Fil-Am labor leaders inducted into US Labor Dept’s Hall of Honor
Larry Itliong, Philip Vera Cruz and Peter Gines Velasco honored for courage, perseverance in fighting for labor rights
WAshINGtoN – filipino American labor leaders Larry Itliong, Philip Vera Cruz and Peter Gines Velasco have been inducted into the U.s. Department of Labor’s hall of honor for their courage and perseverance in fighting for labor rights.
Acting Labor secretary Julie su said she was honored to induct the fil-Am labor leaders into the Department’s hall of honor, “where they take their rightful place among giants in the labor movement who have shaped the fabric of American history.”
“Itliong, Vera Cruz and Velasco rallied farmworkers – who endured prejudice, low wages and poor working conditions – to courageously organize for fairer wages and humane treatment, all while providing food
Anti-fraud efforts meet real-world test during Ac A enrollment period
UNAUthorIZeD switching of Affordable Care Act plans appears to have tapered off in recent weeks based on an almost one-third drop in casework associated with consumer complaints, say federal regulators. the Centers for medicare & medicaid services, which oversees the ACA, credits steps taken to thwart enrollment and switching problems that triggered more than 274,000 complaints this year through August.
Now, the annual ACA open enrollment period that began Nov. 1 poses a real-world test: Will the changes curb fraud by rogue agents or brokerages without unduly slowing the process of enrolling or reducing the total number of sign-ups for 2025 coverage?
“they really have this tightrope to walk,” said sabrina Corlette, co-director of the Center on health Insurance reforms at Georgetown University. “the more you tighten it up to prevent fraud, the more
Marcos tells House: Don’t file impeachment against VP Duterte
PH to revisit macro view on Trump 2.0, weak peso
by ian nicolas P. cigaral Philstar.com
the marcos administration might revise some of its macroeconomic assumptions to account for the impact of a second trump administration on the economy and the current weakness of the peso, Budget secretary Amenah Pangandaman said.
speaking to reporters on tuesday, November 26, Pangandaman said the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) would revisit the macroeconomic targets and assumptions that policymakers use as a guide to fiscal
planning. the review will happen once the inter-agency body convenes again in the first week of December. specifically, the budget chief, who is also the chair of the DBCC, said the committee might have to revise its current peso-dollar assumption of 56 to 58. this, as a volatile peso threatens to pierce through the record-low 59:$1 level that had been revisited last week amid a rallying dollar that draws its strength from investor unease following Donald trump’s election victory in the U.s But overall, Pangandaman said any u PAGE A2
investigation for grave threats, corruption and
PresIDeNt ferdinand marcos Jr. is set to recognize 13 overseas filipinos (ofs), and foreign individuals, as well as organizations from nine countries, the Commission on filipinos overseas (Cfo) announced.
on December 11, marcos will confer the Presidential Awards for filipino Individuals and organizations overseas (PAfIoo) for their valuable service to the nation.
Currently, the Presidential Awards has four categories: Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino (Linkapil), Pamana ng Pilipino, Banaag, and Kaanib ng Bayan. Awardees under the Linkapil Award include: Nurse Leo felix Jurado from Lasam, Cagayan, and the United states; Dr. emilio Quines Jr. from tagudin, Ilocos
sur, and the United states; the Philippine Nurses Association of New York Inc.; and the Neurosurgery outreach foundation Inc. recipients of the 2024 PAfIoo Pamana ng Pilipino Award are: saudi Arabia-based medical supply company employee Larry Carumba from Victorias, Negros occidental; Austria-based retired International Atomic energy Agency (IAeA) director Jane GerardoAbaya; Canada-based narrative artist roberto eusebio Lavides; and switzerlandbased global health expert melvin sanicas, who is known for contributing to the global response to the CoVID-19 pandemic. those receiving the Banaag Award include: Dr. elvy Barroso from New York City and Ligao City, Albay; france-based human rights advocate Zita Cabais; and morocco-based community leader elvira
on friday, November
At the start of the video, Duterte thanked the
doctors and other professionals who were supposedly helping the oVP personnel “affected by the ongoing crisis in the offices.”
Duterte was apparently referring to the personnel of oVP facing investigation by the house committee on good government and public accountability in connection with questionable confidential fund expenses of the oVP as well as the Department of education when she was still its secretary in 2022 and 2023.
two of the oVP personnel, disbursing officer Gina Acosta and Duterte’s chief of staff Zuleika Lopez, are currently confined at the Veterans memorial medical Center in Quezon City as they supposedly fell ill while
Palace denounces Duterte coup call
by KriStinA MArAlit,
Aric John Sy cuA And FrAnciSco tuyAy ManilaTimes.net
mALACAÑANG on tuesday, November 26 blasted former President rodrigo Duterte for urging the military to overthrow President ferdinand marcos Jr.
In a strongly worded statement, executive secretary
Lucas Bersamin said the former president had a selfish motive for calling on the Armed forces of the Philippines (AfP) to “overthrow a sitting president” so that his daughter, Vice President sara Duterte, could ascend to power.
“And he will go to great and evil lengths, such as insulting our professional armed forces by asking them to betray their
oath, for his plan to succeed,” the statement read. the former president should respect the Constitution, not disobey it. he should desist from being as irresponsible as he has become,” Bersamin said. this administration will not shirk from its sworn duty to govern and manage the affairs of the filipino nation according to the Constitution and the rule of law. It will defend its legacy before the filipino people only by lawful means. the state will act resolutely to go against all unlawful attempts and u PAGE A2
Former President Rodrigo Duterte
PNA file photo
Palace denounces Duterte coup...
challenges,” he added.
In a press conference in Davao City, Duterte on monday, November 25 called for the AfP and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to take control and correct marcos’ “fractured governance.”
Duterte, whose daughter is facing congressional investigations over her use of confidential funds, told reporters that only the military can correct the situation.
“there is a fractured governance in the Philippines right now. there is no urgent remedy. It is only the military who can correct it,” he said.
he later repeated his accusation that President marcos was a drug addict. the older Duterte’s statements came after his daughter went on an angry rant in a virtual press conference, where she said she had contacted an assassin to kill marcos, his wife Liza Aranetamarcos and speaker martin romualdez if she herself was killed.
the military on tuesday said it was unbothered by the row between the country’s leaders, stressing that the troops remain loyal to their duty to protect the country and the Constitution.
“Your Armed forces will remain loyal to the Constitution and the duly constituted civil authorities,” said Philippine Navy spokesman for the West Philippine sea, rear Adm. roy Vincent trinidad.
In a press conference, trinidad said the chain of command remained intact despite efforts by some groups to weaken it through disinformation.
“to those who are spreading misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation designed to weaken the chain of command, listen and listen well. the chain of command is intact. It is secure. It will remain intact and secure.
We take pride in being military professionals,” he said.
AfP spokesman Col. francel margareth Padilla, meanwhile, said the military would not get involved in politics.
“We see our soldiers being highly professional,” Padilla said. “At this point, there is no need for loyalty checks.”
she added that the political noise could cause the country
to lose focus “on the bigger challenge that we are facing.”
‘Plan without flesh’ the vice president on tuesday denied she was plotting to kill marcos, saying her comments that sparked a government probe only reflected “consternation” with her one-time ally.
Duterte described her statements as an expression of “consternation” at the marcos administration’s “failure to serve the filipinos while it masterfully persecutes political enemies.”
she also said the government’s accusations of a plot were a “farce.”
“Common sense should be enough for us to understand and accept that a supposed conditional act of revenge does not constitute an active threat. this is a plan without flesh,” the vice president said in a statement.
Despite her denial, the Department of Justice (DoJ) said the National Bureau of Investigation had initiated a hunt for the alleged assassin or assassins supposedly hired by the vice president. In a statement, the DoJ said this move underscores the government’s commitment to holding public officials accountable for their actions and statements.
It added that Vice President Duterte is “not immune from suit” and will face legal consequences for her recent remarks, which have been deemed highly concerning.
It emphasized that the words of public officials must be interpreted literally, stressing the importance of transparency and accountability in governance.
Also on tuesday, hundreds of people gathered at the eDsA shrine in Quezon City, the area that was the center of the People Power revolution that ousted the president’s father, President ferdinand e marcos, in 1986. the shrine was built in 1989. It was not clear who the churchgoers were. fr. Jerome secillano said in an advisory on the eDsA shrine facebook page that people flocked to the church for “reasons only known to them, and for some, unknown to them.” they were warmly allowed inside the shrine, and they participated in the celebration of the 7 a.m. mass,” he wrote.
secillano also said those who flocked to the shrine opted to stay inside and were accommodated and not “shooed away,” as some alleged. the same people attended the 12:15 p.m. mass but were allowed again to stay inside the church, given that they were praying and not doing anything else.
Although nobody took credit for gathering the crowd, the Duterte-allied sonshine media Network International (smNI), as well as on the page of former Duterte spokesman harry roque, streamed the event.
Akbayan party-list first nominee Chel Diokno condemned Duterte’s call for the military and police to intervene to supposedly protect the Constitution as a means to escape accountability for his war on drugs and the alleged misuse of confidential and intelligence funds by his daughter.
In a statement on tuesday, Diokno said the older Duterte’s pronouncement is not merely about the Constitution but a means to bring himself back to power.
“After his daughter revealed the plan to kill high-ranking government officials, now, former President Duterte is hinting at a coup. Is this how desperate this family has become to escape accountability to the nation at the cost of the lives of fellow filipinos?” Diokno said in filipino.
he added that Duterte’s sudden concern for the Constitution was laughable. “Under his regime, he trampled on it repeatedly — through extrajudicial killings, attacks on the free press, and the weakening of democratic institutions. Now, he dares invoke it to justify a military coup. this is hypocrisy at its peak,” the human rights lawyer said.
former senator Leila de Lima on monday said the Dutertes must be held accountable for their words and actions.
“We’re not fools to think that what [Duterte] is inciting in the military is not a coup d’état. the daughter wants an assassination. the father wants a coup d’état. how did it happen that the Dutertes seem immune to the law? Can they really be held accountable for their blatant disruption or terrorism against u PAGE A4
Marcos tells House: Don’t file...
larger scheme of things, sara is unimportant. so please do not file impeachment complaints.”
“It was actually a private communication, but it was leaked already. Yes, because that’s really my opinion. this is not important. this does not make any difference to even one single filipino life. so why waste time on this?” marcos told reporters.
“What will happen if somebody files an impeachment? It will tie down the house, it will tie down the senate. It will just take up all our time, and for what? for nothing, for nothing. None of this will help improve a single filipino life,” marcos said.
“As far as I’m concerned, it’s a storm in a teacup,” he added.
Bagong Alyansang makabayan (Bayan) chairman teodoro Casiño said marcos should reconsider his stand on Duterte’s possible impeachment, saying holding accountable government officials accused of corruption, whether by impeachment or cases filed before the office of the ombudsman or sandiganbayan, is “never a waste of time and resources.”
“While we do not expect the president to intervene in the impeachment of Vice President Duterte, it is improper for him to dismiss efforts to hold her accountable through this process. In fact, not doing so is a betrayal of the public interest and the people’s trust,” Casiño said in a statement.
By saying an impeachment is only a waste of time, Casiño added, marcos is only deepening the culture of impunity in the country, wherein public funds are questioned but the people responsible are not held accountable.
he stressed that government officials such as Duterte should be punished, as failure to do so can lead to more wastage of public funds.
earlier, Duterte accused marcos of seeking to remove her from office. she also declared at a press conference in Zamboanga City on Wednesday, November 27 that nothing can mend the strained relations between her and marcos, which have reached “the point of no return.”
Asked if he thinks his relationship with the vice president has indeed reached the point of no return, marcos replied, “Never say never.”
marcos vowed to fight the vice president’s “disturbing” plot to have him, first Lady Liza marcos and speaker martin romualdez assassinated, if she were to be killed.
Duterte, shortly after the National Bureau of Investigation said they had summoned her to appear before them, said her instruction was a “plan without a flesh.”
on Wednesday, former senator Antonio trillanes IV called for Duterte’s impeachment while former lawyer Larry Gadon called for disbarment, saying he and other lawyers were disbarred for lighter offenses.
