100623 - San Diego Edition

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

Benitez operated the agency out of brickand-mortar offices in Los Angeles, where he

How is California

beating the heat?

THOUGH summer is ending in California, extreme heat is still worsening long-term. At a Sept. 26 EMS briefing, state and community organizations shared how they were adapting on the community level.

Climate change is climate chaos

Braden Kay, Extreme Heat and Community Resilience Program Manager of the California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, opened the briefing with an overview of these efforts statewide, which are highlighted at heatreadyca.com.

Although the state was largely spared from record-shattering worldwide heat, he stressed that “the impacts of heat, including heat-related deaths and illnesses, don’t just happen on headline-catching days; we’re even starting to see them in the winter.

Kay said that as heatwaves intensify, to protect Californians — especially those most

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

by AJPress

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

“This Filipino American History Month, the Biden-Harris 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 Twitter, to say he and First Lady Jill Biden are “thrilled” to celebrate the month, which honors

Marcos vows justice for 3 killed in WPS boat ramming

by Dexter Cabalza YolanDa Sotelo Inquirer.net

DAGUPAN CITY — Before the break of dawn on Monday, October 2 some 305 kilometers off Pangasinan province in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Junny Manlolo, 40, was on his fishing boat Dearyn angling for squid that he hoped to use later for bait when the vessel suddenly started to pitch and roll.

“It started to rain around 4:20 a.m. so I stood up to [take cover]. But suddenly I felt the boat shake, and I stumbled. Then our boat slowly capsized,” recalled the fisherman from Subic town in Zambales.

The anchored boat had been rammed by a large vessel, later identified by the

Filipino American SAG-AFTRA members speak out about industry reforms

by MoMar G. ViSaYa AJPress

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 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. AJPress photos by Momar G. Visaya

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“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

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 u PAGE 2

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) as the crude oil tanker Pacific Anna, based on the fishermen’s accounts and maritime traffic records at the time of the accident.

Three fishermen, including the captain of the Dearyn, died in the collision that occurred near Panatag Shoal, also known as Scarborough, or Bajo de Masinloc, a traditional fishing ground within the Philippines’ 370-km exclusive economic zone that has been under China’s control since 2012.

President Marcos on Wednesday, October 4 assured justice for the victims: the captain, Dexter Laudencia, 47; and his two crewmen, Romeo Mejeco, 38, and Benedicto Olandria, 62.

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Marcos says PH will defend borders

by Catherine S. Valente ManilaTimes.net

THE Philippines is not looking for a fight with China, but it will defend its borders against aggression, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Friday, October 6.

The president made the statement after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) carried out his orders to take down the 300-meter-long floating barrier the Chinese put up on the approach to the Bajo de Masinloc Shoal in a disputed part of the South China Sea.

Interviewed by reporters while visiting Surigao del Norte, the President insisted that putting up the barrier was not right because it was well within the Philippines’ exclusive

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

UNITED States President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are paying tribute to the contributions of Filipino Americans this October as the country marks the annual recognition of Filipino American History Month. The White House released a statement saying Filipinos and Filipino Americans “have helped forge the very idea of America.” RICE PRICES. A retailer displays varieties of rice and their prices at the Trabajo

Survey: Filipinos distrust China amid bullying at West...

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

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

White House honors Fil-Ams...

had tried to bring the country 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) n

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

Percy Lapid memorial...

PAGE 1

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.

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 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.

Columbia University journalism professor Sheila Coronel shared the stories of slain journalists Marlene Esperat and Edgar Damalerio at a panel discussion with College of Mount Saint Vincent professor Noel Pangilinan and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa held during the New York City memorial service for Percy Lapid. AJPress Photo by Momar Visaya

Filipino American SAG-AFTRA members...

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. 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 SAGAFTRA 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.

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.

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

Marcos vows justice for 3...

In a statement, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said he was “deeply saddened” by their deaths and vowed to extend assistance to the victims’ families.

He appealed to the public not to spread unfounded rumors about the incident. Panatag is one of the sites of recurring tensions in the West Philippine Sea between Philippine and Chinese vessels.

“We assure the victims, their families and everyone that we will exert every effort to hold accountable those who are responsible for this unfortunate maritime incident,” he said on his social media accounts.

“Let us allow the PCG to do its job and investigate, and let us refrain from engaging in speculation in the meantime,” Marcos said.

In a statement, the PCG said its initial investigation had pointed to Pacific Anna, a 44-meter tanker registered under the flag of Marshall Islands, saying its movement “aligns with the details provided by the fishermen … after a thorough check on marine traffic.”

small service boats to transport their bodies, as the mother boat had sustained significant damage. Interviewed by phone, Manlolo said he dove into the water after the ramming and banged his fist on the capsized boat, shouting for the other members of the 14-man crew.

Trapped inside the boat, Mandy An, the machinist, hollered for help.

“I was having a hard time finding him since it was still dark and raining,” Manlolo recalled, until another worker, Reymark Bautista, risked his life by diving and pulling An from the engine room.

But it was too late to rescue the captain and two other crew members, he said.

