120822 - Las Vegas Edition

Elections experts discuss increased AAPI engagement in 2022 midterms

AS elections officers and communities continue to process the results of the highly contentious 2022 midterm elections, one thing is clear: Asian American voters, especially those in Los Angeles County, have the potential to decide races.

According to local demographics, more than 639,000 voters identify as Asian American or Pacific Islander (AAPI) in LA County, which accounts for more than 11% of all LA County voters, which, according to Candice Cho, managing director of policy and counsel at AAPI Equity Alliance, which hosted a briefing discussing the impact of AAPI voters in 2022 and beyond.

The increase in vote-by-mail during the 2020 election contributed to the increase of voters, especially the Asian American electorate.

“We know that in 2020, almost three out of four Asian voters voted early or by mail, which is larger than any other

REAL ID requirement delayed until 2025

THE enforcement of the REAL ID requirement for air travelers has been pushed back to another two years, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Monday, Dec. 5.

The date has been delayed by 24 months from May 3, 2023 to May 7, 2025, according to the agency. Under the new regulations published to execute this change, states will now have additional time to ensure their residents have driver’s licenses and identification cards that meet the security standards established by the REAL ID Act.

Under the new regulations, beginning May 7, 2025, every traveler 18 years of age or older will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card, state-issued enhanced driver’s license, or another TSA-acceptable form of identification at airport 1security checkpoints for domestic air travel.

As required by the law, following the enforcement deadline, federal agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), will be prohibited from accepting driver’s licenses and identification cards that do not meet these federal standards.

“DHS continues to work closely with U.S.

Marcos: Growth on track amid ‘rampant’ inflation

by ALDEN MONZON Inquirer.net

MANILA — While he admitted that inflation is “running rampant and out of control,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, December 6 said the Philippines is still on track “to maintain a strong economic performance” and achieve the government’s growth target of 6.5 to 7.5 percent for this year.

The rate of increase in prices of goods and services in the country accelerated to 8 percent in November, exceeding the 7.7 percent figure back in October,

which was already the highest in 14 years.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) released on Tuesday showed that the core consumer price index reached that level, driven by price gains in food and non-alcoholic beverages.

The commodity group had an inflation rate of 10 percent, accounting for the biggest weight in the inflation basket at 58.4 percent.

Vegetables, rice, and sugar were the top three goods that saw an increase in their prices.

‘Poor news’

Restaurant and accommodation services were the second biggest commodity group that was the source

of inflation, with a rate of 6.5 percent and a share of 19.8 percent.

The November figure brings the year-to-date inflation to 5.6 percent, in close proximity to the government’s target of 5.8 percent.

Following the release of inflation data, Marcos, addressing an economic forum by the Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) of the Philippines, said of that “poor news” that “we are now trying to identify the areas of the economy that are the main drivers of that inflation.”

“The main drivers, unfortunately, are still imported  PAGE 2

Philippines on track to lose growth momentum in 2023, says World Bank

MANILA  – The Philippine economy is expected to lose momentum in 2023 with the pace of expansion set to slow to 5.7 percent as soaring inflation and higher interest rates crimp domestic demand, the World Bank said on Tuesday, December 6.

The World Bank’s outlook, which was trimmed from its earlier growth forecast of 5.8 percent, was more pessimistic than the government, which on Monday cut its 2023 growth projection to 6 percent-7 percent from 6.5 percent-7.5 percent.

“The forecast for 2023 is premised on reduced consumer demand, alongside high inflation and high interest rates that are expected to temper household spending and investments,” the World Bank said.

The World Bank expects the Philippines to end 2022 on a strong note with the economy forecast to grow 7.2 percent, much higher than its previous growth projection of 6.5 percent, after the Southeast Asian country’s robust performance in January to September.

The Philippines is on course to meet its 6.5

PH launches eTravel platform for inbound passengers

MANILA — Inbound travelers will now provide their arrival information and health declaration through the eTravel platform, Malacañang announced on Thursday, December 1.

The eTravel platform — an online registration system for travelers bound for the Philippines, including returning residents — was launched to streamline the government’s entry procedures and data collection processes.

According to the Office of the Press Secretary, the health declaration checklist of the Department of Health’s Bureau of Quarantine may be accessed through etravel. gov.ph.

The portal replaces the One Health Pass website.

Passengers using the former www.

onehealthpass.com.ph will be redirected to the new eTravel domain. The old domain of the One Health Pass will no longer be accessible starting December 5.

The eTravel platform will also host the electronic version of the paper arrival card that travelers must submit for immigration clearance.

Beginning December 5, the Bureau of Immigration will discontinue using the paper arrival card.

Registration on the eTravel platform is free.

“The public is warned against transacting with any entities or websites soliciting payments and fees of any kind as these are in no way related to the official eTravel platform of the Philippine Government,” the OPS said. (Gaea Katreena Cabico/Philstar.com)

High approval, trust ratings for Marcos, Sara

MANILA — President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte received high approval and trust ratings, according to a nationwide survey conducted by the RP-Mission and Development Foundation Inc. (RPMD).

According to the “Boses ng Bayan” survey conducted from Nov. 27 to Dec. 2, Marcos got approval and trust ratings of 83 percent and 87 percent, respectively.

Meanwhile, Duterte, who is also the secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), received an 81-percent approval rating and an 87-percent trust rating.

The results are an average of

the two officials’ high ratings throughout the country’s regions and across socioeconomic classes, the foundation said.