Col. melecio Buslig Jr., Quezon
City Police District director, and officials of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group also on Wednesday filed criminal charges against Duterte and the chief of her security detail for instigating a commotion at the Veterans memorial medical Center (VmmC) where her chief of staff Zuleika Lopez was taken after being moved from st. Luke’s medical Center. the house of representatives is investigating Duterte’s alleged misuse of confidential and intelligence funds. marcos earlier said the issue would not have reached dramatic proportions had Duterte answered the “legitimate” questions raised in the senate and the house regarding the funds’ usage.
Makabayan to endorse impeach complaint
Although house majority leaders said the filing of an impeachment complaint against Duterte is not in their agenda, ACt teachers party-list rep. france Castro said the makabayan bloc has “resolved” to endorse an impeachment complaint against the vice president. the makabayan bloc has resolved to endorse any impeachment complaint that will come from our people’s organizations. We have already talked about it and recent events will be taken into account,” Castro said in filipino during an interview with “storycon” on one News. Castro expressed disappointment with marcos’ telling his allies not to file an impeachment complaint against Duterte.
she urged her colleagues to remain independent and not heed the president’s position on the matter.
“We are a co-equal body and he should not influence (members of Congress). Although this is political, he should let the legislature act independently and without his influence,” Castro stressed.
Although there are no formal discussions at the house regarding Duterte’s impeachment, Castro believes that they have the numbers to impeach Duterte.
But she said marcos’ statement could change lawmakers’ votes on the matter. “I hope the (house) leadership will be independent,” she said.
Castro said they do not have a timeline yet as to when an impeachment complaint will be filed, but recognized that time is of the essence, given that Congress will soon adjourn ahead of the election season.
Not in House agenda
In a joint statement, senior Deputy speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr., Deputy speaker David suarez and majority Leader manuel Dalipe said impeachment is not in their agenda as the focus of the house committees is to “uncover the truth behind the confidential funds.”
“As we have repeatedly pointed out in media interviews,
impeachment proceedings against Vice President sara Duterte are not on our agenda,” the majority bloc leaders’ joint statement read.
“While we are committed to upholding transparency and accountability, the primary focus of the house committees concerned is on uncovering the truth behind the use of confidential funds and addressing any alleged irregularities linked to questionable businesses that reportedly emerged during the previous administration,” it added.
Gonzales, suarez and Dalipe said the house of representatives would serve as a “check and balance while safeguarding public trust.” the filipino people deserve answers regarding these serious matters and we aim to fulfill this responsibility without political distractions or divisiveness,” the three congressmen said. however, they also said the house has a constitutional duty to act on impeachment complaints filed by ordinary citizens against impeachable officials. they added that should an impeachment complaint be filed in accordance with rules, the house is obligated to deliberate on it fairly and transparently, ensuring that the process adheres to the highest standards of justice.
“Let us work together to ensure that governance remains focused on what truly matters – delivering results and improving the lives of our people – while fulfilling all constitutional mandates with integrity and impartiality,” their statement also read.
rep. Jefferson Khonghun said a decision to support an impeachment complaints rests with individual members of the house.
“It is within the individual conscience of each member of the house if they will support the impeachment, if ever somebody files it,” Khonghun said.
Casiño said marcos should just let Congress decide its fate.
“Discouraging an impeachment would also seem that the president is still hoping to rekindle their alliance,” he said.
malacañang declined to comment on the claim of the makabayan bloc that marcos is interfering in the affairs of Congress.
“No comment for now,” Presidential Communications office secretary Cesar Chavez told reporters in a text message. on friday, senate President francis escudero urged senators to refrain from commenting about the impeachment proposal, citing conflict of interest.
“I won’t comment on anything that has to do with impeachment, given that we (senators) are tasked to hear all impeachment cases. I likewise call on and urge my colleagues to do the same,” escudero said. (With reports from Janvic Mateo, Jose rodel clapano, Emmanuel Tupas, Marc Jayson cayabyab)
PH to revisit macro view on Trump...
possible tweaks to the DBCC’s targets and predictions would be “minimal”.
“I’m not sure if they can already take into consideration the new administration of President trump. I think it’s also nice to look at it,” she said. the technical working group is looking into it.” 2024 goal still intact the Philippine economy grew at an annualized 5.2 percent in the three months through september, the weakest growth
in five quarters. that clip was slower than the 6.4-percent expansion in the
PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.
Make America
healthy again: An unconventional movement that may have found its moment
by stePHanie aMour KFF Health Newa
WIthIN days of Donald trump’s election victory, health care entrepreneur Calley means turned to social media to crowdsource advice.
for families across the country,” su said during the induction ceremony this week.
“these three leaders instilled and inspired change for those who valiantly labor in the fields.”
In 1965, the AWoC led the Delano Grape strike, where more than 800 filipino farmworkers in the grape fields went on strike against powerful grape industry growers.
In addition to the victories they achieved for farmworkers, their work is a reminder of what
Itliong, Vera Cruz and Velasco were recognized for their service to filipino farmworkers, starting in 1959 with the organization of the Agricultural Workers organizing Committee at the filipino hall in Delano, California.
can be achieved when workers of all backgrounds come together to advocate for higher wages and better working conditions.
“together we stand on the shoulders of those who struggled, labored, and organized before us, and in doing so, blazed a trail for us,” said former Cerritos mayor mark Pulido, one of the fil-Am leaders who attended the induction ceremony. “We have a shared commitment to keeping their legacies alive.”
the cast of “Larry the musical” performed during the ceremony. the musical is based on the book “Journey for Justice: the Life of Larry Itliong” by Dawn Bohulano mabalon and Gayle romasanta.
Acting secretary su presented medals commemorating the ceremony to the family members of Itliong, Vera Cruz and Velasco. established in 1988, the hall of honor recognizes the accomplishments and impact of dozens of groups and individuals on the nation’s workforce and workplaces. the hall is located inside the north plaza of the department’s headquarters in the frances Perkins Building.
U.s rep. Grace meng (D-Queens) applauded Acting secretary su for commemorating “the tremendous contributions that these filipino labor leaders made to our country and the labor movement.”
“their leadership, determination and courage in fighting for better wages and improved working conditions continues to inspire me, and this well-deserved tribute to them is an outstanding way to ensure that our nation –and future generations – always remember the crucial work they did and the legacies they left behind,” meng said. (Bing cardenas Branigin/inquirer.net)
first 100 days,” said means, a former consultant to Big Pharma who uses the social platform X to focus attention on chronic disease. “What should be done to reform the fDA?” the question was more than rhetorical. means is among a cadre of health business leaders and nonmainstream doctors who are influencing President Donald trump’s focus on health policy. trump’s return to the White house has given means and others in this space significant clout in shaping the nascent health policies of the new administration and its federal agencies. It’s also giving newfound momentum to “make America healthy Again,” or mAhA, a controversial movement that challenges prevailing thinking on public health and chronic disease.
Its followers couch their ideals in phrases like “health freedom” and “true health.” their stated causes are as diverse as revamping certain agricultural subsidies, firing National Institutes of health employees, rethinking childhood vaccination schedules, and banning marketing of ultraprocessed foods to children on tV.
Public health leaders say the emerging trump administration’s interest in elevating the sometimes unorthodox concepts could be catastrophic, eroding decades of scientific progress while spurring a rise in preventable disease. they worry the administration’s support could weaken trust in public health agencies.
Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public health Association, said he welcomes broad intellectual scientific discussion but is concerned that trump will parrot untested and unproven public health ideas he hears as if they are fact.
experience has shown that people with unproven ideas will have his ear and his “very large bully pulpit,” he said. “Because he’s president, people will believe he won’t say things that aren’t true. this president, he will.”
But those in the mAhA camp have a very different take. they say they have been maligned as dangerous for questioning the status quo. the election has given them an enormous opportunity to shape politics and policies, and they say they won’t undermine public health. Instead, they say, they will restore trust in federal health agencies that lost public support during the pandemic.
“It may be a brilliant strategy by the right,” said Peter mcCullough, a cardiologist who has come under fire for saying covid-19 vaccines are unsafe. he was describing some of the election-season messaging that mainstreamed their perspectives.
“the right was saying we care about medical and environmental issues. the left was pursuing abortion rights and a negative campaign on trump. But everyone should care about health. health should be apolitical.”
the movement is largely anti-regulatory and anti-big government, whether concerning raw milk or drug approvals, although implementing changes would require more regulation. many of its concepts cross over to include ideas that have also been championed by some on the far left.
robert f. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine activist trump has nominated to run the Department of health and human services, has called for firing hundreds of people at the National Institutes of health, removing fluoride from water, boosting federal support for psychedelic therapy, and loosening restrictions on raw milk, consumption of which can expose consumers to foodborne illness. Its sale has prompted federal raids on farms for not complying with food safety regulations.
means has called for top-down changes at the U.s. Department of Agriculture, which he says has been co-opted by the food industry.
though he himself is not trained in science or medicine, he has said people had almost no chance of dying of covid-19 if they were “metabolically healthy,” referring to eating, sleeping, exercise, and stress management habits, and has said that about 85% of deaths and health care costs in the U.s are tied to preventable foodborne metabolic conditions.
A co-founder of truemed, a company that helps consumers use pretax savings and reimbursement programs on supplements, sleep aids, and exercise equipment, means says he has had conversations behind closed doors with dozens of members of Congress. he said he also helped bring rfK Jr. and trump together. rfK Jr. endorsed trump in August after ending his independent presidential campaign.
“I had this vision for a year, actually. It sounds very woo-woo, but I was in a sweat tent with him in Austin at a campaign event six months before, and I just had this strong vision of him standing with trump,” means said recently on the Joe rogan experience podcast.
the former self-described never-trumper said that, after trump’s first assassination attempt, he felt it was a powerful moment. means called rfK Jr. and worked with conservative political commentator tucker Carlson to connect him to the former president. trump and rfK Jr. then had weeks of conversations about topics such as child obesity and causes of infertility, means said.
“I really felt, and he felt, like this could be a realignment of American politics,” means said. he is joined in the effort by his sister, Casey means, a stanford University-trained doctor and co-author with her brother of “Good energy,” a book about improving metabolic health. the duo has blamed Big Pharma and the agriculture industry for increasing rates of obesity, depression, and chronic health conditions in the country. they have also raised questions about vaccines.
“Yeah, I bet that one vaccine probably isn’t causing autism, but what about the 20 that they are getting before 18 months,” Casey means said in the Joe rogan podcast episode with her brother. the movement, which challenges what its adherents call “the cult of science,” gained significant traction during the pandemic, fueled by a backlash against vaccine and mask mandates that flourished during the Biden administration. many of its supporters say they gained followers who believed they had u PAGE A4
From left: Filipino American labor leaders Peter Gines Velasco, Larry Itliong and Philip Vera Cruz.
photos
From left: Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su with Larry Itliong’s daughters Sandra Itliong Bowman and Patty Itliong Serda, and Deborah Vollmer. Contributed photos
Fil-Am community leaders attend the induction ceremony.
OVP will not break, says...
being grilled by the house panel. the legal documents are now with the lawyers, and the patients are under the expert care of health care personnel,” Duterte said.
she said the help provided by lawyers, doctors and other concerned individuals enables the oVP to focus on its activities.
“All these back office support shall allow me and other personnel to focus on the oVP thanksgiving, yearend activities, office utilization review and the calendar year 2025 planning,” Duterte said.
Aside from the investigation by the house panel, Duterte is
also facing probe by the National Bureau of Investigation for grave threats under Article 282 of the revised Penal Code as well as for possible violation of republic Act 11479 or the Anti-terrorism Law, in connection with her controversial remark about having contracted a person to kill President marcos, first Lady Liza marcos and speaker martin romualdez in the event of her death at the hands of an assassin. Duterte, a lawyer, is also facing a disbarment case before the supreme Court, filed by an anonymous complainant, in connection with her previous remark of exhuming the remains of the late former president
ferdinand marcos sr. from the Libingan ng mga Bayani and throwing them in the West Philippine sea.
Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation Larry Gadon said he is not expecting the high court to act on the disbarment case he filed against the vice president.