Manlolo, An and Bautista said they were “helpless” as they sat at the boat’s hull, waiting for their other companions who were still fishing some 20 km away.

Four hours later, eight service boats started cruising toward them, and Manlolo said he knew help was on the way.

‘Shocked’

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. n

“The PCG will reach out to the flag of the vessel and the next port to be visited by the said vessel to be boarded by the Port State Control Officers,” it said. “The PCG is committed to ensuring a thorough and impartial investigation into this tragic incident.”

Bound for Singapore

A marine traffic video provided by the PCG showed Pacific Anna traveling southwest in the waters near Panatag and passing through the stationary Dearyn.

Based on its available automatic identification system data, Pacific Anna left the port of Incheon in South Korea on Sept. 27 and was due to arrive in Singapore on Oct. 5.

A search by Inquirer Research of shipping websites as well as the insurance underwriter Steamship Mutual indicated that Pacific Anna is owned by Compass Shipping 38 Corp. Ltd., a company registered in Hong Kong. But the vessel is being managed and operated by the South Korea-based Sinokor Maritime Co. Ltd., based on publicly available information.

All three victims were from Barangay Calapandayan, a fishing village in Subic town.

The 11 survivors used their

Darwin Mejia, 35, said he and the other workers were worried sick when they saw from a distance that only the mother boat’s hull was jutting out of the water.

“We were shocked. We didn’t know that our mother boat was rammed by a passing vessel,” Mejia said.

It was his group that dove into the water to retrieve the bodies of their three companions from the boat.

They brought the remains to the shore of Barangay Cato in Infanta town, Pangasinan, the closest land area, taking almost 12 hours to get there.

“We can’t just leave our dead companions behind. They have families waiting for them,” said Mejia, 35, who had been working with the captain since he was 15.

In its report, the PCG confirmed that Dearyn’s crew had not seen the tanker coming.

“Due to the adverse weather conditions causing darkness, the crew on board the mother boat failed to detect an unidentified vessel approaching, resulting in a collision that caused the mother boat to capsize,” it said.

Before the accident, eight of the crew members were fishing in different areas in their smaller service boats, while six others,

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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.

Playwright Kristine Reyes

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

Joel Dela Fuente AJPress photos by Momar G. Visaya

Marcos says PH will defend...

economic zone (EEZ).

“Hindi naman maaari na lalagyan ng barrier na ganoon at maliwanag naman na nasa loob ng Pilipinas ‘yan (There shouldn’t be any barrier there and that is clearly within the Philippine territory),” the president said.

“Hindi tayo naghahanap ng gulo, basta’t gagawin natin, patuloy nating ipagtanggol ang Pilipinas, ang maritime territory ng Pilipinas, ang karapatan ng mga fisherman natin na mangisda doon sa mga areas kung saan sila nangingisda daang-daang taon na (We are not looking for trouble. We will continue defending the Philippines, the maritime territory of the Philippines, and the rights of our fishermen who have been fishing in those areas for hundreds of years),” he said.

“Again, many of these are operational issues and that I really cannot talk about. But in terms of taking down the barrier, I don’t see what else we could do,” the president said.

Earlier this week, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Wang Wenbin, said Beijing “firmly upholds the sovereignty and maritime rights and interests of the Huangyan island,” referring to the shoal by its Chinese name.

“We advise the Philippines not to provoke or stir up trouble,” Wang warned.

On Monday, October 2, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) released a video showing a diver

cutting a rope attached to the buoys that were holding up the barrier.

Another showed an anchor being hauled from the water into a wooden outrigger boat.

After the rope was cut, the Chinese government vessels, who were watching from a distance, moved in to remove the barrier, said Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesman for the West Philippine Sea.

“The barrier posed a hazard to navigation, a clear violation of international law,” Tarriela had said.

It also hinders the fishing and livelihood activities of Filipino fisherfolk in Bajo de Masinloc,” he added.

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

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

The barrier was spotted by the PCG and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources personnel aboard the Navy ships Datu Bankaw during a routine maritime patrol last September 22.

Filipino fishermen who frequented the area said a Chinese maritime militia service boat installed the barrier upon seeing the Datu Bankaw approach the shoal.

Bajo de Masinloc lies 240 kilometers west of Luzon and nearly 900 kilometers from the nearest major Chinese land mass of Hainan. n

PH national pleads guilty to large-scale...

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.

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 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 noncitizen 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) n

UN: Remove all barriers to right to information

by Pia lee-braGo Philstar.com

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 (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

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 governmentheld 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

How is California beating the heat...

PAGE 1

vulnerable to the heat like children, older adults, people with disabilities, outdoor workers, and those who are unhoused — “we need to talk about and prepare for heat not just in deep summer, but also from spring into the fall, or ‘second summer.’”

One key challenge with climate change, “is that it’s not just change, it’s chaos,” he added. “Often, folks say ‘You said it was gonna be hot, but it was less hot this summer.’ It’s not a linear path that every summer is going to be hotter; the weather is going to be more unpredictable.”