Marcos received the highest satisfaction ratings in Mindanao with 87 percent and his lowest was in Metro Manila at 73 percent.

The RPMD survey did not provide more details about Marcos’ poll ratings in Luzon or in his political bailiwick, the Ilocos region.

Meanwhile, Duterte got the highest satisfaction rating of 98 percent in Mindanao, her regional political stronghold, while her lowest satisfaction rating was in

PH senators, businesses respond to Maharlika fund

by BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO, EIREENE GOMEZ AND MA. REINA LEANNE TOLENTINO ManilaTimes.net

SOME senators harbor concerns over the proposed creation of the P275-billion Maharlika Wealth Fund (MWF) because it intends to tap private and public pension contributions.

Under the bill jointly filed by House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Rep. Ferdinand “Sandro” Marcos III, the fund will pool resources from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Social Security System (SSS), LandBank and Development Bank of the Philippines for investments.

Senate Majority Leader Emmanuel “Joel” Villanueva, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, as well as Senators Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, Francis Joseph “Chiz” Escudero and Christopher “Bong” Go wanted safeguards to prevent the government from dipping into pension funds and invest the amount elsewhere without the consent of SSS and GSIS members.

Pimentel stressed that there must be “consultation and consent of the owners of the funds they intend to put in higher risk placements.”

Angara noted that because the Maharlika fund is “a high-risk high reward endeavor, there should

be safeguards and limitations on investment into riskier endeavors.”

“I’m sure senators will scrutinize the measure and inject safeguards and best practices,” he said in a text message.

Angara said that accessing pension funds is a ticklish issue and could “encounter some obstacles.”

It is “best to access investible funds and use dormant government assets, or those with high potential upsides like real properties abroad, as part of the equity of the fund,” he added.

Ejercito said he is “apprehensive to touch pension funds because of past experience with AFPSLAI (Armed Forces and Police Savings and Loan Association), AMSLAI (Air Materiel Wing Savings and Loan Association, Inc.) and RSBS ([AFP] Retirement and Separation Benefits System) which ventured into bad investments.”

“The intent of Maharlika bill seems good, except that I am wary to use GSIS and SSS funds for this purpose,” Ejercito said.

Escudero said the Maharlika fund bill “is lacking in many respects.

“What is return on investment of GFIs (government financial

BELEN PIECES. A Catholic nun looks at the nativity scene figures that are exhibited inside the Manila Cathedral-Basilica in Intramuros, Manila on Wednesday, Dec. 7. The Belen pieces are from the collection of theologian professor Father Genaro O. Diwa. PNA photo by Yancy Lim

President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte

Malacañang file photo

Marcos: Growth on track amid...

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inflation. So again import substitution is still a good idea not only for foreign exchange reserves but also so that we can keep our inflation rate down,” he added.

The president also noted that the country continues to recover from the pandemic.

But he also pointed out that “our growth rate looks healthy, our peso has become a little stronger, [and] our unemployment rate is quite reasonable, considering the situation.”

“[H]owever, on the other side of that coin, there is still inflation that is rampant and out of control,” Marcos said.

Inflation peak?

Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation chief economist Michael Ricafort said when asked to comment: “There is a chance that year-on-year inflation could have already reached the peak in the fourth quarter of 2022, and could start to ease gradually thereafter and could even ease year-on-year significantly, especially starting in the first quarter of 2023.”

Ricafort noted this since crude oil prices have already gone down from a high of $130.50 per barrel in March to $77 per barrel today.

“However, this could be offset by any additional storm damage toward the end of 2022, in case there is any, as well as some seasonal increase in demand and prices of Christmas holiday-related products toward December,” he said further.

But PSA Deputy National Statistician Divina Gracia del Prado said her agency was unsure if December inflation could be higher, citing historical data trends which show that inflation in the last month of a given year could go both ways.

Rate hikes

Last month the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) hiked its policy rate by 0.75-percentage-point (ppts) to tame the country’s inflation rate.

But more hikes are seen on the horizon until around mid-2023.

The Monetary Board (MB), the central bank’s seven-person policy-making body, decided to raise the interest rate on the central bank’s overnight reverse repurchase facility by 75 basis points (bps) to 5 percent, effective

on Nov. 18.

Almost a week ago, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) nudged the Philippines to further tighten its monetary policy amid persistent inflationary pressures, making the recommendation after its periodic consultations with key officials.

BSP Governor Felipe Medalla said in an interview with Bloomberg TV last week that he is personally looking at several more increases of 0.25 ppts in the succeeding meetings of the MB, which is set to meet one more time this month before the year ends.

The MB holds a policy meeting twice in every quarter, once a month except for the first month of each quarter.

‘Tools to combat inflation’

In a statement, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda recommended that the President issue an executive order that would ensure all supply bottlenecks for food and other farm produce are eased to address logistics and transport costs in food prices.

“Local government units may be directed to lift all hindrances and blockages across farm-tomarket routes. The Department of Transportation may be directed to ensure the proper flow of traffic feeding into inter-island nautical routes,” he suggested further.

“As much as 48 percent of prices of certain food staples are logistics costs,” Salceda pointed out. “We can make an impact on food prices by reducing transport bottlenecks.”

The Albay lawmaker also cited his measure seeking to classify large-scale food price

manipulation as economic sabotage—which he said has the support of the House leadership and the committee on agriculture and food.

“There is an abundance of tools available to the President and his economic team to combat inflation. Immediate executive action may still take time to actually address fundamental drivers of inflation, but would be proper signaling for the public and private sectors,” Salceda said.