“the sC is political and biased,” Gadon said, citing several incidents showing Duterte’s being unfit to be a public official. she punched and inflicted injury to an officer of the sC who an order of the court, but the sC did not lift a finger to disbar nor suspend her,” he said. n
Marcos set to honor overseas Filipinos...
dela Cruz. All of them were recognized for helping their communities abroad.
two foreigners were given the PAfIoo Kaanib ng Bayan, who underscored the importance of global partnerships. they are Bader Ahmed al-Zafeen of
the United Arab emirates and Philippine honorary Consul to moldova Victor Gaina. the Cfo said this year's awardees were selected from 84 nominations received by the Cfo- secretariat after opening its nominations in December last year.
these awards celebrate exceptional achievements and meaningful contributions that have advanced the welfare of overseas filipinos, supported national development efforts, or raised the international profile of the filipino diaspora," the Cfo said. n
Make America healthy again: An unconventional...
been misled on the effectiveness of CoVID-19 vaccines.
In July 2022, Deborah Birx, CoVID-19 response coordinator in trump’s first administration, said on fox News that “we overplayed the vaccines,” although she noted that they do work. Anthony fauci, who advised trump during the pandemic, in December 2020 called the vaccines a game changer that could diminish CoVID-19 the way the polio vaccine did for that disease.
eventually, though, it became evident that the shots don’t necessarily prevent transmission and the effectiveness of the booster wanes with time, which some conservatives say led to disillusionment that has driven interest in the health freedom movement.
federal health officials say the rollout of the covid vaccine was a turning point in the pandemic and that the shots lessen the severity of the disease by teaching the immune system to recognize and fight the virus that causes it.
Postelection, some trump
allies such as elon musk have called for fauci to be prosecuted. fauci declined to comment.
Joe Grogan, a former director of the White house’s Domestic Policy Council and assistant to trump, said conservatives have been trying to articulate why government control of health care is troublesome. two things have happened. the government went totally overboard and lied about many things during covid and showed no compassion about people’s needs outside of covid,” he said. “rfK Jr. came along and articulated very simply that government control of health care can’t be trusted, and we’re spending money, and it isn’t making anyone healthier. In some instances, it may be making people sicker.” the mAhA movement capitalizes on many of the nonconventional health concepts that have been darlings of the left, such as promoting organic foods and food as medicine. But in an environment of polarized politics, the growing prominence of leaders who challenge what they call the cult of science could lead to more public confusion and
division, some health analysts say.
Jeffrey singer, a surgeon and senior fellow at the Cato Institute, a libertarian public policy research group, said in a statement that he agrees with rfK Jr.’s focus on reevaluating the public health system. But he said it comes with risks.
“I am concerned that many of rfK Jr.’s claims about vaccine safety, environmental toxins, and food additives lack evidence, have stoked public fears, and contributed to a decline in childhood vaccination rates,” he said.
measles vaccination among kindergartners in the U.s dropped to 92.7% in the 202324 school year from 95.2% in the 2019-20 school year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. the agency said that has left about 280,000 kindergartners at risk.
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces indepth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.
Palace denounces Duterte coup...
PAGE A2
the nation?” de Lima said in one post on X. the malaya movement UsA on tuesday called for the impeachment of the vice president over her “unhinged” tirades over the weekend.
“Vice President sara Duterte’s unhinged tirades show she is unfit for office. much like her tyrant father, she is undeserving of one of the highest seats of power in the Philippines. malaya movement UsA echoes the people’s organizations in the Philippines calling for her
impeachment,” the group said.
forty-five officials from eastern Visayas, including congressional representatives, spoke out against remarks made by the vice president against romualdez. of the 45 officials, 38 expressed “profound indignation” at “baseless and reckless accusations made by” the vice president against romualdez, the congressional representative of Leyte’s first district.
Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation Larry Gadon said he would file a complaint on
journalist raissa robles.”
Insisting that the high court had wrongfully applied the principle when it disbarred him, Gadon said “there would be no reason that the supreme Court cannot apply it rightfully to the vice president.” n
Anti-fraud efforts meet real-world...
barriers there are that could inhibit enrollment among those who need the coverage.”
Cms said in July that some types of policy changes — those in which the agent is not “affiliated” with the existing plan — will face more requirements, such as a three-way call with the consumer, broker, and a healthcare.gov call center representative.
In August, the agency barred two of about a dozen private sector online-enrollment platforms from connecting with healthcare.gov over concerns related to improper switching.
And Cms has suspended 850 agents suspected of being involved in unauthorized planswitching from accessing the ACA marketplace.
still, the clampdown could add complexity to enrollment and slow the process. for example, a consumer might have to wait in a queue for a three-way call, or scramble to find a new agent because the one they previously worked with had been suspended.
Given that phone lines with healthcare.gov staff already get busy — especially during midDecember — agents and policy analysts advise consumers not to dally this year.
“hit the ground running,” said ronnell Nolan, president and Ceo of health Agents for America, a professional organization for brokers. meanwhile, reports are emerging that some rogue entities are already figuring out workarounds that could undermine some of the antifraud protections Cms put in place, Nolan said.
“Bottom line is: fraud and abuse is still happening,” Nolan said.
Brokers assist the majority of people actively enrolling in ACA plans and are paid a monthly commission by insurers for their efforts. Consumers can compare plans or enroll themselves online through federal or state marketplace websites. they can also seek help from people called assisters or navigators — certified helpers who are not paid commissions. Under a “find local help” button on the federal and state ACA websites, consumers can search for nearby brokers or navigators.
Cms says it has “ramped up support operations” at its healthcare.gov marketplace call centers, which are open 24/7, in anticipation of increased demand for three-way calls, and it expects “minimal wait times,” said Jeff Wu, deputy director for policy of the Cms Center for Consumer Information and Insurance oversight.
Wu said those three-way calls are necessary only when an agent or a broker not already associated with a consumer’s enrollment wants to change that consumer’s enrollment or end that consumer’s coverage. It does not apply to people seeking coverage for the first time.
organizations paid by the government to offer navigator services have a dedicated phone line to the federal marketplace, and callers are not currently experiencing long waits, said Xonjenese Jacobs, director
of florida Covering Kids & families, a program based at the University of south florida that coordinates enrollment across the state through its Covering florida navigator program.
Navigators can assist with the three-way calls if a consumer’s situation requires it.
“Because we have our quick line in, there’s no increased wait time,” Jacobs said. the problem of unauthorized switches has been around for a while but took off during last year’s open enrollment season. Brokers generally blamed much of the problem on the ease with which rogue agents can access ACA information in the federal marketplace, needing only a person’s name, date of birth, and state of residence. though federal regulators have worked to tighten that access with the three-way call requirement, they stopped short of instituting what some agent groups say is needed: two-factor authentication, which could involve a code accessed by a consumer through a smartphone.
Unauthorized switches can lead to a host of problems for consumers, from higher deductibles to landing in new networks that do not include their preferred physicians or hospitals. some people have received tax bills when unauthorized policies came with premium credits for which they did not qualify.
Unauthorized switches posed a political liability for the Biden administration, a blemish on two years of record ACA enrollment. the practice drew criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle; Democrats demanded more oversight and punishment of rogue agents, while republicans said fraud attempts were fueled by Biden administration moves that allowed for more generous premium subsidies and special enrollment periods. the fate of those enhanced subsidies, which are set to expire, will be decided by Congress next year as the trump administration takes power. But the premiums and subsidies that come with 2025 plans that people are enrolling in now will remain in effect for the
entire year.
the actions taken this year to thwart the unauthorized enrollments apply to the federal marketplace, used by 31 states. the remaining states and the District of Columbia run their own websites, with many having in place additional layers of security. for its part, Cms says its efforts are working, pointing to the 30% drop in complaint casework. the agency also noted a 90% drop in the number of times an agent’s name was replaced by another’s, which it says indicates that it is tougher for rival agents to steal clients to gain the monthly commissions that insurers pay. still, the move to suspend 850 agents has drawn pushback from agent groups that initially brought the problem to federal regulators’ attention. they say some of those accused were suspended before getting a chance to respond to the allegations. there will be a certain number of agents and brokers who are going to be suspended without due process,” said Nolan, with the health agents’ group. she said that it has called for increased protections against unauthorized switching and that two-factor authentication, like that used in some state marketplaces or in the financial sector, would be more effective than what’s been done.
“We now have to jump through so many hoops that I’m not sure we’re going to survive,” she said of agents in general. “they are just throwing things against the wall to see what sticks when they could just do two-factor.” the agency did not respond to questions asking for details about how the 850 agents suspended since July were selected, the states where they were located, or how many had their suspensions reversed after supplying additional information. KFF Health News is a
CHRISTMAS FEELS. Horse-drawn
Wednesday, November 27 before the supreme Court against Vice President Duterte for disbarment. Gadon himself was disbarred in June 2023 by the supreme Court over a video that circulated online, where he “repeatedly cursed and uttered profane remarks against
Dateline PhiliPPines
‘Political noise won’t slow down economy’ NBI to probe threat vs Sara Duterte’s life, but VP needs to
by cAtherine VAlente
KriStinA MArAlit
the prevailing political noise will not affect the performance of the economy, given the government's "sound and sustained" economic policies, the National economic and Development Authority (NeDA) said thursday, November 28.
NeDA secretary Arsenio Balisacan issued the statement after meeting with President ferdinand marcos Jr., senate President francis escudero and speaker martin romualdez in malacañang on thursday.
speaking to reporters, Balisacan said that "it's business as usual" for the country's economic managers even amid the worsening political strife between the and members of the Duterte family.
"I don't think these political noises would have any impact on the economy. What is important is that our economic policies, our economic policy directions are sound and sustained," Balisacan said during a Palace press conference.
"In fact, that has been the case for the Philippines since late 1990s — that the economy continued to progress despite the political noises simply because the economic policies and our directions have been broadly sustained," he added. Balisacan said the marcos administration would continue to focus on meeting the targets set under the Philippine Development Plan to steer the country towards prosperity and resiliency.
"In this administration, we are so focused on ensuring that the goals and targets and strategies that we have outlined in the Philippine Development Plan will be achieved. And that's what is important for the broad public to signal that the economic momentum is sustained," he said.
the NeDA chief also said that for as long as the government stayed on course with its economic priorities and programs, the business community would maintain its confidence in the economy.
he said any impact from the
political struggles would be "quite minimal."
"What's so important for the business community is the sustainability of our economic agenda," he added. During the same press briefing, trade secretary ma. Cristina roque said that more investments were also coming in despite the political tensions. "there are a lot of investments that are coming in and we are pursuing those investments. so, they haven't mentioned anything yet about these things that are happening in our country," roque said. they issued the statement in the wake of increasing political tension ahead of the 2025 midterm elections.
marcos and Vice President sara Duterte, who were running mates in the 2022 presidential elections, have been embroiled in a worsening clash over the past months after the latter quit her post in the president's Cabinet as education secretary. the feud has since escalated, with Duterte recently saying that she instructed someone to kill marcos, his wife first Lady Liza Araneta-marcos, and his cousin romualdez if she herself is killed, a statement she has since claimed has been "maliciously taken out of context."
Duterte said her remarks were not a threat, and that she only highlighted the alleged threat to her security. they can always try to impeach me. they can always spend and waste the government's money to impeach the vice president," she said.
In response, President marcos vowed to block "criminal attempts" against his life.
malacañang said threats made by Duterte against marcos have been referred to the Presidential security Command (PsC) for immediate action. the PsC later on implemented tighter security measures in the wake of the vice president's supposed threat, which it considered a "matter of national security."
"Acting on the vice
president's clear and unequivocal statement that she had contracted an assassin to kill the president if an alleged plot against her succeeds, the executive secretary has referred this active threat to the Presidential security Command for immediate proper action," the Palace said in a statement.
"Any threat to the life of the president must always be taken seriously, more so that this threat has been publicly revealed in clear and certain terms," it added.
No price hikes In the same briefing, the DtI assured the public that there would be no price increases on commodities until the end of the year.
Prices of most items for noche buena (the christmas eve meal), it said, would be the same as last year.
"first and foremost, for the prices for basic necessities, no price increase until the end of the year. And then for the noche buena, for more than 50 percent, the price will remain the same as last year. And for the others, they just increased but less than 5 percent," roque said in the same briefing. so, that will be steady until the end of the year, and will continue until the new year," she added.
the official said minor price increases on certain commodities are already being implemented and represent the first adjustments since last year.