Unequal heat burdens

As the weather grows more unpredictable, so do its impacts, said Dr. Maggie Park, San Joaquin County Public Health Officer.

The county numbers about 750,000 people. While 88% of the land is rural, Park said, “only 8% of our population live in those rural areas.”

Describing the unequal impacts of climate chaos on the most vulnerable populations, said Park. “Even within one city, the heat burden is not shared equally. Lowincome neighborhoods with higher Black, Hispanic and Asian populations experience significantly more urban heat than wealthier and predominantly white neighborhoods, because poor and minority groups live in areas with more buildings, concrete, density, less vegetation, less trees, less heatabsorbing surfaces.”

This burden falls uniquely on the homeless, of which there are 2,319 in San Joaquin County – 1,355 unsheltered – as of 2022.

As many unhoused people don’t want to leave their tents and belongings to go to a cooling center, Park said, county public health staff have been approaching them to provide frozen water bottles, mobile shower units, and information about safe food

storage, recognizing the signs of heat-related illness, and tips for cooling down.

For migrant farm workers, another uniquely vulnerable population, Park said the main challenge her staff faces — and is surmounting — is getting “heat materials and education translated into their indigenous languages.”

Community outreach

Multilingual messaging is key to communitywide heat outreach, said Dr. Inés Ruiz-Huston, Vice President of Special Programs & Civic Engagement at Stocktonbased community organization El Concilio.

Both online social media and in-person door-to-door outreach have been key to reaching those “who go to work very early in the morning, who may miss that morning news about how hot it’s going to be and how they can stay safe,” she added.

“Boots on the ground is the most effective method,” said Ruiz-Huston. “Families are afraid to run air conditioners due to the cost of electricity, or fear of power outages,” she said. El Concilio focuses its multilingual messaging on available cooling centers and transportation to those sites.

Also critical is who is reached, Ruiz-Huston emphasized. When it comes to keeping a community safe: “Flyers aren’t enough. What is? Find the talkers representing your neighborhood. The person that knows everything about the community is their first to tell everybody in it what’s going on.”

Success stories

Sharing success stories of community heat help, Patrizia Hironimus, Executive Director of the Butte Environmental Council, noted the large populations of both wildfire survivors and environmentally active college students in Butte County. Home weatherization and extreme heat awareness workshops — where students

and other community members learn to use household materials like cardboard to deflect heat and bounce light from windows — have been a particularly effective way to pvromote heat resilience, she said.

The best way to reach wildfire survivors displaced from resilience resources like air conditioning has been through resources they do use, Hironimus added, like food pantries and farmer’s markets.

The worse the heat is, however, the harder it makes effective outreach. “If the temperature at a market is 105, the pavement will be past 110, and we can’t table outside.

We can’t tell people about the warning signs of extreme heat in the extreme heat because it’s a cognitive dissidence, if we’re saying ‘Don’t be out here.’”

Disabled and older adults

Susan Henderson, Executive Director of the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, said disabled and elderly people are a prevalent heat-vulnerable population.

Up to one in four people in the U.S. have a disability. “A large portion of that number are older people, as pretty much all of us age into disability,” she said.

Access to safe and air-conditioned housing is key to protecting disabled and older adults from extreme heat impacts, Henderson continued, as is transportation to resources like cooling centers and hospitals, and backup electricity in the event of outages.

Even when heat help is available, however, “disabled people and older adults on fixed incomes often have to bear the cost for it, and choose between electricity and other basic needs.” Key to overcoming this are accessibility audits of community heat resources, she said. “To make accommodations, ask the disabled person what they need, and how.” (by Selen Ozturk/ Ethnic Media Services) n

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.”

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.

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

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

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 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, 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 the face of Chinese aggression. France had earlier offered to

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 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)

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.

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”

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 frontlines of standing up for the

A vote of no confidence

in 2022. This request raises eyebrows given the cloud 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 powers-thatbe 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 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 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

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

demand in an imperfect world 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

Photo from the Philippine Coast Guard shows one of its divers cutting the rope of the floating barrier at Panatag Shoal.

Contributed photo

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 Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI) 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.

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

Percy Lapid memorial service sparks...

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 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

Marcos vows justice for 3...

PAGE 3

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

including the captain, had remained on the mother boat.

The fishermen were using “payao,” a type of fishing device made of hooks attached to a sturdy rope that can be lowered as deep as 1,500 meters under the sea.

A buoy is attached to the top end of the line to mark its location for fishermen. Most payaos in the Philippines are anchored to the sea floor.

Payaos help in increasing the catch and income of marginalized fishermen, who traditionally use handheld lines and nets for catching tuna and other fish.

Tensions around those waters have recently flared up between Manila and Beijing after the Philippines said it removed a 300-meter ball-buoy barrier installed by China’s coast guard near the shoal, a prime fishing spot and one of Asia’s most contested maritime features.

A 2016 arbitral ruling has upheld the Philippines’ sovereign rights to fish and exploit resources in the area, a decision China has refused to acknowledge.