“Inflation remains the toughest economic storm we must weather, and our ships must sail in the same direction,” he said further.

ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro urged the President to certify as urgent bills raising public and private workers’ wages and reducing costs of basic goods.

‘Golden era’

“The administration should prioritize steps to reduce the prices [of basic commodities] and raise the salaries of Filipinos. This is not the time for a Maharlika Investment Fund, the government should not have budgets for oppressive policies like the NTFElcac and confidential funds.

What should be prioritized are funds for aid, increase in salaries and wages and benefits for the people,” the House deputy minority leader said in a statement.

She added: “It was easy to bring back the P10 billion to the NTF-Elcac and the P150 million in confidential funds of the Department of Education but when it comes to salaries, benefits and primary requirements for safe and quality education, the government has no budget?”

“Prices of ingredients for sauteing are now like gold. This must be the ‘golden era’ mentioned during the campaign period,” the lawmaker lamented in Filipino.

“The Marcos administration must do something to ease the rising prices of basic goods. Increase salaries and wages to give the people more purchasing power and remove [the valueadded tax] and other taxes on essential goods, especially oil products,” she said. (With reports from Jeannette I. Andrade And Nestor A. Corrales)

Elections experts discuss increased AAPI engagement...

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[racial] community,” Christine Chen, executive director and co-founder of Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) Vote, said in a recent press briefing.

Over the last few election cycles, outreach to AAPI voters has increased, especially in the wake of the Stop Asian Hate movement, which really ignited conversations on the diverse Asian communities that are often left out in national politics.

“Our communities, when reached out to, really show up. And I think that voting matters, but also making sure that the information that our communities get is accurate and clear is important,” said Nancy Yap, executive director for the Center for Asian Americans United for SelfEmpowerment (CAUSE).

Chen mirrored Yap’s perspective, adding that with increased voter turnout among Asian voters, the issues that affect the broader AAPI community gain more attention among lawmakers.

“We are really relying on the API electorate to actually turn out because when you turn out, it increases our numbers.

It gets us more attentional nationally, and then, that translates in terms of how effective we are in lobbying and advocating for our issues,” Chen said.

However, the methodology of data gathering and disaggregation of voters could be improved., and while organizations and coalitions like AAPI Equity Alliance promote research bodies (like APIAVote) that take Asian data disaggregation seriously, many government agencies’ methods for disaggregating data are outdated.

As previously reported in the Asian Journal, data disaggregation for the Asian community is either rudimentary or nonexistent, with either a few Asian groups getting their own dedicated outreach and studies or lumping every Asian community under one label.

Experts in public policy and academia have argued that stronger and more detailed data disaggregation would help address many problems faced by individual cultural groups that are often lumped together under one overly broad label.

Currently, the California Office of the Secretary of State categorizes voters’ ethnicities and races by surname, which presents many problems for those in intercultural families, linguistic diversity of surnames, and other variables that make it difficult to determine ethnicity or race by someone’s name alone.

Godfrey Plata, a civic engagement consultant for the AAPI Equity Alliance, shared exit poll data from the California Office of Secretary of State — which found that Filipino voters were the secondlargest Asian group at the polls this year — acknowledged the limitations data gathering.

“I’m Filipino, my last name is Plata, so I get [election materials] in Spanish, Tagalog, and English, so I don’t often know how my name is being estimated,” Plata said. “As an organizer, it’s important that we have questions like this that have substantive and material implications for our community and work in tandem so that we can figure out how to make things more honest and authentic and real for data collection.” (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

COMMUNION. Devotees line up to receive communion bread from a lay minister (right) during a Mass inside the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Baclaran Church, Paranaque City on Wednesday, Dec. 7. Devotees of Our Mother of Perpetual Help have been religiously coming to the church for their consecutive nine-day novena mass every Wednesday.

PNA photo by Ben Briones

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Malacañang photo

PH senators, businesses respond to...

institutions)? How often will dividends be declared, if any?” he asked.

“If it’s a corporation, why is the number of board seats not in accordance with their respective capital contributions? What ROI (return on investment) will GFIs get if it will be spent on government projects? What government projects are they contemplating?” he pressed.

Villanueva said while creating a sovereign wealth fund or SWF is good in principle, “there should be more discussions on its sources of funds and its management.”

“We must protect the retirement funds and other benefits of ordinary workers, who are already struggling from high prices of basic goods and are bracing for the impending global recession,” he said.

“We look forward to hearing more views from different stakeholders when we discuss this proposal in the Senate,” Villanueva said.

Speaking during the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) on Monday, December 5. Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno defended the measure.

“I think we should have a sovereign wealth fund like other Asean countries like Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam. And we should think of putting together some funds that are investable,” Diokno said.

He said the fund “will not only benefit current generation of the Philippines but also future generations. That’s the concept of this Maharlika.”

Diokno said the Philippines needs a “steady source” of revenues, particularly in the sectors of oil, mining, and banking. “We just opened our mining. We can use the royalty from there. Our mining sector is huge. It is substantial,” he said.

Under House Bill (HB) 6398 approved by the House Committee on Bank and Financial Intermediaries recently, P125 billion of the Maharlika fund will be sourced from the GSIS, P50 billion each from the SSS and Land Bank, and P25 billion each from the DBP and the Philippine Treasury.

Jose Arnulfo “Wick” Veloso, GSIS president and general manager, said tapping GSIS pension funds is “nothing outside of what we’re doing.”