Among those with increased prices are mayonnaise, ham, pasta noodles, cheese, and allpurpose cream, roque said. these increases are necessary to account for rising costs, particularly for imported goods. however, the adjustments were kept minimal to ensure they would not overly burden consumers, she said.
Despite the slight price adjustments, consumer demand remains steady, a reflection of how filipinos still want to celebrate the holidays.
the updated prices of noche buena package items can be found on DtI's social media platforms and in newspapers for public reference, roque said. n
by Jean Mangaluz Philstar.com
mANILA — the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said it would take the alleged threat on Vice President sara Duterte’s life seriously but stressed that she would need to cooperate. on friday, November 29, Duterte failed to show up at the NBI after being subpoenaed.
Duterte explained that she was not informed in time that the house of representatives Good Governance Committee hearing was postponed, which would have allowed her to explain to the NBI the death threats against President ferdinand marcos Jr., first Lady Liza Araneta-marcos, and house speaker martin romualdez.
In a press briefing following her snubbing, NBI Director Jaime santiago said there were two main points under investigation from the infamous livestream press conference: the threats she directly made on the lives of the marcoses and the alleged threat on her own life.
“she is also claiming that there is a threat on her life. hindi namin ita-take for granted 'yan. so dalawang portion, 'yung threat sa president, first lady and the speaker. second also, ay 'yung threat naman sa kanyang buhay,” santiago said.
(She is also claiming that there is a threat on her life. We will not take that for granted. So there are two portions; the threat on the president, first lady and the speaker. Second also, is the
threat on her own life.)
however, the threat to marcos had a clear origin. Duterte herself admitted, emphasizing that it was not a joke, that she hired someone to have the marcoses killed if she died.
santiago said that Duterte’s claim of her life being in danger lacks specific details.
“sa kanyang bibig nanggaling eh. siya ang nagthethreat. Pero ang nagthethreat sa kanya hindi natin alam kung sino. hindi niya sinasabi. Diyan natin kailangan ng cooperation ni vice president,” santiago said. (The threat came from her. She was the one who threatened. But we do not know who is threatening her. She did not say. Because of that, we need the cooperation of the vice president.)
While Duterte did not appear before the NBI, she requested a clear copy of the complaint, the documents related to the investigation and a list of possible questions. santiago said they are still deciding whether to provide her with the list of questions.
some of those who attended Duterte’s late-night hearing will also be summoned by the NBI to further verify the events of that press conference. most of them are members of the media who asked questions to the vice president. they may receive their subpoenas within the day.
Duterte’s threat against the marcoses made headlines across the globe.
santiago said this was the first time that a Philippine vice
president has made such threats to the sitting president. however, this was not the first time that Duterte has made controversial statements against marcos.
Prior to crossing legal boundaries with her death threat against marcos, Duterte has admitted that she fantasized about beheading the president. she also threatened to have the president’s father, the late dictator ferdinand marcos sr., exhumed and tossed into the West Philippine sea. n
OPiniOn Features
The spectacle of selective justice
the recent theatrics of Vice President sara Duterte over a house committee’s contempt orders against her chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, for evading questions on her office’s dubious use of confidential funds, has provided the public intermittent entertainment in recent days. Duterte’s death threats against President marcos, first Lady Liza Araneta-marcos, and house speaker martin romualdez have meanwhile pushed the alarm button among these officials’ security detail, with the National Bureau of Investigation serving the VP a subpoena on tuesday, November 26 to explain her unlawful utterances. Beyond spectacle, however, such popcorn moments also reveal the uncomfortable truth about the country’s justice system, where only the poor and disenfranchised are dealt the full brunt of the law. As in the VP’s case, the rich, powerful, and privileged can get away with defying the mandate of Congress and with public avowals of ordering a hit on the country’s top officials.
Contrast the hand-wringing and generic protestations among investigative agencies over the VP’s brazen threats, with the 2020 warrantless arrest of a 25-year-old teacher from Zambales, for offering in a post on X (formerly twitter) a P50million bounty for anyone who could kill then President Duterte. It was apparently meant as a joke — a bad joke, admittedly — but one that easily challenges logic, for how could a mere teacher raise the millions he had offered?
Perfect tableau
his arrest prompted Alliance of Concerned teachers party list rep. france Castro to remark how our laws appear to have a double standard: “When a president makes threats, it’s fine, but
the escalating war in Ukraine is already sending chills down the spine of many people, most especially those in europe. shortly after U.s. President Biden gave the greenlight for the use of U.s.-made long-range missiles, Ukraine fired eight AtACms (Army tactical missile system) missiles that hit a russian weapon arsenal in Bryansk oblast on tuesday, November 26.
In response to the AtACms firing, President Vladimir Putin approved changes to russia’s nuclear doctrine that says an attack from a non-nuclear state with the backing or support by a nuclear country would be considered a joint attack – giving russia the right to use nuclear weapons as a response.
Clearly, the war seems to be “escalating quickly and unpredictably” as New York Times’ German Lopez described it, with Ukraine also firing the UK-provided, longer-range storm shadow missiles at targets inside
Commonsense
maRichu VillanueVa
ALL hell broke loose, so to speak. It was like seeing a dormant but active volcano called mt. Apo in Davao City erupt without warning over the weekend. Also known as the highest point in the Philippines, mt. Apo last erupted in 1640 and thankfully has been calm for so many years. smouldering in wrath, Vice President sara Duterte unleashed her bottled up fury. the volcanic-like temper of VP sara cut down to pieces the people who blocked her path. Blinded by rage, the VP unfortunately forgot her role as the second highest elected official of the land. As such, she must be responsible for the welfare and national interest of our people and country over and above anything else, come what may. But her personal gripes, frustrations and disappointments over politics got the better of her. methinks, VP sara let her unhinged self pour her deepseated hurt when she had a
ordinary folks get arrested.”
more recently, the court acquitted former senator Leila de Lima of all the drug-related charges filed against her by the previous administration. It took almost seven years — after several changes of judges and the recantation of govt witnesses — for De Lima’s case to be resolved, a far cry from the almost three months spent in detention by Juanito Jose remulla III, the son of the justice secretary, before charges of illegal drug possession against him were dismissed. Before her acquittal, De Lima’s police escorts were also shown physically blocking media access to her. Contrast that with the VP requesting a camera during her hospital visit to Lopez, which police chief Brig. Gen. Nicolas torre III readily granted. thus was the public treated to a K-drama scene of a hysterically sobbing Lopez clinging to Duterte, the perfect tableau to document their “victimhood.”
Birthday bash remember the 2020 birthday bash of then NCr police chief maj. Gen. Debold sinas that showed law enforcers violating the health protocols they were supposed to enforce? Defying the mask mandate and social distancing were clear violations of the Bayanihan Act, but no sanctions were meted out to the police. meanwhile, the police arrested six volunteers ferrying relief goods to Bulacan without a valid quarantine pass. As of sept. 6, 2020, a news report said that a total of 100,486 have been arrested for alleged quarantine violations across the country.
Pork barrel scam the supreme Court’s grant of bail in 2015 to former senator Juan Ponce enrile for his plunder case in the pork barrel scam for “humanitarian reasons,” and former police chief oscar Albayalde
citing “old age and health” as consideration when organizing the possible arrest of former first Lady Imelda marcos are clear manifestations of cockeyed justice as well. While suspects often spend years just waiting for their cases to be heard, marcos never served a day of her 42- to 77-year sentence for her 2018 conviction on seven counts of graft. And will somebody please remind the VP that every time she decries the lack of due process in Lopez’s case, people are reminded anew of how its absence has led to thousands of extrajudicial killings during her father’s term?
With a multitude of instances of Lady Justice winking conspiratorially at a privileged few, how the authorities deal with the Dutertes’ criminal acts — she for “masterminding” the possible murder of three officials, and he for calling on the military to intervene in “a fractured governance” — bears close scrutiny. Will the relevant authorities finally step up and prove, once and for all, that no one is above the law? (inquirer.net)
The very real threat of a nuclear war
russia for the first time. According to the BBC, the storm shadow is an “Anglo-french cruise missile” with a high-explosive warhead and is called “scalp” by the french. the Biden administration’s decision allowing Ukraine to use the AtACms is perceived to be in response to North Korea’s sending of thousands of soldiers to russia. reports say over 100,000 North Koreans may be deployed as the relationship between moscow and Pyongyang deepens. North Korean President Kim Jong Un reportedly told troops to “go all out” – not surprising since russia is reportedly paying each soldier $2,000 a month. U.s. ambassador to the UN robert Wood had warned that North Korean forces entering Ukraine would “return in body bags,” while south Korea said it will not sit idly by and is prepared to do what it takes, including the option to directly supply weapons to Ukraine. seoul has been providing financial and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, sending non-lethal military supplies and artillery shells indirectly through the U.s But all of this could change, said south Korean President Yoon suk-
yeol.
According to an article titled, “how should seoul respond to North Korea’s soldiers in russia?” published by the United states Institute of Peace, the greatest threat to south Korea is the possibility that russia might provide North Korea with advanced military technologies that include nuclear-powered submarine technology; highresolution satellite imaging for improved intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities; and combat aircraft to reduce the gap with south Korea’s air superiority. foreign ministers from france, Germany, Italy, Poland, spain and the United Kingdom have also expressed tremendous concern about russia’s “hybrid warfare” and issued a joint statement accusing russia of “systematically attacking european security architecture.”
Last week, two fiber-optic internet cables in the Baltic sea – one connecting sweden and Lithuania and the other connecting finland and Germany – were cut, with european officials suspecting russia of sabotage and accusing it of stepping up its hybrid attacks
Money politics
zoom conference with known social media vloggers of DDs (diehard Duterte supporters). she apparently did not know the entire video zoom conferencing of her ranting and harangue were shared online by the likes of maharlika, Lorraine Badoy, the smNI network identified with detained Pastor Quiboloy, who were among those seen in the video screen behind her.
Aside from the cussing, the visibly incensed VP sara nonchalantly announced having hired an unnamed “assassin” to specifically kill President ferdinand “Bongbong” marcos Jr.(PBBm), his wife first Lady Liza Araneta-marcos, speaker martin romualdez. that is, in case she is killed.
Armed forces chief of staff Gen. romeo Brawner was not even spared, as VP sara accused him of “comfortably speaking” while the country is supposedly in turmoil. It was short of asking the military to intervene anew ala 1986 eDsA People Power revolution. VP sara though would later clarify the people only need to go to
malacañang Palace. still sounds like inciting to sedition.
But there was a notable shift back to VP sara’s public statements and official demeanor hours later, when the mainstream media covered the ensuing “drama” at the Batasan Pambansa complex in Quezon City. As a lawyer and politician, she turned to her legalistic self and calculated public statements. What gives?
It was too late to backpedal now that all security authorities have doubled down against the assassin’s threat on PBBm. And the chief executive himself is not taking any chances. While proceeding on his scheduled state visit tomorrow morning in the United Arab emirates, PBBm and the first lady will return to manila later on the same day.
PBBm earlier begged off from attending the annual APeC Leaders’ summit in Peru in deference to the victims and destruction from the series of typhoon calamities that hit the Philippines one after the other. With no less than the VP kicking up dust, PBBm could not afford
across allied territories – although the presence of a Chinese ship in the area has also raised suspicions. first defined by frank hoffman in his December 2007 paper titled “Conflict in the 21st Century: the rise of hybrid Wars,” hybrid warfare “incorporate a range of different modes of warfare” such as physical or military conflict, disinformation, cyberattacks, economic coercion and political interference to undermine or destroy a target. many are now looking to President-elect Donald trump to end the war in Ukraine, who had said this will be a priority of his administration. “It’s got to stop,” trump said, lamenting the death of thousands because of the conflict that has already gone on for more than a thousand days. trump also vowed to work in bringing peace to the middle east. our friend Lisa Curtis, director of the Indo-Pacific security Program at the Center for a New American security who served as deputy assistant to President-elect trump during his first term, said ending the war needs to be “done in a way that doesn’t encourage other U.s. adversaries to try to illegally invade their neighbor’s
to be out of the country to foil any political instability from another coup attempt or any destabilization plot.