China has maintained a constant presence of coast guard ships and fishing trawlers in the area. —With reports from Nestor Corrales and Reuters n

RAISING BREAST CANCER AWARENESS. Mall-goers admire the artworks on display in an exhibit held by the Kasuso Foundation, in partnership with Araneta City as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month at the Gateway Mall Activity Area in Quezon City on Tuesday, October 3. This year’s observance is themed, “Let’s Bridge the Breast Cancer Care Gap: Fair and Square,” and is aimed at raising funds and awareness for breast cancer education and support.

PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

PANATAG TRAGEDY. Of the 14 fishermen who went out to sea aboard the Dearyn early Monday, only 11 returned alive after a foreign vessel rammed it without stopping, says the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). PCG Photo

‘Philippines economy losing steam’

by

lawrenCe aGCaoili Philstar.com on the back of slower growth in remittances and an uninspiring pattern of job creation,” ANZ said.

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.

“The Q2 2023 outcome was weaker than anticipated and prospects are subdued. Private consumption growth should continue to moderate

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 ratesetting 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

LEGAL SERVICES

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

LEGAL SERVICES

STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9015992 Mr G General Repair And Maintenance Service located at 414 Vista San Lucas, San Diego, CA 92154. THE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME REFERRED TO ABOVE WAS FILED IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY ON: 04/01/2022, and assigned File no. 20229007694 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IS BEING ABANDONED BY: Romel R. Gelacio, 414 Vista San Lucas, San Diego, CA 92154. This Business is Conducted by: A Married Couple

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9018971

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

b. Moonhowlers DBA

Howling Moon Coffee located at 10439 Prospect Ave Suite H, Santee, CA 92071.

Registrant: Anna Reyes, 12019 Sabre Springs Parkway, Apt 363, San Diego, CA 92128.

This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 09/13/2023.

Signature: Anna Reyes. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 09/08/2023.

AJ 1260 09/22, 09/29, 10/06, and 10/13/2023 AJSD 1260

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9018906

Unified Realty located at 619 E. 8th St,, National City, CA 91950.

Registrant: Reynaldo Guay Tinsay, 619 E. 8th St,, National City, CA 91950. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 11/01/1989.

Signature: Reynaldo Guay Tinsay. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 09/13/2023.

1265 10/06, 10/13, 10/20, and 10/27/2023.

Janet Lim-Napoles ManilaTimes.net

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 party-list 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

LEGAL SERVICES

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9018843

a. Christine’s Movers located at 2291 Dunlop St. Business Unit 20, San Diego, CA 92111.

b. Christine & Stella Logistics INC located at 2291 Dunlop St. Business Unit 20, San Diego, CA 92111. Registrant: C & S Logistics INC, 1947 Dartmoor Drive, Lemon Grove, CA 91945. This business is conducted by Corporation.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 09/13/2023.

Signature: Arslan Turganov. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 09/13/2023. AJ 1257 09/15, 09/22, 09/29, and 10/06/2023. AJSD 1257

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9019309

Icedout Dough located at 1126 San Jacinto Glen, Escondido, CA 92026.

Registrant: Jessica Madamda Montgomery, 1126 San Jacinto Glen, Escondido, CA 92026. This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 09/08/2023.

Signature: Jessica Madamda Montgomery. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 09/20/2023.

AJ 1261 09/29, 10/06, 10/13, and 10/20/2023. AJSD 1261

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9020237

South Bay Motors located at 110

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9018561

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

Registrant: Jose Trinidad Suarez III, 215 Antoni Glen #1102, Escondido, CA 92025.

This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 09/08/2023.

Signature: Jose Trinidad Suarez III.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 09/08/2023.

AJ 1258 09/22, 09/29, 10/06, and 10/13/2023. AJSD 1258

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9019292

El Bondi Gluten Free Empanadas located at 2647 Ariane Drive, San Diego, CA 92117.

Registrant: Maria Fernanda Lopez Ortiz, 3432 Boundary St, San Diego, CA 92104. This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT

BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME.

Signature Maria Fernanda Lopez Ortiz. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 09/20/2023. AJ 1263 09/29, 10/06, 10/13, and 10/20/2023 AJSD 1263

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9019114 SD Lash Ascension located at 1923 Morena Blvd, Ste B, San Diego, CA 92110. Registrant: Caroline Nguyen, 6308 Rancho Mission Rd, #387, San Diego, CA 92108. This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME. Signature Caroline Nguyen. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 09/18/2023.

AJ 1259 09/22, 09/29, 10/06, and 10/13/2023 AJSD 1259

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9018878 Paradise View Home III located at 7373 Westbrook Ave, San Diego CA 92139.

Registrant: Bessie P. Pascual, 2015 Stillman Place, San Diego, CA 92139.

This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 03/18/2023.

Signature: Bessie P. Pascual. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 09/13/2023. AJ 1264 10/06, 10/13, 10/20, and 10/27/2023. AJSD 1264

COFFEE TIME. Mark Adrian prepares coffee for his patrons at Brew Trip in V. Luna, Quezon City on Monday, October 2. The Philippines marked National Coffee Day on Sept. 29 while International Coffee Day was celebrated on Sunday, October 1, proof that the caffeinated beverage is one of the most consumed in the world, next to water.