“Currently, all of the excesses after expenditures, [and] allocation

for the retirement benefits of our members and other obligations are invested. So now we invest into a company that will now be able to train their guns and attention to developmental projects... and that is what we need,” Veloso said.

He said countries like the Philippines “have huge amounts of industrial requirements that are high capital expenditure... and that is the reason why a number of our key industries can’t really move forward, because you need a lot of capital. But we have the money, what we need is to collect these funds... so that these money will be allocated to high capital expenditure businesses.”

Opposed Multisectoral organizations, however, strongly opposed the establishment of an SWF like the proposed Maharlika.

Among the groups are the Foundation For Economic Freedom, Competitive Currency Forum, Filipina CEO Circle, Financial Executives Institute of The Philippines, Institute of Corporate Directors, Integrity Initiative, Inc., Makati Business Club, Management Association of the Philippines, Movement for Good Governance, Philippine Women’s Economic Network, UP School of Economics Alumni Association, and Women’s Business Council Philippines, Inc.

“We register our serious concerns and reservations against the proposed MWF on the principles of fiscal prudence, additionality, solvency of social pension funds, contingent liabilities, monetary independence of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), government in the economy, and transparency,” they said in a joint statement.

They pointed out that commodity-based SWFs are designed “to optimally manage the windfall from the appropriate disposition of their natural resources for the benefit of future generations.”

“These countries recognize that such natural resources are exhaustible and commodity prices are uncertain in the long run, while their current absorptive capacity for commodity earnings remains limited,” they said.

Non-commodity-based SWFs, on the other hand, are designed to manage the accumulated foreign assets from persistent external trade surpluses and surpluses of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in order to preserve the value of their capital and realize long-term returns on investments.

The Philippines “has neither commodity-based surpluses nor surpluses from external trade and SOEs,” they said.

The groups suggested instead “that the executive and legislative branches continue to implement existing initiatives to strengthen the areas of transportation, public health, education and infrastructure, especially digital and agriculture, that can boost productivity and lower inflation.

These initiatives can be executed within the existing legal framework, without resorting to an untested approach with many potential infirmities.”

But economist Dr. Michael Batu said at least 50 nations, including those in the Southeast Asian region, have an SWF.

Batu told a televised briefing Monday that if the Maharlika fund measure is approved, the government will have the chance to invest and buy stocks, bonds and real estate.

It will also generate more employment.

Batu said a sovereign wealth fund can also strengthen the government’s pension system which will benefit senior citizens.

He acknowledged that safeguards must be in place to ensure transparency and give taxpayers assurance that every centavo of their money is spent wisely.

Representative Marcos told reporters the corporation proposed in the Maharlika fund bill “will be free from politics.”

“Yes, the President will be chairman of the board, but... you have to look at it beyond this administration. This isn’t something for the next six years, this is something that will keep on going,” Marcos said.

Senior Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said in a statement on Monday that the success of any fund, sovereign or private, “lies in the quality of its management.”

“In the current version of the Maharlika Wealth Fund, the President of the Philippines chairs its governing board. This is a powerful statement that the highest official of the land will hold himself as ultimately accountable to the Filipino people for the performance of the Fund,” the former president said.

“Once the fund becomes operational, the President will “be able to count on advice from the Department of Finance, the nation’s steward of sound fiscal policy,” Arroyo said. g

REAL ID requirement delayed until...

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states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories to meet REAL ID requirements,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “This extension will give states needed time to ensure their residents can obtain a REAL ID-compliant license or identification card. DHS will also use this time to implement innovations to make the process more efficient and accessible. We will continue to ensure that the American public can travel safely.”

The REAL ID deadline was initially pushed back from Oct. 1, 2020, to Oct. 1, 2021 and then was extended to May 3, 2023 before the new 2025 deadline.

The department said the extension addresses the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the ability to obtain a REAL ID driver’s license or identification card.

Passed by Congress in 2005 following a 9/11 Commission recommendation, the REAL ID Act establishes minimum security

standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards. Security standards include incorporating anti-counterfeiting technology, preventing insider fraud, and using documentary evidence and record checks to ensure a person is who they claim to be.

All 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and four of five U.S. territories covered by the REAL ID Act and related regulations are issuing REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and identification cards. (AJPress)

High approval, trust ratings for Marcos...

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Luzon at 70 percent.

In the same poll, the top five Cabinet secretaries with the highest ratings were Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos with 78 percent approval and 83 percent trust ratings; Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan John Uy with 74 percent approval and 89 percent

trust ratings; Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman with 73 percent approval and 67 percent trust ratings; Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople with 71 percent approval and 68 percent trust ratings, and Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco with 70 percent approval and 65 percent trust ratings

The nationwide survey has a

margin of error of plus or minus one percent, and claims to be non-commissioned using faceto-face interviews with 5,000 adult respondents, according to RPMD’s official statement.

It disclosed limited details on the results of its survey unlike the Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations polls, which have a track record for credible statistical data. (Philstar.com)

Philippines on track to lose growth...

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percent-7.5 percent growth target this year after economic output averaged 7.7 percent in the nine months to September as the government lifted nearly all COVID-19 restrictions and allowed more business activities to resume.

“This deteriorating global

environment is spilling into the domestic economy and tempering the country’s growth prospects in 2023,” World Bank Senior Economist Ralph van Doorn told a media briefing.

To safeguard growth, Van Doorn said the Philippines must address the impact of high inflation, keep its fiscal position

sound and continue to invest in health, education and agriculture to boost productivity.