At the rate of deep division being sown upon us, it is incumbent upon PBBm, as the father of the filipino nation, to reach out to disgruntled and feuding children, including his 46-year-old VP sara.
In her rage-filled narratives, VP sara recalled it all started after the speaker, PBBm’s first cousin, met with the makabayan bloc late last year. Brutally frank, she berated manila rep. Joel Chua and the leftleaning house makabayan bloc. from then on, according to VP sara, this “drama” unfolded. the house of representatives started its legislative inquiry into the questioned use of P612.5 million in confidential and intelligence funds (CIf) in the 2023 budgets of office of the Vice President (oVP) and the Department of education (Deped). As Deped secretary, VP sara used to concurrently serve as co-chair of the National task force to end the Communist Armed Conflict (Ntf-eLCAC). this was until June this year when she resigned from the Cabinet of PBBm the house committee on good government chaired by rep. Chua
territory.” the situation in europe has raised concerns that the same thing could happen in the Indo-Pacific region with North Korea ratcheting up its nuclear threats and China’s continued aggression particularly against the Philippines.
According to a recent foreign Affairs magazine article, “the true Aims of China’s Nuclear Buildup,” our giant neighbor has “initiated a short-of-war coercion campaign to dissolve the U.s. alliance system in the Pacific, and its increasingly sophisticated nuclear arsenal gives it more leverage to achieve this objective without igniting a catastrophic great-power war.” If World War 3 were to ever break out, everyone knowledgeable recognizes it would be more devastating than World War 2 and could literally spell the end of the world. Undoubtedly, technologically advanced nuclear weapons have become more lethal and whose impact will be far greater than hiroshima.
In his speech before a Joint meeting of the U.s. Congress last April, former Japanese Prime minister fumio Kishida – who knows it only too well being a
tried but failed to summon VP sara to appear before them to explain the CIf expenditures of the oVP and the Deped. Although they failed to get the VP to cooperate with them, Deped and oVP officials under her were invited to testify. Initially, six of the oVP officials refused to attend. one of them, oVP chief of staff lawyer Zuleika Lopez, however, left the country purportedly to visit relatives in the United states.
Under pain of contempt charges, the six oVP officials subsequently showed up at the house hearing, including Lopez who flew back home last week. for allegedly “lying” under oath during her testimony last thursday, November 21, Lopez was cited for contempt upon the motion of another makabayan bloc member, ACt party list rep. france Castro.
Upon learning this, VP sara wrote two letter requests to rep. Chua. In her first letter, she asked to be allowed to visit Lopez. And in the second letter, she asked to be allowed to stay with Lopez, who was being detained at the house Legislative security Building at Batasan. that very thursday night, VP sara slept at the house office of her brother, Davao City
native of hiroshima – said he has devoted his political career to bringing about a world without nuclear weapons. During the hiroshima Peace memorial Ceremony last August, he talked of the human suffering caused by the atomic bomb, saying the horror of nuclear devastation must never be repeated.
As a country, the Philippines has never provoked or instigated conflicts, always trying to resolve issues through peaceful means. We also continue to reach out to allies and friends, not only the U.s but other like-minded nations, through bilateral engagements and even multilateral coalitions which has always been the approach taken by President marcos Jr. Being a nation of deep Catholic faith, we strongly believe in prayer – which to many of us can often be the more powerful weapon. God bless our country! (Philstar. com)
* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
*
* * Email: babeseyeview@gmail.com
rep. Polong Duterte. What finally made VP sara blow her top was the sudden and hasty house committee order to transfer Lopez to the Women’s Correctional in mandaluyong City. Nine members of the house sergeant-at-arms fetched Lopez midnight of friday, November 22. Acting as the lawyer for Lopez, the VP tried but failed to stop the house from implementing the transfer order.
stress-stricken Lopez vomitted. fearing Lopez had a heart attack of sorts drove the feisty VP crazy angry. It was at this juncture that all hell broke loose. from a legal standpoint, the VP camp had valid arguments. But for us ordinary filipinos, VP sara’s revelations show that all of her woes trace their roots to “money politics.” Alas, it’s our taxpayers’ money that they are all fighting about. With the may 2025 national and local elections just around the corner, we dread the thought of more “drama” ahead of us. (Philstar.com)
* * *
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
Babe’s Eye View
BaBe Romualdez
Stay Safe from Holiday Scams
The holidays are a time to celebrate with loved ones, not falling victim to scams that can steal your cheer. Falling for a scam can lead to losing money and putting your account and personal information at risk, which can be both time consuming and costly.
Here are some common seasonal scams and tips to help protect yourself:
• Missed packages or problems with delivery: Expecting a package? Be cautious of phishing messages through email or text impersonating delivery services like UPS or FedEx with links to view “missed deliveries.” These links may lead to fake sign-in pages or malware-infected sites. Do not respond to messages requesting personal or financial information, including money or cryptocurrency. Be wary of unexpected packages and avoid scanning QR codes, as they may be attempts to steal your information.
• Online deals that are too good to be true: When shopping online or on social media, buy only from trusted websites and vendors. If purchasing on a platform or marketplace, stay on the platform to complete transactions and communicate with sellers, as protections often only apply when you use the platform. Use payment methods that offer buyer protection, and never send money to strangers or use Zelle for purchases, especially when you can’t confirm the goods exist.
• Phony charities preying on your generosity: The Holidays is also a season of giving. Before you donate money, double-check contact and payment information for your charity of choice and watch for text, email or phone call solicitations. Like any other unsolicited message, don’t click on links or open attachments that may contain malware or attempt to steal your information.
“Scammers do not discriminate and can target anyone during this festive season. Don’t let your guard down. Always remember that if something seems off, it likely is. By staying alert and informed, we can protect ourselves and our loved ones from falling victim during this holiday season,” said Darius Kingsley, head of Consumer Banking Practices at Chase.
Tips to Avoid Scams:
• Don’t send money to unknown individuals or for goods or services that you can’t confirm exist.
• Be cautious of friendly messages from strangers on social apps. Scammers might try to build trust before asking for money.
• If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Watch out for deep discounts or low prices that may be scams.
• If you shop on social media marketplaces, never pay using Zelle—it is the same as cash and you may not get back if there is an issue.
For more information about ways to help protect yourself from scams, visit chase.com/scamspotting — it’s a free resource that offers information in English and Spanish.
For informational/educational purposes only: Views and strategies described may not be appropriate for everyone and are not intended as specific advice/recommendation for any individual. Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but JPMorgan Chase & Co. or its affiliates and/or subsidiaries do not warrant its completeness or accuracy. JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates are not responsible for, and do not provide or endorse third party products, services, or other content.
Deposit products provided by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Equal Opportunity Lender.
The historical drama, starring Barbie Forteza, Alden Richards, Sanya Lopez, and David Licauco, recently reached this milestone, which was announced on Wednesday, November 27, during the broadcast of GMA’s 24 Oras.
Pulang Araw” will be part of the Lunar Codex’s Polaris collection, which will be sent to the Nobile Crater of the moon’s South Pole region, sometime in 2025.
GMA’s flagship newscast said the drama was selected to be
part of the project as it narrates a significant moment in Philippine history.
Founded by Dr. Samuel Peralta, the Lunar Codex project features works from filmmakers, writers, and artists from “185 countries and 160 indigenous nations,” to be launched to the moon hoping to preserve its cultural significance for the next generations.
It will be launched from Earth through the United States’ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s Artemis capsule, per reports.
The selected works are compressed and laser-etched on a NanoFiche (said to be the size of an “American quarter”), as a way of “making miniature versions” of a catalog, per report.
The music of P-pop powerhouse SB19 is also part of the archival
pieces headed for the moon.
“Individual works are copyrighted by their respective creators, editors, publishers, or owners, and all rights as appropriate remain with them, whether or not a notice appears adjacent to the work,” a statement on the Lunar Codex’s official website said.
“All works included in the Lunar Codex have been archived with permission from their respective creators, editors, publishers, or owners, whether individually, or as represented in a collection such as an anthology, exhibit, catalog, or magazine,” it added.
Other local works part of the Lunar Codex project in 2023 were the music of BINI, BGYO, Gary Valenciano, Apo Hiking Society, and National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab.
Success story: Lost petition is found and reinstated in an encore episode of Citizen Pinoy this Sunday
U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel saves the day by finding a mother’s missing petition for her daughter and reinstating it in time. of her eldest daughter’s petition, she filed her petition for Elyssa immediately so they could all be together in the soonest time possible. Three years passed. Nelfa and her family in the U.S. were wondering why she never received any notices from the USCIS. They called the agency to inquire about Elyssa’s petition and were told it was already with the National Visa Center (NVC). They called the NVC and were informed the file
CITIZEN PINOY LOCATES AND REINSTATES MISSING PETITION IN AN ENCORE EPISODE. In this week’s episode of “Citizen Pinoy,”
Poster of “Pulang Araw.”
Image: Courtesy of Netflix Philippines
Success story: Lost petition is found...
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was nowhere to be found. Nelfa would call every month, but every time she inquired, she got different answers. Adding to the frustration, Elyssa was close to aging out of the petition.
Atty. Gurfinkel took on the case in January 2020 and, to Nelfa and her family’s amazement, he was able to track down the petition and have it reinstated in less than a month. However, the celebration was short-lived because after a few months, COVID hit and all the immigration offices shut down. Despite this setback, the law office continued to work on Elyssa’s case. One major accomplishment was to ensure that Elyssa, who was about to turn 21, would not age out of the petition. The Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) was able to preserve Elyssa’s eligibility for immigration. In August 2024, a mother’s long-time dream was finally fulfilled when Nelfa’s daughter Elyssa obtained her visa from the U.S. Embassy. Elyssa was
welcomed at the San Francisco International Airport in October 2024. The whole family is excited about the coming holidays because it will be the first time in more than 10 years that they will celebrate Christmas and New Year’s Eve together. Watch this success story on
an encore episode of Citizen Pinoy on Sunday, December 1 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app. (Advertising Supplement)
Harvy Santos: The Pinoy designer behind the iconic hats of ‘Wicked’
by Patricia Dela roca Philstar.com
FILIPINO milliner Harvy Santos made his own mark on the yellow brick road by designing one of the iconic costume pieces for the musical film “Wicked.” Now based in the UK, the designer shared his journey from the Philippines to the Land of Oz, expressing his excitement about contributing to the film’s magical world.
His creations took center stage, including the signature witch’s hat worn by one of the main characters, Elphaba, who is played by Cynthia Erivo, who stars alongside Ariana Grande as Glinda.
“I originally came from the Philippines,” he said, adding that his fascination with costumes began at an early age. “My fascination for costumes
earnings, he nurtured his passion for costume design.
“All of the money that I got from dancing, every payday I would buy myself books on garment construction and costume design,” he shared. His dedication led him to study millinery at Kensington and Chelsea colleges in the United Kingdom. Today, Harvy’s award-winning creations have graced the pages of prestigious magazines including Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. For “Wicked,” Harvy embraced the challenges of designing hats that symbolize empowerment and strength.
“Millinery is like sculpture. We started playing with materials, experimenting with shapes,” he explained. “It’s still fascinating, it’s still challenging, and I quite like those challenges because I get to be inventive and creative with it.”
He expressed his excitement about contributing to such a monumental film, saying, “Every day, I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished. Knowing that you’re contributing to an epic film — that’s very exhilarating.”
Catch Harvy’ stunning work on the big screen as “Wicked” is now showing in cinemasnationwide.
‘I was somehow challenged’: Vilma Santos on her role in MMFF 2024 entry ‘Uninvited’
by Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com
“STAR For All Seasons” Vilma Santos admitted that her role in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry “Uninvited” is challenging.
During the recent press conference for the film, Vilma said she’s really looking for a role that will challenge her.
“It’s been hard for me to find a role that will be suitable for my age and the role that will challenge me because, in my more than 62 years in the industry, I feel like I’ve already done every role and most of the characters appear to be repetitive,” Vilma said.
“But with ‘Uninvited’ and my role, I feel I was somehow challenged,” she added.
Leading the powerhouse cast are Vilma, Aga Muhlach and Nadine Lustre supported by RK Bagatsing, Mylene Dizon, Lotlot de Leon, Gabby Padilla, Elijah Canlas, Ketchup Eusebio, Gio Alvarez, Cholo Barretto, Ron Angeles, and Tirso Cruz III.