Fil-Am Broadway actor Eva Noblezada gives a peek of upcoming ‘Gatsby’ musical

The Tony-nominated actor performed a preview of “The Great Gatsby” musical ahead of its Oct. 12 opening

AHEAD of its opening on Oct. 12, the cast of “The Great Gatsby” musical, including Filipino-American actor Eva Noblezada, performed a series of songs in a preview last week.

Noblezada stars as Daisy Buchanan in the new Marc Bruni-directed musical that features a book by Kait Kerrigan and a jazz- and pop-influenced original score by Jason Howland and Nathan Tysen.

During the preview, Noblezada sang her heart out in the ballad “Beautiful Little Fool,” which alludes to her fear for her infant daughter to be such. “The best thing a girl can be in this world is a beautiful little fool,” she trails off, its lyrics a direct quote from the 1925 novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

She was also joined by Jeremy Jordan, who plays Jay Gatsby, in a romantic duet entitled “My Green Light.” The song starts with a playful exchange—with flying shirts—between the two leads but climaxes into a song of longing, “Only heaven knows what I might do. If I save you, will you save me, too?”

The story, set in Jazz Age,

Long Island, New York, follows the mysterious millionaire Gatsby trying to rekindle an old flame with Buchanan. Noblezada was announced to play Buchanan in July following a buzzy film acting debut in 2019 in the movie “Yellow Rose” alongside Lea Salonga. She is a Tony-nominated Broadway actor known for her role as Kim in the 2017 revival of “Miss Saigon” and as Eurydice in the 2019 musical

“Hadestown.” She earned Best Actress nominations at the Tony Awards for these portrayals.

Born to a Filipino father and a Mexican-American mother in San Diego, California, Noblezada was discovered by casting director Tara Rubin at the 2013 National High School Musical Theatre Awards.

“The Great Gatsby” musical opens Oct. 12 and runs until Nov. 12 at New Jersey’s Paper Mill Playhouse. (Inquirer.net) n

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 self-managed stars. The P-pop supergroup made

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

B*tch, we’ve got the scoop on Bretman Rock and Wanderlust Creamery’s collaboration for Filipino American History Month and Honolulu Pride Month

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.

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.

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

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Pechanga presents APO Hiking Society on Nov. 3-4

PECHANGA Resort Casino proudly presents the APO Hiking Society 50 Years USA Concert Tour 2023 that will be held on Friday, November 3, and Saturday, November 4, 2023 at 8 p.m., at the Pechanga Theater.

APO Hiking Society is one of the pillars and icons of Original Pilipino Music (OPM). Formed in 1969, the group has released 27 albums, with two successful tribute albums produced in 2006 and 2007 featuring numerous young bands.

The group started with 12 members, but only 3 remained to pursue music — Danny Javier, Jim Paredes, and Boboy Garrovillo. They have gone on to win many awards, including the first Dangal ng Musikang Pilipino by Awit Awards, the Filipino equivalent of the Grammy.

In 2009, APO was inducted to the Philippines Eastwood City Walk of Fame. In 2010, Javier, Paredes, and Garrovillo retired the group’s name after 41 years of performing. Unfortunately, in 2022, the group lost Danny Javier due to a prolonged illness. Now, to celebrate 50 years of performing, APO Hiking Society members Jim Paredes and Boboy Garrovillo are coming to the Pechanga Theater to put on a show for their fans.

Hurry! The APO Hiking Society 50 Years USA Concert only happens once! This is a show not to be missed!

Buy your tickets now from the Pechanga Box Office, or by calling 888-810-8871, or visit www.pechnga.com.

Shows in the Pechanga Theater offer a comfortable and intimate concert experience.

With 1,200 seats in its theater, each show features state-ofthe-art, acoustically perfected sound, plus comfortable chairs, and an up-close view from every theater seat. Pechanga Resort Casino offers one of the largest and most expansive resort/ casino experiences anywhere in the United States. Voted

“Best Casino in the West” by USA Today and rated a Four Diamond property by AAA since 2002, Pechanga Resort Casino provides an unparalleled getaway, whether for the day or for an extended luxury stay.

Offering 5500 of hottest slots, 152 table games, a 1,100 room and suite hotel, dining, luxury spa, and golf at Journey at Pechanga, Pechanga Resort Casino features a destination unrivaled anywhere in California. Pechanga Resort Casino is owned and operated by the Pechanga Band of Indians. For more information, call toll free (877) 711-2946 or visit www.Pechanga.com. Follow Pechanga Resort Casino on Instagram, Facebook and on X (formerly Twitter) @ PechangaCasino. (Advertising Supplement)

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

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. n

Screencap from Playbill/YouTube

Photos from Bretman Rock and Wanderlust Creamery/Instagram

San Diego hourly minimum wage will increase to $16.85 effective Jan. 1, 2024

Increase applies to all employees who work within the city

SAN DIEGO – Many San Diegans will soon see an increase in their pay when the city’s minimum wage goes up.