The Philippines, like many countries, is grappling with inflation, which surged to a 14year high in November, keeping the pressure on its central bank to tighten monetary policy. (Inquirer. net with reports from Reuters)

VACATE SENATE BUILDING. Senate personnel and Senators, led by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri (2nd from right) alongside Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. (right), walk out of the Senate offices after a 5.3 magnitude earthquake on Wednesday, Dec. 7. The temblor momentarily disrupted the Commission on Appointments hearing at the Senate. PNA photo by Avito Dalan

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MANILA — The Senate women, children, family relations, and gender equality panel filed its report recommending the passage of the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics or SOGIESC Equality bill to the tune of 19 signatures out of 24 senators, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said.

“I am ecstatic that 19 of us colleagues in the Senate have come together to support the SOGIESC Bill. In just one day, we persuaded them to sign the committee report. I am even more encouraged that in this Congress, the SOGIE bill will finally be passed,” Hontiveros said in a statement. "It's 2022 already; our laws should reflect the reality of our culture."

In the 18th Congress, just eight senators signed the committee report. The following were the 19 who signed the report and expressed “strong and immediate support to move the bill forward" according to Hontiveros:

• Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel

• Senator Sonny Angara

• Senator Imee Marcos

• Senator Cynthia Villar

• Senator Nancy Binay

• Senator Bato dela Rosa

• Senator Grace Poe

• Senator Mark Villar

• Senator Francis Tolentino

• Senator JV Ejercito

• Senator Raffy Tulfo

•

•

•

•

• Senator Bong Go

• Senator Bong Revilla

The five remaining senators, including Majority Leader Joel Villanueva and Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, signed with reservations or have signaled their intent to interpellate.

“The swiftness with which the committee report was signed and filed is surely a sign of good things to come. I am hopeful that this bill can continue to move forward to show that our Senate is a true supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community,” Hontiveros said in mixed Filipino and English.

What does the bill say?

The SOGIESC Equality bill mandates the State to address all forms of discrimination and violence on the basis of SOGIESC. This includes:

• refusing admission to or expelling a person from any educational or training institution

• imposing disciplinary sanctions harsher than customary that infringe on the rights of students

• refusing or revoking the accreditation of organizations, groups, political parties, or institutions, among others

Penalties include a fine of not less than P100,000, but not more than P250,000 or imprisonment of not less than one year, but not more than six 6 years. The bill also penalizes those who deny a person access to health services on the basis of the person’s SOGIESC. Those who refuse medical and health services based on SOGIESC can be penalized with a fine of not less than P100,000, but not more than P300,000, or imprisonment of not less than six months, but not more than two years and four months.

The measure also explicitly states that nothing in the law should be interpreted to disturb the exercise of parental authority or academic freedom.

“One of the most important things that the SOGIESC bill does is to ensure that every Filipino, regardless of gender, can receive competent medical services when needed. The stories of LGBTQIA members who are denied medical services simply because of their gender are heartbreaking. This is flat out discrimination," Hontiveros said.

“The SOGIESC Bill’s message is clear: our country should not tolerate any act of discrimination. We are depriving LGBTQIA+ members of their lives and jobs simply because of beliefs and traditions that need to be corrected." (Franco Luna / Philstar.com)

Marcos urges Filipinos to put trust in God, one another

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday, Dec. 8 encouraged Filipino Catholics to put their faith in God and in each other as the country celebrates the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In his message, he asked the Catholic faithful to take inspiration from the Blessed Mother’s charitable and selfless love for others.

“Like Mary, may we also strive to resign from our individualistic tendencies and aspire to generously give ourselves without expecting anything in return,” he said. “In the end, what we can bring into our everlasting home are those we cherish deep in our hearts, not the possessions we can only hold in our hands.”

The President reminded Filipino Catholics to revisit their “reason for being” and search for their vocation “in the spirit of unconditional obedience and abiding love.”

“I trust that no matter how uncertain the days ahead remain, we will soon understand the will of God and the purpose behind the journeys that we have only walked in faith,” he said. “During periods of both adversity and triumph, we humbly implore divine providence, especially as we overcome our limitations, weakness, and flaws.”

He also urged the Filipino faithful to have confidence and faith in God and each other as the nation moves toward progress.

“As we allow our shared experiences to shape our history and lead us in achieving our

nation’s aspirations, let us place our confidence in the Almighty and put our trust in one another. In the intersection of these things, we will certainly learn where to hold on and gain greater courage,” he said.

Marcos told Filipino Catholics to anticipate the promises of “a brighter and more comfortable future” as they continue to work hard and pray for guidance.

Republic Act 10966, signed by former president Rodrigo Duterte in 2017, declares December 8 as a special non-working holiday in commemoration of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, the Principal Patroness of the Philippines.

December 8 is also declared a special non-working holiday under Proclamation 1236. (PNA)

Marcos confident there won’t be recession in the Philippines

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Thursday, Dec. 8 that despite rising inflation, he is optimistic that the Philippines would not experience recession because of the continuous drop in the country’s unemployment rate.

Marcos acknowledged that inflation in the country hit a 14-year high of 8 percent in November but pointed out that the jobless rate in October eased to 4.5 percent, its lowest record since the same period in 2019.

“Ang balita na tumaas ang inflation rate na hanggang 8 percent last November. Mayroon naman kasabay na mas magandang balita na bumaba ang unemployment rate sa four-and-ahalf percent mula sa 5 percent (The news is that inflation rate increased to 8 percent last November. But it was also accompanied by the good news that the unemployment rate dropped to 4.5 percent from 5 percent),” he said in a video message sent to Palace reporters.