From Mentorque Productions — the makers of the mostawarded Filipino horror movie
of all time, “Mallari” — comes a remarkable cinematic milestone Filipino audiences can’t afford to miss. Adding even more prestige, the film is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, which also helped catapult last year’s MMFF to success. Joining the team is Project 8 Projects in their first collaboration with Mentorque.
The tagline “Hindi lang ’to basta party!” teases the
LIZA Soberano is certainly living her dream in the fast lane after becoming the latest Filipino celebrity to attend the Formula One Grand Prix in Las Vegas.
Soberano took to Instagram on Monday, November 25, to share her photos at the event, where she sported a red and black patterned jersey shirt, while another photo showed her in a black leather Formula 1 jacket.
“On this week’s episode of Where is Liza? I’m in Las Vegas for F1! Can’t believe I’m watching my second race this season with Puma! Truly grateful to be living life in the fast lane,” she captioned her post. Soberano recently teamed up with Thai actorsinger Bright Vachirawit’s for the music video of the latter’s “Long Showers.”
The 26-year-old actress is actively expanding her career abroad, specifically in Hollywood. She previously starred in the 2024 horror comedy “Lisa Frankenstein,” which marked her international on-screen debut. She also recently signed with Singapore-based management group WILD. Recently, her former on-screen partner Enrique Gil expressed his desire to work with Soberano again. They were last seen in the 2019 romantic drama film, “Alone/Together.”
gripping mystery at the heart of “Uninvited.” What are the real stories and secrets behind the characters, and how are they connected?
Directed by Dan Villegas in his comeback directorial film after six years, “Uninvited” showcases an unforgettable collaboration of some of the most celebrated actors in Philippine cinema, with a screenplay written by Dodo Dayao.
Liza Soberano graces F1 Grand Prix in Las Vegas
Meanwhile, actor John Estrada and estranged wife Priscilla Meirelles were also previously spotted in Singapore to watch the F1 Grand Prix in September amid their marital problems. They were seen with another Filipino celebrity couple, Aubrey Miles and Troy Montero.
by JeSSica ann evangeliSta Inquirer.net
Liza Soberano attends F1 Grand Prix in Las Vegas Photo fromInstagram/@lizasoberano
Vilma Santos, Aga Muhlach and Nadine Lustre in the MMFF 2024 movie ‘Uninvited’ Screengrab from Mentorque YouTube channel
Based in the UK, Harvy Santos shares his journey from the Philippines to the Land of Oz, expressing his excitement about contributing to the film’s
Harvy’s creations include the signature witch’s hat worn by one of the main characters, Elphaba, who is played by Cynthia Erivo (above), who stars alongside Ariana Grande (below) as Glinda. Photo from Instagram/@wickedmovie started when I was six.”
venturing into millinery, Harvy pursued a career as a ballet dancer with the Hong Kong Ballet. Using his
Why Dolly de Leon failed to secure that first Oscar nomination
by JeSSica ann evangeliSta Inquirer.net
WHEN Dolly de Leon became the first Filipina to be nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the satirical black comedy “Triangle of Sadness” at the Golden Globe Awards and British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards in 2022, it gave the Filipinos hope that it could also lead to a first Oscar nomination for the Philippines. Sadly, it didn’t happen.
Ahead of the Oscars 2025, Cinegang Inc. and the Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) held a panel discussion on Monday, Nov. 25, as a way to help boost the Filipino actors, filmmakers, and producers’ chances to break through the Hollywood awards season.
During the discussion, dubbed “How to Award Your Film and TV Project,” the distinguished speakers, Filipino-American publicists David Magdael and Annalee Paulo, who are also recognized voters for the Academy Awards, weighed in on what happened during De Leon’s Oscar campaign, saying that presence on the campaign season is a very big factor to consider.
“She (de Leon) should have lived in America for like three months for the campaign,” began Paulo.
Magdael concurred with Paulo, saying de Leon could have made it big in Hollywood had she made herself present in the United States at least for the duration of the campaign. “She should have been in America as much as for the campaign. I think that was the biggest mistake she made. Because I remember she blew everybody in Hollywood; everybody was talking about her. When it comes to her part, she just takes over the movie and runs with it,” Magdael said.
“We kept trying to get her to stay in the U.S., but she had familial obligations, and it was hard because her kids are here [in the Philippines]. She could have gotten nominated if she had been in every screening for like a four-week period. Everybody wanted to get in
touch with her,” he said. Paulo used “Parasite” director Bong Joon-ho as an example of someone who went all out with his campaign that eventually led him to bag the Academy Award.
“I fully believe the reason Parasite won is because Bong Joon-ho lived in the United States for like four months and went to every party. It’s a campaign, right?” she explained. On the other hand, four-time Emmy Award-winning television producer Lisa Lew, who served as one of the moderators in the discussion, believed that all went down to “timing.”
“Triangle of Sadness was a discovery. She (De Leon) could have won,” she added.
Meanwhile, the speakers emphasized that De Leon is already on the map, and with the right strategies, she still stands a chance to bag that first Oscar nomination or victory for the Philippines.
The 2nd MIFF will take place in Hollywood on Jan. 28 to February 2, which will screen the film entries from the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).
A voice for the season: Lea Salonga returns with first Christmas album in over 20 years
Limited winter tour includes stops in California, Arizona and New York
CENTER Stage Records has officially released “Lea Salonga: Sounding Joy – The Holiday Album,” marking the Tony Award winner’s first holiday album in over 20 years. Fans can order the album on Amazon and CenterStageRecords.com, with a limited number of signed copies available exclusively on the label’s website.
Now available on digital platforms and CD, the highly anticipated album by the international icon and Disney legend features reimagined Christmas classics, brand-new original songs, and a special duet with American Idol star Clay Aiken. “Sounding Joy” promises to enchant listeners with Salonga’s heartfelt interpretations and flawless vocals, offering a perfect soundtrack for the holiday season.
“We are so thrilled to reunite with Lea, having previously worked with her on ‘Once On
This Island,’ ‘Allegiance,’ and her live album with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra,” said Van Dean, Center Stage Records president. “There’s something so special about pairing her voice with these songs. We can’t wait for everyone to hear the magic that Lea and her musicians have created.”
In support of the album, Salonga will be hitting the road again this winter. Salonga will bring “Sounding Joy | The Holiday Tour,” her celebrated holiday concert to San Diego on Wednesday, December 11, at 7:30 p.m. at the Balboa Theater. This highly anticipated performance is part of her limited winter tour, which also includes stops at The Warfield Theatre in San Francisco on December 7 (sold out), Arizona MusicFest in Scottsdale on December 9, The Soraya in Northridge on December 15, and The Town Hall in New York on December
20 (sold out).
Fans can expect an evening filled with holiday classics, new songs, and Salonga’s signature charm and artistry. Tickets are available now at leasalonga. com.
Recently, Lea starred in the new musical “Here Lies Love” at the Broadway Theater and headlined “Old Friends” (alongside Bernadette Peters) on London’s West End, which she will star in on Broadway in the spring.
In her 45-year career, Lea has performed for six Philippine presidents (from Ferdinand Marcos to Benigno S. Aquino III), four American Presidents (Joe Biden, George H. W.
Bill Clinton, and
Bush), and for Diana,
of Wales and Her
Elizabeth II.
was honored by Time Magazine as a Time100 Impact Award Recipient and received the Gold House 2023 Gold Legend Award.
Bush,
George W.
Princess
Majesty Queen
She
Dolly de Leon
Photo from Instagram/@dollyedeleon
From left to right: Winston Emano, David Magdael, Annalee Paulo, and Lisa Lew. Inquirer.net photo
NAPCA hosts ‘Confronting Obesity’ within the AA&NHPI communities congressional briefing
WASHINGTON, D.C.
– On Wednesday, November 20, NAPCA hosted the Confronting Obesity and Obesity Related Illnesses briefing in Washington, D.C., bringing together Congressmembers, over 60 attendees, and healthcare experts to address obesity and related illnesses in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA&NHPI) communities.
During the event, NAPCA’s President & CEO Clayton S. Fong expressed deep gratitude for Congresswoman Michelle Steel and Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland. “We thank Congresswoman Steel for hosting this briefing. She has always been a steadfast champion for tailored and inlanguage access for AA&NHPI communities,” Fong said.
Highlighting Congresswoman Strickland’s exceptional opening remarks, he added, “Representative Strickland shared a moving story of helping her Korean-speaking mother navigate healthcare growing up, powerfully highlighting
her deep understanding of the need for linguistically and culturally inclusive services. We are honored by the support and leadership both Congresswomen bring to these critical conversations.”
Dr. Soo-Young Chin, obesity researcher and co-founder of Ethnoworks, started the panel off with findings from NAPCA’s study, “Understanding Obesity Among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Americans.”
Dr. Chin revealed that obesity prevalence among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Americans exceeds that of the overall U.S. population and remains persistently high, often masked by aggregated data.
Ofa Matagi, executive director of UPIHC: Utah Pacific Islander Health Coalition, called for disaggregated data and emphasized the importance of not treating AA&NHPI communities as a monolith.
Matagi also highlighted the need for prevention and intervention strategies that integrate cultural practices and linguistic nuances.
Ka Hei Karen Lau, registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist at Joslin Diabetes Center, highlighted tailored solutions such as culturally relevant recipes provided by the Joslin Diabetes Center. Lau also discussed how despite having a lower average BMI, Asian Americans face a high rate of obesity-related illnesses. This shows how Eurocentric BMI measures may not adequately capture health risks for AA&NHPI individuals and the need for screening at a lower BMI threshold (BMI 23) to enable early prevention and care.
Fong concluded, “Contrary to stereotypes, not everyone in our community is wealthy, an Ivy League graduate, or thin. Obesity and obesity related illnesses is a growing and critical issue. And as we work to improve our nation’s health, it’s essential to advocate for and include the diverse needs of our AA&NHPI communities in the conversation.”
(NAPCA Release)
Anne Curtis’ wax figure unveiled in Hong Kong
by anne PaSaJol Inquirer.net
ANNE Curtis’ wax figure is now officially displayed in a museum in Hong Kong, and the actress-TV host could not help but gush over it.
Glimpses from the unveiling event were shown by Curtis’ talent management company, Viva Artists Agency, through its Instagram page on Wednesday, Nov. 27.
“Multimedia Superstar Anne Curtis unveils her Madame Tussauds wax figure, making history as the first Filipino actress and TV host in Madame Tussauds Hong Kong’s ‘Hong Kong Glamour Zone,'” it said.
“Sharing the spotlight with Hollywood legends like Nicole Kidman, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and Chris Hemsworth, Anne continues to shine on the global stage,” it added.
Curtis, meanwhile, earlier treated fans to a peek into her preparations for the event, adding the caption “Can’t believe it!”
Curtis, who is currently among the hosts of the ABS-CBN noontime show “It’s Showtime,” first announced her wax figure in December last year.
Aside from her, other Filipino celebrities who also have their own wax figures done by the museum include boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, beauty queens Pia Wurtzbach and Catriona Gray, and Broadway superstar Lea Salonga.
Fil-Am actor Nico Santos guest stars as nurse on NBC’s ‘St. Denis Medical’
Santos plays the role of Rene, a
and confident Filipino nurse
as the
and
American actor
Nico Santos is once again putting Pinoy pride on the global stage, with his guest appearance in NBC’s sitcom
Too,” Santos’ character
Filipino singer Sofronio Vasquez advances to Top 8 of ‘The Voice USA’
Ng Tanghalan”
alum Sofronio Vasquez secured a coveted spot in the top eight of “The Voice USA” after he captivated both judges and viewers with his performance of Roy Orbison’s “Crying.”
Vasquez received a standing ovation from his coach, Michael Bublé, after his performance in the playoffs. The singer took to social media to celebrate making it to the Top 8.
“I made it to TOP 8! Thank you, Lord, and now it’s in America’s hands. Daghang Salamat coach Michael Bublé for this opportunity. Not wasting this chance,” he wrote, sharing photos from his performance.
As of writing, his performance on YouTube has garnered almost 500,000 views. In the comments section, netizens expressed their hope for Vasquez to reach the final round of the competition.