Effective Jan. 1, 2024, employees who perform at least two hours of work in one or more calendar weeks of the year within the geographic boundaries of the City of San Diego will receive a minimum wage increase from $16.30 to $16.85 an hour. The change is in accordance with the city’s Earned Sick Leave and Minimum Wage Ordinance, approved in 2016.

“Increasing the minimum wage in San Diego is essential to ensure that workers can afford necessities like food, housing and healthcare,” Mayor Todd Gloria said. “This puts more money in people’s pockets, which boosts our economy.”

Since 2019, the minimum wage in the city has gone up annually by an amount corresponding to the prior year’s increase, if any, in the cost of living as determined by

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria believes that increasing the minimum wage in San Diego is essential to ensure that workers can afford necessities like food, housing and healthcare. File photo/www.sandiego.gov

the Consumer Price Index. The ordinance is applicable to all industries and businesses and there are no exceptions. Tips and gratuities do not count

City of San Diego recognized as national leader for eco-friendly vehicle fleet

Fleet operations division leads by example with distinction in 2023 Green Fleet Awards

toward payment of minimum wage. Updated notices for posting at the workplace are available on the city’s Minimum Wage Program webpage. Every employer must post these notices in a conspicuous place at any workplace or job site.

Employees will continue to earn sick leave, either by the accrual or “front load” method, in accordance with the ordinance. Employees may use earned sick leave for all the reasons described in the ordinance, which includes, but is not limited to, time for their own medical care or for the medical care of a family member. Employers may limit an employee’s use of earned sick leave to forty hours in a benefit year. Contact the city’s Minimum Wage Program at SDMinWage@ sandiego.gov or (619) 615-1565 for any questions or to file a complaint.

(City of San Diego Release) n

San Diego County annual report shows we are better together

THE County of San Diego released an Annual Report on Monday, October 2 that listed numerous accomplishments and stated that the county, the public it serves, local cities, community groups and organizations are better when they work together.

“In San Diego County we are better together,” County Chief Administrative Officer Helen Robbins-Meyer stated in the report. “This collective dedication to strengthening San Diego County has led us to take on the region’s most pressing issues together. From affordable housing and climate change to sustainability, public and behavioral health, justice reform and homelessness, our collaboration and your input are at the critical center of any success.”

The Annual Report provides a snapshot of what the county has accomplished in the past year and the goals it hopes to attain. And it cited numerous achievements.

The county added more funding to the millions of dollars it had already spent to add new affordable housing and working with cities to break ground on new projects. It found new ways to challenge homelessness, like creating Safe Parking sites and launching a pilot Shallow Subsidy program to pay subsidies to keep older adults in their homes. It

improved emergency medical services in rural areas and continued to add firefighting resources to protect San Diegans.

It continued to improve behavioral health by expanding Mobile Crisis Response Teams and Crisis Stabilization Units. And it continued to act to improve justice reform. It increased alternatives to incarceration through substance use disorder programs and job training. And it built a “One Safe Place” justice center in North County for survivors of abuse and trauma, with plans to build another in South County in the coming year.

The County of San Diego provides services and programs that touch the lives of nearly every person in the region.

Some of those include law enforcement through the Sheriff’s Department, health and social services, public health services, and land use in the unincorporated areas. The county also runs elections regionwide, monitors beach water quality and operates County parks and 33 public libraries.

The Annual Report broke the county’s accomplishments and goals into six categories. Those were: Healthy and Safe Communities; Homelessness and Affordable Housing; Investing

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SAN DIEGO – Following another year of reduced emissions and a smaller carbon footprint from the use of ecofriendly vehicles, the City of San Diego’s Fleet Operations Division was recently honored as the fleet with the “Best Policies and Procedures” by the National Association of Fleet Administrators (NAFA). This is the fifth consecutive year the city has been honored by NAFA, the world’s largest not-for-profit membership association for vehicular fleet administrators.

NAFA holds the Green Fleet Awards every year. According to the association’s website, the awards recognize “peakperforming fleet sustainability efforts” and are intended to honor government and commercial fleets who have “enhanced practices to make a positive impact on the environment.”

The 2023 awards marked the first year “Best Policies and Procedures” was added to the ticket.

The Fleet Operations Division was selected for the award for its vital work to help make San Diego a more sustainable place to live, work and play. Some policies that highlight these efforts include the Climate Action Plan, Zero Emissions Municipal Buildings and Operations Policy, Motive Equipment Idling Reduction, Fleet Equipment

Replacement, Acquisition, and Disposal, and Fuel Reduction and Transportation Efficiency.

City procedures were also key in winning the award. Fleet Operations works with 19 city departments to ensure each vehicle fits their needs and is an efficient and cost-effective purchase. This effort underscores the critical role Fleet Operations plays in supporting city operations like street sweeping, public safety and trash pickup for the benefit of the city and all San Diego residents.