He expressed confidence that job growth would prevent the economy from further declining.

“Kaya’t kahit papaano ay malakas ang loob natin na hindi tayo magkakaroon ng recession dito sa Pilipinas dahil masyadong mababa ang unemployment rate ( So we are somehow confident that we will not have a recession here in the Philippines because the

unemployment rate is too low),” he said.

Marcos likewise renewed his commitment that his administration would prioritize the creation of more quality jobs in the country.

“Kung maaalala ninyo sa pagsimula namin dito sa administrasyong ito ay pinagusapan na namin ay trabaho talaga ang aming uunahin. Kaya’t ‘yan ang nakikita ngayon natin na nangyayari. Ipagpatuloy lang natin ‘yan (If you remember when we started here in this administration we said our priority is really work. So that's what we see happening now. Let's just continue that),” he added.

Meanwhile, he assured that the government would continue to find ways to cushion the impact of the rising prices of basic goods and services.

“Asahan ninyo na lahat ng paraaan na maari nating gawin ay gagawin natin para pababain ang inflation rate at gawing mas mabagal man lang ang pagtaas ang presyo ng kung anu-anong mga bilihin (Rest assured that we will do everything we can to lower the inflation rate and at least slow down the rise in prices of certain goods),” he said.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that inflation rose to 8 percent last month, faster than 7.7 percent in

October.

The latest figure is the country’s "highest recorded inflation since November 2008", when it soared to 9.1 percent amid a global financial crisis.

The country’s unemployment rate dropped to 4.5 percent in October, lower than the 7.4 percent in October 2021 and 5 percent in September, according to data from the PSA’s latest labor force survey.

The PSA survey results showed the number of unemployed Filipinos decreased to 2.24 million in October from 3.5 million a year ago, with 1.26 million securing employment this year.

lt indicated that the employment rate in October rose to 95.5 percent, from 95 percent in the previous month, the highest rate recorded since January 2020.

Based on the definition of American business magazine Forbes, a recession happens when a nation’s economy experiences negative gross domestic product, rising levels of unemployment, falling retail sales, and contracting measures of income and manufacturing for an extended period.

"Recessions are considered an unavoidable part of the business cycle – or the regular cadence of expansion and contraction that occurs in a nation’s economy," Forbes said. (PNA)

Senators honor Filipina who gave world’s first COVID-19 jab

MANILA - Senators Imee Marcos and Grace Poe on Wednesday, December 7 highlighted the pride and honor brought by May Parsons, the Filipina nurse who received the George Cross Award in the United Kingdom for being the one to administer the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Marcos, who sponsored Senate Resolution No. 230, said the prestigious George Cross Award from Her Majesty, the late Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness then Prince Charles, was given to Parsons for her courage, compassion, dedication, and bravery in the face of grave and mortal danger.

"It is yet another highlight in the extraordinary history of Filipino nursing and May today stands proudly in the llocana tradition of her mother Zenaida and Philippine Nursing's founder Anastacia Geron Tupas from 1922," she said in her sponsorship speech.

Born and raised in Pasay City,

Parsons graduated from Jose Abad Santos Highschool and finished her nursing degree at the University of Santo Tomas (UST).

Meanwhile, Poe said that Filipino nurses, as heroes of the country’s healthcare system even before the pandemic, deserve not only praise but also higher perks and pay.

Poe made the call as she commended Parsons in a separate resolution (No. 347) which also reaffirms the role of Filipino nurses in the global healthcare scene.

“Tunay na isang inspirasyon si Nurse May sa buong (Nurse May is a real inspiration for the whole) nursing profession. Like her peers in the health sector, her commitment to saving lives, delivering the best care possible, and creating a better and healthier future is truly commendable and worth these recognitions,” Poe said in her speech.

The lawmaker said her resolution should not only be about

recognition and commendation for Parsons from the government.

“Hindi lang dapat bragging rights ang ambag ng gobyerno dito (The government should not only contribute bragging rights). Our nurses can only do these heroic sacrifices to the extent that they are taken care of. We need to resuscitate our nursing profession,” Poe said.

“We should give back not just in terms of recognition but also in terms of actual benefits to make the nursing practice a genuine livable career for practitioners. Upgrading the minimum salary of nurses is the least that we can do for the sacrifice they gave in nursing us all back to health,” she added.

Parsons left after three years of working at the UST hospital to join the United Kingdom’s National Health Service. She has since been with the University Hospital’s Coventry and Warwickshire and is presently a Modern Matron for Respiratory Services. (PNA)

BuCor execs face plunder charges

by Franco Jose c. Baroña ManilaTimes.net

BUREAU of Corrections Officer in Charge Gregorio Catapang Jr. vowed to file plunder charges against BuCor officials involved in the release of funds for the upgrading of prison facilities.

Catapang said he discovered that 95 percent of the budget for the modernization of three of BuCor’s seven prisons and penal farms have been released, but only 60 percent of the projects have been completed.

“It is very frustrating because 95 percent of the money has already been released, but the percentage of work is only 60 to 65 percent in the two penal colonies that we visited,” he said on Tuesday, Dec. 6.

Catapang was referring to the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Palawan and the Davao Prison and Penal Farm in Davao del Norte.

He announced that he is scheduled to visit the Leyte Regional Prison in Southern Leyte.

Aside from the Iwahig and Davao prisons, BuCor’s other operating units include the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa

City, Abuyog Penal Colony in Leyte, Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong City, Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Occidental Mindoro, and San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga City.