“That is how you perform in a contest! You nailed it Sofronio! We are all rooting for you. Please support Sofronio,” said one netizen.
“I hope that the USA is ready to win Sofronio even though he is from the Philippines. He
deserves it more. He has the talent. He has the voice,” wrote another netizen. Last week, Vasquez secured a spot in the playoffs after winning the 3-way knockout round with his performance of Dusty Springfield’s “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me,” earning him a place in the Top 20.
Judy Ann Santos,
by
by
Lorna Tolentino haunted
spirits in ‘Espantaho’ trailer
JUDY Ann Santos and Lorna Tolentino are haunted by mysterious spirits in the home of the family patriarch in the trailer for the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2024 entry “Espantaho,” which is directed by veteran filmmaker Chito Roño. Santos and Tolentino portray a daughter and mother tandem determined to keep the family patriarch’s land property, as seen in the film’s official trailer which was uploaded on Quantum Films’ official YouTube channel on Monday, November 25. After mourning the death of the patriarch Pabling (Emil Sandoval), Monet (Santos) and her mother Rosa (Tolentino) find themselves in a battle with Pabling’s legal wife Adele (Chanda Romero) who wants to sell the property. Also joining Adele are her children Roy (Mon Confiado) and Andie (Janice de Belen). However, it is the Spanish-style house, property, and the harvest from Pabling’s land that kept Monet and Rosa alive throughout the years, as Monet’s antique business struggles to keep afloat. With Adele asserting her right as Pabling’s legal wife and Rosa adamant to keep the land, supernatural forces haunt both families, appearing to portray that there are more secrets that lie within. Monet then finds herself faceto-face with the spirits, who are on the hunt for the chosen one who brought the alleged peste (or pest)
into the world. This led to Monet and Rosa carrying makeshift weapons with a seeming intention to kill. Also part of the film’s cast are JC Santos, Nico Antonio, Donna Cariaga, Archi Adamos, Kian Co, Eugene Domingo, and Tommy Abuel. Prior to directing “Espantaho,” Roño is known for using special effects in his filmmaking where he brought horror movies to life such as “Sukob,” “Feng Shui,” “Feng Shui 2,” and “Shake, Rattle and Roll 14: The Invasion.” He is also known for being the director of other genres as well. The filmmaker is also widely known for winning Best Director in the MMFF for his work “Yamashita: The Tiger’s Treasure” and “Nasaan Ang Puso.”
by JeSSica ann evangeliSta Inquirer.net
by gavin Martinez Inquirer.net
THE VOICE USA, “The Playoffs Part 3,” Episode 2617, Pictured: Sofronio Vasquez.
Photo by Griffin Nagel/NBC via Facebook/Sofronio Vasquez
TAWAG
FILIPINO
“St. Denis Medical.”
He previously triumphed in the Battles round, where he faced Aliyah Khaylyn in a duet of Celine Dion’s “The Power of Love” last month. Vasquez first gained recognition as a contender on “It’s Showtime” segment “Tawag Ng Tanghalan,” where he reached the semifinals.
Anne Curtis (right) and her wax figure in a museum in Hong Kong. Photo from Instagram/@vivartistsagency
witty
Photo from Instagram/@nicosantos
shines
witty and sharptongued Rene, a seasoned registered nurse who isn’t afraid to stand his ground, especially in his clashes with head nurse Alex, played by Allison Tolman. His hilarious one-liners and commanding presence inject
HannaH Mallorca Inquirer.net
Judy Ann Santos and Lorna Tolentino in the trailer for “Espantaho.” Screengrab from YouTube/Quantum Films
Five benefits of establishing a revocable living trust
Corner
THERE is never the perfect time to think about who you would like to inherit from your estate in case you pass away or at least who among your closest friends (BFFs) and family members are even deserving of inheriting from your estate. In doing so, you should also think about which vehicle you plan to use in implementing your estate plan. One of the best vehicle in implementing your estate plan is a revocable living trust. Five major benefits of establishing a revocable living trust are: 1. Your estate can avoid the time, cost, and hassle of going through the probate court process.
If you pass away without a will (intestate) in California, one of your close family would have to file a petition in probate court to probate your estate. Your estate will be divided and distributed according to the California probate code rules of intestate succession. Even if you have a will when you pass away, your family would still need to file a petition in probate court if your estate is worth over $184,500 and go through the probate process. This can become a circus if certain beneficiaries contest the validity of the Will or the distribution of the estate. Your estate will pay for attorney’s fees, probate referee fees, appraisers and other experts, CPA fees, etc. If people contest the case, your estate would end up paying legal fees to defend the estate in litigation.
The entire process can take anywhere from 9 months to years depending on the contentiousness of the probate case.
With a revocable living trust, your trustee or successor trustee if you were the initial trustee, would administer the trust and distribute the estate according to the trust document
without having to open a probate court case. If the trust is funded with all your assets, it is possible to administer and distribute the trust assets without any Court involvement at all. This process is a lot faster than going through probate.
2. Your estate is not public record.
When you file a probate case, the public has access to your probate case file. The public will know the assets of the estate including the values of those assets. If the Will is admitted into probate, the terms of the Will is open to public scrutiny.
Establishing a revocable living trust makes your estate affairs private. Strangers do not have access to the terms of your living trust. Only certain beneficiaries and possible heirs can request a copy of the revocable living trust after you pass away.
3. You can dictate who will inherit from your estate. If you pass away without a Will, your estate will be divided and distributed in Probate Court following the rules of intestate succession in the California probate code. Certain relatives will be entitled to a share of your estate even if you feel they are not deserving. By establishing a revocable living trust, you can designate who you want to inherit from your estate. You can designate what and how much each one will received from your estate after you pass away. The assets distributed to each beneficiaries does not have to be equal. The people you designate as beneficiaries of your living trust does not even have to be close family members. You can designate anyone as a beneficiary, with certain exceptions, of your estate.
4. You can structure your estate to minimize estate taxes. If your estate is valued above the estate tax exemption, establishing a trust can allow you to divide up your estate into smaller sub trusts to minimize the overall estate tax effect on your estate. It allows you to set up a vehicle for certain charitable giving which carries tax advantage and asset protection.
5. You can choose who will administer your estate after your death. When you establish a revocable trust, you can appoint someone else as trustee or you can appoint a successor trustee if you are the initial trustee. The trustee will be administering (managing) the trust after you pass away without a need to open a probate court case. This allows for continuity in operating the trust and the efficient and cost effective distribution of estate assets. If you are concerned about whether you can trust any family members as your trustee, you can appoint an institution as a professional trustee to carry out the terms of the declaration of trust. These type of trustee services are often offered by banks, financial institutions, wealth management firms, and business management firms for a reasonable fee. This minimizes conflicts within the family and prevents negligence and wrong doing by inexperienced family members.
* *
*
Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APC. This article is not a solicitation.
* * *
Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APC is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@ kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com (Advertising Supplement)
Pastor’s Notes
ReveRend Rodel G. BalaGtas
God’s promise
GOD’S promise does not stem from a political system or a monarchy but from the root of David. We hear it in the First Reading (Jeremiah 33:14-16) on this First Sunday (Dec. 1) of Advent. God’s promise has a Davidic character. A shoot, a sign of new life springing from a previous life, will be raised for the Davidic house— a house where all political groups, both from the South and the Northern Kingdom, would be united under David and where the practice of justice and righteousness will reign.
Isn’t this our wish for our country, church, and society? We long for God’s promise: the end of division, peace and justice, harmony and prosperity for all people.
As we wait for God’s promise, we must pray for God’s guidance. To receive this, we must be men and women of prayer whose hearts reach to God like the words of Psalm 16: “To you, O Lord, I lift my soul. Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me your paths, Guide me in your truth, and teach me, for you are God my savior, and for you, I wait all the day.”
As we grow in prayer, we must pray for discernment and courage to preach the Gospel
of our Lord Jesus Christ in the context of our people’s and society’s lives. Hence, the Second Reading urges us to strengthen our hearts and to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father.
The Gospel that we must preach must be the Gospel of love and mercy. And so, St. Paul in the Second Reading (1 Thes 3:12—4:2) urges us with these words: “May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and all, just as we have for you.”
While we await the Second Coming, we must continue to build a community rooted in justice and peace.
The Church is at a critical juncture; our people need us to bring meaning to their lives and support those who are fearful. As we strive to be responsible citizens of our country, we must also declare our allegiance to Jesus and the Spirit of the Gospel.
We must also tell our people not to lose courage and hope amidst the challenges of our times. Dianne Bergant alludes to this in her explanation of the upheavals portrayed in this Sunday’s Gospel (Luke 21:25-28, 34-36).
“As startling as all this may be, the upheavals are really signs that portend the advent of redemption. Cosmic turmoil calls to mind the primordial chaos out of which God brought order anew. In the case described in the Gospel passage, the disturbances are probably less predictions of actual historical images portraying the end of one age and the birth of another.
The upheaval described here, whether it is meant as cosmic, national, or spiritual, will cause such anguish that people will die of fright. Despite this, Jesus tells his listeners to stand erect and raise their heads when all this happens rather than be covered in fear. For those faithfully awaiting God’s revelation, this will not be a time of punishment. Rather, it will be the advent of the new age of fulfillment.” And so Jesus tells his disciples to prepare: Beware! Take heed! Be alert! Don’t be caught by surprise! Friends, indeed, this time in our lives is a call to holiness— not merely from a prayer life or devotion to the Eucharist, but a period of spiritual growth in love as the Body of Christ. We must challenge our community to pursue authentic holiness rooted in love for God and neighbor. We urge our people to reflect on the question: Who is my neighbor?
May this Advent season inspire us to reach out to people, especially to those who need to feel God’s love and mercy. May it encourage us to “walk with one” who needs guidance, comfort, friendship, and support.
Blessings!
Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas * * * 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.
* * * Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California.
Fil-Am actor Nico Santos guest stars...
PAGE B4
energy into the show, offering a comedic yet relatable portrayal of a Filipino professional navigating the highs and lows of healthcare.
The episode didn’t just bring laughs but also paid subtle homage to Filipino culture through its title and Santos’ character.
NBC highlighted his appearance on their social media, sharing a sneak peek of Rene in his blue scrubs, with the caption: “So don’t freak out but look who’s here… Watch Nico Santos in an all-new episode of #StDenisMedical TONIGHT 8/7c on NBC.” Santos is no stranger to the limelight,
having built an impressive career with roles in “Superstore,” “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.” Each role has showcased his range as an actor, and his guest spot on “St. Denis Medical” is no exception. Off-screen, Santos continues to celebrate his Filipino heritage. He recently vacationed in the Philippines with his husband, actor Zeke Smith, after their wedding, cementing his connection to his homeland.
“Enjoying a very much needed getaway in @ elnidoresorts Pangulasian Island. I mean LOOK AT THIS PLACE,” he wrote, accompanied by a picture of them in El Nido, Palawan.
Richards have nothing but gratitude to their supporters as their film “Hello, Love, Again” made history as the first Philippine film to cross the P1 billion mark at the box office.
Since its release in theaters earlier this month, the Bernardo and Richards starrer made numerous records such as earning the biggest first-day ticket sales at P85 million and debuting on the eighth spot at the U.S.’ Top 10 box office last Nov. 19, among other milestones.
It has overtaken Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes’ “Rewind” to be the highest-grossing Filipino film, earning P1.06 billion.
This milestone led the actor to thank the film’s supporters on his Instagram account on Saturday, Nov. 23.
“Thank you for making this happen. We are truly grateful beyond words. Maraming, maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat (Thank you very much to all of you). To God be the glory,” he wrote.
Bernardo and Richards also showed their appreciation in a video message on ABS-CBN News’ YouTube channel uploaded on Monday, Nov. 25, with the latter saying he loves their fans a “billion times.”
“We love you a billion times, guys. Grabe (Wow),” he said. “We didn’t expect na aabot nang ganito
ang gross income ng ‘Hello, Love, Again’ (We didn’t expect that the gross income of ‘Hello, Love, Again’ will hit this mark). No words to say how grateful we are.” Meanwhile, Bernardo admitted that she’s left with “no words” about the film’s achievement.