“We are honored to once again be recognized by NAFA,” said Director of the General Services

Department Musheerah Little.

“It shows we’re on the right track, and we’ll continue to work toward a net-zero climate impact from our fleet.”

The City of San Diego has been listed in NAFA’s top 50 greenest fleets every year since 2019. Guidelines for ranking the nation’s greenest fleets include fuel composition, alternative fuel use, environmental benefits and more. In addition to “Best Policies and Procedures,” the city was recognized as the 26th greenest fleet in the country, 12 spots higher than its 38th place ranking in 2021. (City of San Diego Release) n

Groundbreaking celebration for new public health lab

SHOVELS sent dirt flying and with that, construction work could begin on a new state-ofthe-art public health lab.

County officials broke ground for the facility at the County Operations Center in Kearny Mesa on Wednesday, October 4.

The new $93.3 million lab will be nearly three times the size of the old, cramped and outdated building on Rosecrans. The facility closed due to its aging infrastructure.

The new two-story facility will measure 52,000 square feet and create space for nearly 90 employees and contractors, and still allow room to grow.

The county’s public health lab protects the health of everyone in the region by testing for infectious diseases like COVID-19, Respiratory Syncytial Virus known as RSV, flu and a host of other diseases. Lab workers also test for food and water safety, animal rabies and dangerous pathogens like anthrax. They conduct research, assess environmental health and help with emergency preparedness and response.

The new facility will serve as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Lab for San

Diego and Imperial Counties.

The expanded facility also allows for additional services such as whole genome sequencing and testing for tuberculosis.

The county moved forward on the lab construction project after an analysis showed that consolidating campus offices could empty an existing fourstory office building.

That meant 600 staff members for the Health Services Center could move inside and save the County from spending $130 million to build them a new facility.

Those savings allowed for the construction of the lab and a new six-level parking garage

nearby. The $33.8 million structure will feature more than 700-spaces and up to 260 electric vehicle charging stations. The lab’s equipment and cold storage needs require more electricity than a typical office building. Solar panels on both the building and parking structure will provide a big offset, covering about 60% of the needed electricity. Construction will move quickly on the combined lab and garage project. The garage is expected to open in September 2024 and the lab in spring 2025. (Tracy DeFore/County of San Diego Communications Office)

SB19 launches own company 1Z...

PAGE 9

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 hands-on 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. n

City of San Diego recognized for excellence in economic development

International organization honors city efforts with Promise Zone and Bridge to Home

SAN DIEGO – Recognizing a commitment to invest in economic opportunity for all San Diegans, the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) recently recognized the City of San Diego with two 2023 Excellence in Economic Development awards, highlighting the success of the city’s public-private partnerships and innovative programs.

The IEDC presented the city’s Economic Development Department (EDD) with the Silver Award for Public-Private Partnerships, highlighting the success of the Cal Coast Credit Union’s Financial Partnership. This program provides funding for nonprofits assisting individuals experiencing barriers to post-secondary education and employment in the Promise Zone. The San Diego Promise Zone covers a 6.4-square-mile targeted area that spans East Village and Barrio Logan east to Encanto and is home to the city’s most culturally rich and ethnically diverse neighborhoods and some of the city’s most under-resourced communities.

Additionally, the department received the Bronze Award in Innovation Programs & Initiatives for the success of Mayor Todd Gloria’s Bridge to Home Program.

“These partnership and innovative programs created in the city’s Economic Development Department are exemplary initiatives making new pathways to access education in communities of concern and building more affordable housing, even faster,” said Christina Bibler, EDD Director. “I’m thrilled the city is being recognized for the Economic Development Department’s hard work and this recognition serves as a great example of our leadership in this space, locally and nationally.”

Representatives from EDD were present to receive the awards at the IEDC 2023 Annual Conference during the inaugural Recognition Night event in Dallas, Texas, on Sept. 19.

“California Coast Credit Union is proud to elevate the communities we serve through our strong partnership with the City of San Diego. Together, we are dedicated to uplifting the lives of the residents and businesses in the San Diego Promise Zone,” said California Coast Credit Union CEO Todd Lane.

“The City of San Diego has raised the bar for economic development with its work with the Promise Zone and California Coast Credit Union,” said Nathan Ohle, IEDC President and CEO. “This award is a testament to the City of San Diego’s dedication to its residents and serves as a great example of how economic development can transform a community for the better.”

Every year, IEDC looks specifically for economic development organizations, government entities, initiatives and programs that have demonstrated consistent, exemplary performance in the economic development profession, leading the execution of projects that have a significant impact on revitalizing communities and playing a major role in shaping and improving the practice of economic development.

(City of San Diego Release) n

SDPL celebrates freedom to read during Banned Books Week

SAN DIEGO – The City of San Diego Public Library’s (SDPL) annual Banned Books Week kicked off with a read-a-thon on Monday, Oct. 2, and continues with a full week of programming centered around banned and challenged books. The theme of this year’s Banned Books Week is “Let Freedom Read!” which affirms and celebrates the right to read.