Each of the prison facilities has a budget of P300 million.

“So, if 95 percent have been released, more or less P290 million has been received. I reported to [Justice] Secretary [Jesus Crispin] Remulla about this last Sunday (December 4). I said, if need be, I really don’t feel guilty, I will file a plunder case against those involved in this,” Catapang said.

Republic Act (RA) 10575, or the “BuCor Modernization Act of 2013,” primarily aims to make the BuCor’s systems at par with international prison management standards.

RA 10575 authorizes the construction of additional prison facilities to decongest the NBP.

“Why plunder? Because how was the money released if it didn’t go through them? Who authorized the payment? Although the contractor is responsible to finish the project, in the same manner, BuCor is responsible for the

release of the money,” Catapang pointed out.

Based on RA 7080, plunder charges are filed when a public officer, by himself or in connivance with others, through a combination or series of criminal acts acquired ill-gotten wealth of at least P50 million.

Any person who conspired with the public officer shall also be punished for the crime.

Meanwhile, 500 newly hired corrections officers took their oath on Monday at the NBP sunken garden.

The hiring of 415 male and 85 female officers is part of the BuCor’s efforts to boost manpower in prisons and penal farms nationwide.

The recruits include licensed architects, agriculturists, civil engineers, psychologists, social workers, teachers, nurses and foresters, among others.

They will undergo rigid training before their deployment to BuCor facilities, Catapang said.

RA 10575 mandates the hiring of additional prison guards to satisfy the optimum corrections officer to persons deprived of liberty (PDL) ratio of 1-to-7. The current ratio is 1-to-35. g

KADIWA IN PARAÑAQUE CITY. A woman buys fresh fish and vegetables at the Kadiwa sa Petron on Dr. Santos Avenue in Parañaque City on Wednesday, Dec. 7. Kadiwa markets, a project of the Department of Agriculture, sell agricultural products and other commodities at lower prices compared to public markets and supermarkets.  PNA photo by Avito Dalan

Senator Robinhood Padilla

Senator Jinggoy Estrada

Senator Lito Lapid

Senator Chiz Escudero

Senator Loren Legarda

Settle the Dengvaxia controversy

IF uptake of COVID-19 vaccines and boosters continues to be tepid during this week’s three-day mass vaccination program, part of the reason has to be the lingering impact of the hysteria over the Dengvaxia controversy. Litigation over deaths allegedly caused by Dengvaxia must be speeded up if the government wants to significantly reduce hesitancy not just for the anti-dengue shot but also for other vaccines against several preventable but potentially deadly diseases.

Developed by French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Pasteur, Dengvaxia is the first dengue vaccine to be approved by global health authorities. In June 2016, the World Health Organization and its Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization or SAGE endorsed the vaccine for use among ages nine to 45 in countries where dengue is endemic.

Editorial

By the end of 2016, the Philippines, Brazil and nine other countries had granted regulatory approval for Dengvaxia. Following the WHO and SAGE endorsements, the Philippines rolled out the vaccination program, targeting one million nineyear-olds in three regions with the highest cases of dengue.

As Sanofi Pasteur continued its research and testing, however, additional data indicated that the vaccine increased the risk of severe dengue for those who have never had the disease. When the company issued this warning in November 2017,

Babe’s Eye View

BABE ROMUALDEZ

HIGHLY motivated to do good, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. continues to enjoy high satisfaction ratings with the latest survey released recently by the OCTA Research Group. Results from the “Tugon ng Masa” Oct. 23-27 OCTA survey showed that 86 percent of the respondents trust the President, while 78 percent said they are satisfied with his performance.

In his first 100 days in office, several groups came out with their own assessments and surveys, including the one conducted by Catholic-run Radyo Veritas that said the President performed well. The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry gave the president a rating of 8 out of 10, saying they appreciate his efforts to prop up the economy and put the country on the global radar.

In the face-to-face survey conducted by Pulse Asia from Sept.17 to 21, the administration

the Philippines had already given the vaccine to 800,000 school children. The consequent hysteria attributed 99 children’s deaths to the vaccine and led to indictments for homicide and “torture of children” against about 40 government officials at the time. Following deliberations by SAGE, the WHO updated its guidelines on the use of Dengvaxia in 2017, but did not recommend the discontinuation of the use of the vaccine in dengue-endemic areas. In 2019, the WHO added the vaccine to its model list of essential medicines. Dengvaxia remains approved for use in countries including Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Singapore and Thailand. It has also been approved in non-dengue endemic countries such as the United States and those covered by the European Medicines Agency. Still, the Philippines banned Dengvaxia in 2019. The scare also affected the country’s general vaccination program, with vaccine uptake for

measles falling from 88 percent in 2014 to just 55 percent in 2018. Measles outbreaks inevitably erupted, with cases surging from 2,400 confirmed infections in 2017 to 18,000 in 2018 and a massive 48,871 the following year. In September 2019, polio also made a comeback in the Philippines, 19

years after the country was declared polio-free. A scientifically sound resolution of the Dengvaxia controversy may help ease vaccine hesitancy, which is being seen even in the COVID inoculation drive. Litigation of the Dengvaxia case should not crawl along as usual. (Philstar.com)

The only direction to take is the right one

received majority approval ratings on 11 out of the 13 issues in the nationwide survey, particularly on responding to the needs of calamity-hit areas and controlling the spread of COVID-19. Respondents also gave majority approval ratings on protecting the welfare of overseas Filipino workers, fighting graft and corruption in government, and defending the country’s territorial integrity. When one’s motivation in office is focused on doing right –it can only point to one direction: the right direction. Obviously, the President continues to be very popular among Filipinos, but if the OCTA survey is any indication, it would seem that many are getting to appreciate him even more as they get to know him better. They see him going in the right direction when it comes to issues that matter to the Filipino people, among them food security, lowering energy costs and asserting our territorial rights.