“Yes, no words po. We’re just extremely grateful. Thank you sa lahat ng mga sumusuporta, sa lahat ng mga kababayans namin. Parte kayo nito (Thank you to everyone who supports the film, to all our kababayans. You’re part of this),” she said. “Thank you for making this
happen. Thank you for making this possible. And congratulations to us,” she added.
“Hello, Love, Again” picks up where the story of Joy (Bernardo) and Ethan (Richards) left off, as the latter is determined to win her back after breaking up during the height of the pandemic. But Joy remained firm with her decision, and she made the bold declaration that “Joy is gone.” Aside from theaters in the Philippines, the romance drama is also screened in theaters in North America, Asia and the Middle East.
Julia Montes and Zia Grace deliver gripping performances in ‘Saving Grace’
by teSSa Mauricio-arriola ManilaTimes.net
IN a heartfelt address at the celebrity and media preview of “Saving Grace,” — ABS-CBN’s latest production for streaming platform Prime Video — director FM Reyes set the tone for the highly anticipated series, underscoring its mission to bring social issues often left in the shadows to light.
“Saving Grace” is the Filipino adaptation of Nippon TV’s award-winning Japanese drama “Mother.” A poignant exploration of a mother’s unconditional love, the series
zooms in on the harrowing realities of child abuse, poverty, and the emotional toll of societal neglect.
“Mother” remains the record holder of the most globally adapted Asian scripted format, counting 11 to date. Besides the Philippines, versions have been produced in South Korea, Turkey, Ukraine, Thailand, China, France, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Mongolia and Greece.
With the Philippines effectively contributing to the legacy of this Japanese series, Reyes opened his speech by tackling an inevitable question.
“Many ask why this adaptation was necessary when Filipinos excel at creating original stories ourselves,” he began. “It is our little contribution to putting these ills to the front because when you look around, you still see many children selling sampaguita [jasmine garlands] and young boys carrying sacks of rice and grain in markets.”
With such scenes becoming increasingly common in Filipino life, Reyes explained that a story like “Saving Grace” can serve as a wake-up call to remind society that these problems have not disappeared and urgently need action.
The director also reflected on modern disconnections, noting how social media, which is meant to unite people, often isolates them. Families may sit together at dinner, yet children remain glued to their phones.
“This one is a deeper form of poverty rooted in neglect and disconnection,” the director added.
These struggles, Reyes emphasized, are at the heart of “Saving Grace,” where he is proud to say his sterling cast delivers a journey that not only tells a story but also offers valuable lessons for the audience to learn from.
If the series’ pilot is anything to go on, we can bet on a truly powerful series that, as Reyes hopes, will open eyes to the harsh realities of neglect and abuse and ultimately spark
both reflection and action. Congratulations are already in order for the series’ leads, Eddys 2024 Best Actress Julia Montes and breakout child discovery Zia, who is the title’s namesake.
Julia understatedly stars as Anna, a teacher struggling with her own feelings of isolation. Her life takes a dramatic turn when she decides to take action to help Grace (Zia) — who delivers a very natural and gripping performance — a seemingly cheerful student who frequently arrives at school hungry and battered.
As questions from the school authorities, as well as Anna, begin to escalate regarding her state, Grace fabricates stories to protect her widowed mother, who refuses to acknowledge she is abused, and her alcoholic live-in partner, who is responsible for hurting Grace.
“It’s not easy to tell this story because, in the narrative, the characters are trapped in a situation of poverty — not just materially, but emotionally,” Direk FM rightly acknowledged, all the more grateful that they chose the right actors to bring this challenge to life.
Besides Julia and Zia, the compelling series features a stellar ensemble cast, led no less by Mega Star Sharon Cuneta with Sam Milby, Jennica Garcia, Sophia Reola and Janice de Belen, among others.
Produced by Dreamscape Entertainment, the team behind the phenomenally successful heavy drama “Linlang” (2023), “Saving Grace” is a testament to ABS-CBN’s resilience and dedication to meaningful storytelling despite challenges in the television industry.
For indeed, with its powerful narrative and commitment to addressing real-world issues, the series has every potential to make a lasting impact on its viewers.
Directed by FM Reyes and Dolly Dulu, “Saving Grace” will release two episodes every Thursday on Prime Video starting November 28.
Besides Montes, ‘Saving Grace’ stars (from left) Elisse Joson, Sam Milby, Jennica Garcia, Christian Bables and Eric Fructuoso.
Alden Richards (left) and Kathryn Bernardo
Photo from Instagram/@aldenrichards02
Ted Herbosa, the indefatigable man of the hour
THE Department of Health, in partnership with the Commission on Population Development and The Forum for Family Planning and Development Inc., held recently the 2024 National Conference on Family Planning discussing innovative strategies, enabling policies, and collaborative efforts to improve family planning services and sexual and reproductive health across the Philippines.
Health Secretary Ted Herbosa delivered Pres. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s opening remarks. Mayors from urban and rural areas in the Philippines, officials from state and private agency partners, and other key local and foreign stakeholders graced the two-day event. They particularly tackled strategic directions to strengthen the implementation of Universal Health Care Act and the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of the Philippines in pursuit of better family planning and population management in the country.
I had the opportunity to meet the indefatigable man of the hour. Few people know that DOH Secretary Herbosa is the great grandnephew of our national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, who served in the barrios when he was exiled, and for that “we can cull great inspiration of selfless service and patriotism.” Lucia Rizal is the mother of his grandfather. Rogelio
As an emergency doctor, Herbosa has witnessed the struggles of the ordinary Filipino to access healthcare services as well as the gaps that the government can bridge for the people that it serves. That experience honed his perspective and competencies in the field. Having an on-the-ground training, he was molded to act with conviction and dedication in every step of the way. “In times of crisis, you cannot think solely of yourself, as the people already own you. Service lies at the heart of this profession, and though there might have been more economically benefiting opportunities in other places, I stood by my oath to serve the people,” he said to this columnist.
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The late ATOM founder Agapito “Butz” Aquino was honored November 30 during the 2024 Annual Honoring of Martyrs and Heroes at the Quezon City’s Bantayog ng mga Bayani Center. Other honorees were Ramon Alcaraz, Adolfo Alcances, Serge Cherniguin, Ceferino Gaddi, Roberto Jimenez, and Manuel Quiambao. Guest of honor was Quezon City Mayor Josefina “Joy” Belmonte.
* * * Global icon and Sparkle artist Heart Evangelista headlines GMA Pinoy TV with “Heart World.” Set to captivate audiences as it peeks into her vibrant life beyond the glitz and glam, this feel-good, vlogstyle show is produced by Heart herself. Through a mix of personal storytelling, an exhilarating fashion week, behind-the-scenes
access to her glamorous lifestyle, and snippets of her private life in Manila, each episode unveils the woman behind the public persona.
* * *
Thanks to Sam Azurel for giving me an opportunity to receive the Amerika Prestige Awards Hollywood’s Inclusive Media Excellence recognition and to my fashion designer niece Ann K. Isip with her hubby Robert Bourque who represented me.
*
* * It was nice to know other recipients of the 2nd Southeast Asian Premier Business and Achiever (SAPBA) Award through radio and TV guestings. Photographer Jamin Lim and I got to meet awardees Elyza and Robert Rivera, hosts of Pilipinas Ngayon Na! at DWIZ. Then Patrick Saburit of the Kylledmed Philippines and I met awardee Marc Logan (host of Patokitok Kalogan at DWAN AM 1206) and DJ Gabby. Later, Engr. Alyssa Joy Finca of the Finca Engineering Services and I met awardee Jigo Postolero, host of Jigo Live at Abante Radyo Tabloidista. Last November 28, awards committee chair Nirro Marcelo, Saleha Pangarungan Sacar of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos and I were guests in awardee People’s Television’s Rise and Shine Pilipinas.
I was joyful when my friends Salvacion Paparon of Sheanne Roll Up Door Construction Services, Chairman D. Edgard A. Cabangon of ALC Media Group and comedy bar owner Andrew De Real are awardees of the 2nd SAPBA Award to be held on December 8 at Winford Resort and Casino Manila.
Other awardees are broadcasters/ vloggers and radio/TV hosts Wej Cudiamat, Annabelle Surara and Earlo Bringas of NET 25’s Radyo Aguila, Braggy Braganza of 97.9 Home Radio, Dennis Antenor Jr., Conrado Cagas Tacgos Jr. (Johnny Bukol), DJ Mama Colleen, DJ Kuya Machete (Joey Sarmiento), DJ Gilbert delos Santos, Richard James B. Merck, PTV’s Audrey Gorriceta, Miles Ocampo, Vhong Navarro, Jhong Hilario, retired PNP Lt. General Rhodel Sermonia of UNTV’s Wonderful Pinas, Isko Moreno of ISKOVERY NIGHT, Ambet Nabus, Dominic Almelor, Gretchen Fullido, Atasha Muhlach, Niño Myrrh C. Tarinay, and Carlo Lorenzo. Awarded singers-actors are Freddie Aguilar, Lae Manego, Carmela Betonio, Jos Garcia, Hagibis, Michael Pangilinan, Bugoy Drilon, Daryl Ong, Jona, Andres Muhlach, and comedians MC, Lassy, Kuya Isaac Sabaw (Ishaku Ishaya Monday), and Marian Rivera. The other list of recipients
are: Alexander John Fong, Media House Express, 97.9 Home Radio, Aliw Channel 23, DWIZ-AM, William Jones, Janice Delima, Shirley B. Belangel, Bon Jheo Exconde, Dr. Elva Evasco-Auza, Edwin Lisa, Conelen Carino, Ravve Jay and Mherie Vic Prevendido, Ira Patricia Malaluan, Julia Mendoza, Jeff Madarang, Jane Darren Genobisa, Cindy Madduma, Keyrol Cabuso, Catherine VeluzZeta, Jomerle Evardone Matutino, Angelo Estera, Hazel May E. Baliguian, Dr. Jesus Recasata Jr., NWOW International Trading Corp., JP Catering Services, Intele Builders and Development Corp., Lucky GHL Advertising, JFBV, Matty’s Themed Events, Sapporo Products Inc., Lagniappe Printshop, Eyeleen Hair and Make up by Aileen Sebua, Gown and Events Management by Touting, Jam Lim Enterprises, Cave Beach Resort, Alegre de Pilipinas, The Metropolista, Light TV, RCP Ritmo Tambore, Win Radio, Bhylinn’s Modern Fashion, Edwin Lisa Brows and Aesthetics, Venice Handicrafts Wooden Kiddie Stools and Furniture, Links Digital, Through The Glass Creatives, Densol’s Catering, Joyice Philippines, DWAN 1206 AM, Top 5 Mga Kwentong Marc Logan, SCPM Trading, Kpanfuel International Trading, Uno Construction International, Kherk Roldan Whitelabel SEO Solutions, MJ-AM Trading, Better Boneless, The Brewed Buddies Coffee & Tea Creations, Altech Autogate
* * * The first time I met actress Deborah Sun was when I joined Jeanne Young’s Spin-A-Win show on RPN Channel 9 years ago. Just recently I met her during the premiere night of Efren Reyes Jr.’s “Idol: The April Boy Regino Story” at Grand Duchess Ballroom of Great Eastern Hotel in Quezon City. She has never changed for she remains humble, approachable and kind. More about her in a future issue of this column.
* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
* * * rogeliocmedina@yahoo.com
Rogelio Constantino Medina’s awards from the Amerika Prestige Awards 2024.
From left: Julio Diaz, the late Jaclyn Jose, Deborah Sun and Vandolph
Robert Bourque and Ann K. Isip
Robert Bourque and Ann K. Isip
DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa
Heart Evangelista stars in “Heart World.”
From left: Alyssa joy Finca, Jigo Postolero and Oggie Medina
GMA Network recently unveiled its highly-anticipated Christmas Station ID, “Ganito Ang Paskong Pinoy: Puno ng Pasasalamat.”
Int. Philippines Inc., SMRD Credit Collection Services, Faces and Curves, G-Film Rental & Capitol Medical Center Inc., Mariel Nicole Santiago of Genuine Diamonds PH, Charlomagne Arceta, Datu Kasan A. Karon Jr., Viomix Philippines, Phisavong World Travel and Tours, and Atty. Persida Acosta.