According to the American Library Association, the number of book challenges in 2022 nearly doubled from the year before, and almost 50% of those challenges targeted materials in public libraries.

“The San Diego Public Library’s mission is to inspire lifelong learning through connections to knowledge and each other. The only way to do that is through the free and open exchange of information,” said Library Director Misty Jones. “As book challenges rise across the country, SDPL is committed to fighting against book bans and censorship and encouraging the freedom to read and learn.”

SDPL’s 12th annual Reada-Thon began at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 2, in the Neil Morgan Auditorium at Central Library. The event included a proclamation of Freedom to Read Day in San Diego by Councilmember Marni von Wilpert and remarks by community representatives.

Participants read excerpts from books that have been challenged and banned,

San Diego County annual report shows...

in Working Families; Justice Reform; Mental Health and Substance Use Support; and Sustainability and Addressing Climate Change.

Other highlights from the Annual Report include:

• In the past year, the county worked with cities, companies, groups and communities to complete, open or break ground on more than 1,400 new affordable homes and living spaces. Those included grand openings in San Marcos, Chula Vista and San Diego’s City Heights, Linda Vista and Valencia Park neighborhoods. And the county broke ground in Oceanside, San Marcos and Carlsbad, along with Clairemont Mesa, Nestor, Little Italy and other San Diego neighborhoods.

• In July, the County approved using $44.3 million in state Behavioral Health Bridge Housing Program funds to provide more housing for San Diegans who have serious behavioral health conditions and are experiencing homelessness.

• The County continued to work on a Housing Blueprint. It will aim to curb the region’s housing crisis by finding ways to build more housing overall, and housing around transit hubs; build and retain affordable housing; reduce housing prices overall; and help people stay in their existing homes.

• To help bridge the “digital divide,” the county’s 33 branch libraries, using a $4.3 million federal grant, added something new to the books, movies and music they lend to children and

families — 7,000 Chromebook computers and hotspots to provide internet access. The county also gave free computers to some local families who open their homes to foster children, continuing a program it started in 1999.

• Countywide, the County Sheriff’s department introduced a new “Hi-Low” siren system in patrol cars to make it easier to warn residents when they need to evacuate because of an emergency like a wildfire.

County Fire and CAL FIRE added a new Type 1 firefighting helicopter that can drop about seven times more water than existing County fire choppers to the firefighting fleet.

• The county broke ground on a new East Otay Mesa fire station. And it added water tanks and backcountry helicopter hydrants in Fallbrook, San Marcos, Julian

and El Cajon, with plans to add them in Fallbrook, and Warner Springs, to give firefighting helicopters more water sources to use when fighting rural wildfires.

• To help people successfully reenter society, County Probation used $1.2 million from the state to create two mobile probation centers. Those centers can deliver case management, outreach and links to care and assistance to vulnerable clients wherever they may be.

• The county also dedicated $10 million to expand support and services to help justiceinvolved people return to their communities. The money aims to help people who have a history of behavioral health needs, are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

• To help prevent overdose deaths, particularly the scourge

of fentanyl deaths, the county expanded giving naloxonetreatment kits to sheriff’s deputies, first responders and people who may be at risk of overdose or know someone who is. The county also put up its first naloxone vending machines in facilities around the county, making it available to anyone who wants the overdosereversing medicine for free.

• The County continues working on a regional decarbonization framework. That effort could potentially help cities, communities, Native American tribes, businesses, community groups and others achieve zero-carbon emissions by mid-century.

• To reduce greenhouse gases, the county will spend $2.5 million to design a new Zero Carbon Portfolio Plan for county operations. The plan’s goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in county facilities by 90% by 2030.

• The County will spend $2.7 million to restore land and improve water quality in the Tijuana River Valley.

• The County also plans to plant more than 5,000 more trees on County properties and another 5,000 throughout the county to help naturally remove carbon dioxide from the air and lower temperatures.

To see the full Annual Report, go to the County’s Annual Report webpage at https://www. sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/ annualreport/en/home.html.

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

including children’s picture books, classic novels and award-winning literature.

During Banned Books Week, the library will also host storytimes featuring banned books, a Freedom to Read author event, banned books bingo and screenings of films based on books that have been challenged. For more information on Banned Books Week and SDPL programs, visit the library’s website at https://www.sandiego.gov/ bannedbooksweek.

In partnership with Library Foundation SD, SDPL recently launched Books Unbanned, a campaign to make challenged book titles available to young readers across the country. Through the program, teens and young adults ages 12 to 26 living anywhere in the U.S. can access SDPL’s online collection of banned or restricted eBooks and eAudiobooks for free.

With a vision of being the place for opportunity, discovery and inspiration, the San Diego Public Library is a hub for knowledge and lifelong learning. As the largest library system in the region, it serves a population of more than 1.4 million people. Learn about events at the San Diego Central Library @ Joan Irwin Jacobs Common and 35 community branch libraries, find links to programs and resources or search for materials in the online catalog at www. sandiegolibrary.org.

(SDPL Release) n

Read-a-thon, storytimes and film screenings spotlight books that have been challenged or banned