To date, she’s one of the most napakahusay na artista, walang

kupas,” she further added.

(The consequence is, since she’s taken over by her emotions, it then goes to her slaps. To date, she’s one of the best actresses, her skill never went away.)

Chiu earlier said that getting slapped by Soriano in the series was a dream come true for her, and a check off her bucket list as actress. But more than being an excellent actress, Chiu revealed Soriano’s soft side when she handed the younger actress an anti-swelling spray while filming to help her face heal after their intense scenes.

“Binibigyan niya ako ng spray, ‘yung pantanggal maga. Hindi niya talaga ‘yun kinakalimutan kasi konti lang siya at sa Hong Kong lang siya nabibili. Pagkatapos ng eksena, ‘Ah, kaya pala pantanggal maga ‘yung spray. Pero binibigyan ako lagi ni Inay,” she said, referring to Soriano’s moniker among the “Linlang’s” cast.

(She gave me a spray that removes swelling. She never forgets it, as only a few items are produced and it can only be bought in Hong Kong. After the scene, Inay lends the spray to me all the time.)

“ Linlang ” also stars Kaila Estrada, Jaime Fabregas, Raymond Bagatsing, Heaven Peralejo, Anji Salvacion, and Adrian Lindayag.

“Grateful is a big word,” said Kim, who wore a silhouette gown by Francis Libiran that night. “I have so much to say ‘thank you’ for, even the small things like the smiles of the people I run into. Rather than dwell on the negative things, it’s better to just focus on the more important stuff. At the end of the day, I’m blessed that I still have work and that I’m able to eat three times a day.”

“I’m also thankful that despite everything that happened to ABSCBN, we are still here, we’re still doing what we love doing. As a result, our reach has gotten wider with all the networks and platforms that we are partnering with,” she told Inquirer Entertainment.

Enchong, who flew to Switzerland to participate in the 76th Locarno International Film Festival in August, said he was grateful for the opportunity to witness people of different nationalities all looking up to Filipinos when it comes to filmmaking. “I’m also grateful that I’m still standing here, despite the things that happened this year, not just to me personally, but also to the network. This is a night to celebrate the efforts of everyone in the industry, every Kapamilya, Kapuso and Kapatid as well as all the other networks and platforms,” said Enchong, who wore a Boom Sason suit.

Rough years

Robi had to explain why he walked the red carpet solo this year. “As much as we want Maiqui (Pineda, his fiancée) to be here, she is immunocompromised, so we said she should just relax,” said Robi, who wore a suit by Vin Orias. “Her request? Just like the movie of Kathryn (Bernardo, ‘A

Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, who walked the red carpet with fiancé, actor Sam Milby, said she was grateful to be his date this year. “My first ABS-CBN Ball was before I won Miss Universe. Now, I’m here with my fiancé,” she recalled. “Also, I’m grateful that we have had a very eventful year together, especially because we were able to travel a lot. Admittedly, at the beginning of our relationship, it wasn’t the case. This time, we’re visiting new places together. That’s really wonderful. In fact, we’ll be traveling to Canada in two weeks for a concert.”

Sam, who wore a suit by Edwin Tan, added: “I agree with Cat. Also, it’s been a rough few years for our network, the whole country and, actually, the world.

I’m just happy that we’re all surviving. It is also great to have this night dedicated to ABS-CBN Foundation.”

With this, Sam meant that the ball is more than just a night of glitz and glamor, it also gives them the opportunity to pay it forward. A portion of the funds collected from sponsors and online voting will be given to the foundation.

Meanwhile, it was interesting to note that despite his success as an actor, Donny Pangilinan is more grateful for “that good circle I can go back to—my family.”

The onscreen partner of Belle Mariano added: “Despite everything, I’m happy that our

supporters are always there; that we are able to do amazing projects like this one (‘Can’t Buy Me Love’), which is super different from the previous ones we did.”

Like Donny, Belle said she is thankful for her “own circle,” as well as for their supporters. “I’ve been reading a lot of their tweets about our show’s trailer. They’re really amazing!” said Belle, who wore a Michael Leyva ball gown. Actress and social media star Maymay Entrata said that while getting married to Canadian boyfriend, Aaron Haskell, is still far from her mind, she is thankful that, “The person I love also loves me back.”

Another reason to be grateful for, said Maymay, is the chance to be able to help the foundation. “We’ve experienced typhoons and floods. This is the least we can do to help our kababayan,” said the actress, who wore a fully-beaded Neric Beltran piece.

Meanwhile, Paulo Avelino, Kim’s leading man in the psychological-thriller “Linlang,” said: “I’m actually very grateful for a lot of things: at this point in my career, I could still work on projects I want; at this point in my life, I can still do things I want and love doing.”

JM de Guzman, who has been very vocal about his battle with various mood disorders, said he is thankful that, “I’m still breathing and fighting a good fight; that I am still able to work and entertain people; that I’m now able to help take care of my family.” JM is also in the cast of “Linlang.”

Maricel Soriano Inquirer.net photo

Kathryn Bernardo Daniel Padilla Photos by Eugene Araneta

Kim Jones and Jericho Rosales Sam Milby and Catriona Gray Very Good Girl’), she wants me to become a very good boy. I have to call her after the program when I get to my room.”

Carla Abellana Photo from Instagram/@allaccesstoartists.ph