Aside from strengthening our relationship with the United States, the President’s

instructions to me were to have more economic engagement with the U.S.. Which is why we continue to organize and host economic briefings between the government’s economic team and American business groups and investors to showcase the promising sectors for investment that include IT-BPM and renewable energy.

We are now seriously looking into nuclear energy to supply the country’s growing electricity requirements. Nuclear energy is one of the cleanest, and technology has advanced by leaps and bounds, with new safeguards put in place to prevent accidents from happening. One of the most advanced and revolutionary are small modular reactors that are portable, as they can be built in a factory and transported to a designated site for final assembly and installation.

Even during the elections, foreign policy has also been a hot button issue and continues to be so to this day. Ninety percent of Filipinos are pleased to see the President taking the right foreign policy direction in

our relationship with two major powers – the U.S. and China.

While there are still a few naysayers concerning our relationship with the United States, there is no denying that it remains to be a very strong anchor of our foreign policy direction. As President Marcos himself said, he cannot envision the Philippines in the future without having the U.S. as a partner.

With regard to the West Philippine Sea, his statement is unequivocal: We have no conflict with China; the issue we have is that China is claiming territory that belongs to us. No doubt the President’s state visit to China early next year will be crucial.

While some continue to take issue about the President’s foreign trips, the reality is that the world is getting smaller and trips are a necessary tool in conducting foreign policy. Face-to-face interactions are important for leaders to discuss issues and concerns that are mutually beneficial to their respective nations, and President Marcos is keen to reach out to many nations to advance our

national interest.

For instance, his forthcoming trip to Brussels for the ASEANEU summit offers a great opportunity to discuss a free trade agreement with the European bloc. The Philippines is the co-chair for the summit, which is why it is a must for the President to attend. As noted by European Union Ambassador to the Philippines Luc Véron, it will be an “excellent opportunity to discuss broader foreign policy issues, especially following the ratification of the EU-Philippines Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.”

The special invitation extended to the President for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland is another important event. Many financial analysts are advising the President to attend because it will provide an immense opportunity for the global business community to get to know more about the positive developments happening in the Philippines, and why it is a smart investment choice.

The fact is, practically everyone wants to meet an elected leader

who is essentially the “new kid” on the leadership block, and now is as good a time as any for President Marcos to show the world that “the Philippines is standing on its own two feet,” as he said during the UN General Assembly in New York.

One thing is very clear, President Marcos is highly energized when he knows he is making good with his promise to do his best for the country’s interest. And he told us – even if the fruits of all his work will be reaped by the next administration, he does not mind at all. Taking credit is not what he is after. What really matters to him is upholding the interest of our country and growing the economy to give a better life for the Filipino – a direction that can only be the right one. (Philstar. com)

* * *

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

The US alliance: Three questions for Marcos

R ICARDO S ALUDO

BEFORE the headline topic, immense gratitude to our Lord, our Blessed Mother, and organizers and participants of the November 26 to 27 Eucharistic Marian Prayer Event in Palawan and the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea), seeking peace, protection and succor for our nation and our security forces amid threats of war, disaster, disease and deprivation.

The prayers, led by film and TV artist Baby Nebrida and supported by military, police, Coast Guard and other uniformed services, and a major corporate sponsor, may have already borne fruit to help keep our nation out of superpower conflicts.

After United States and Philippine defense officials declared in recent weeks that U.S. forces would get ten bases to use under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (BBM) announced last week that the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) underpinning the Philippine-American alliance

and advanced by the 2014 EDCA and the 1999 Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) would be reviewed for possible "evolution."

If the MDT review by a committee under National Security Adviser Clarita Carlos leads to scrapping or stalling EDCA, it would help keep the country out of a devastating, possibly nuclear war feared between America and China, especially over Taiwan, which U.S. President Joseph Biden has thrice pledged to defend against invasion.

But that's a gigantic if, since powerful forces are pushing to fast-track EDCA and weaponize the Philippines for possible hostilities not just over Taiwan, but also in the East China Sea and South China Sea, Korea and Japan.

Hence, six of the 10 bases Washington wants to use are in Luzon and two are in Palawan, according to its wish list disclosed by incoming Defense Secretary Jose Faustino Jr. (the last two are near Cebu City and Cagayan de Oro).

So we have to keep praying that despite political advantages for Marcos from accelerating EDCA ("Bases for America: What's in it for the BBM camp" https://bit.ly/3UqdrZs), he will heed his father's warning about

U.S. bases as magnets for conventional or even nuclear attack and let the agreement expire next year despite U.S. pleas for rapid implementation and access to ten bases, not just five.

Asian powwow or American power?

Turning to the headline topic, three questions, among many others, must be addressed by the Carlos committee reviewing the MDT and its ancillary accords. The first may be termed a prejudicial question: Should the review body include members or representatives of the Senate, which ratified the treaty in 1951 and may need to affirm any revision?

The need to get senators' views and support early on is clear from the long delay in ratifying the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade pact, delaying benefits for the country, even as most other signatories have ratified the accord. With escalating geopolitical tensions, holding up a new defense treaty in the Senate could have serious security implications for the nation.

The next and most important question is one that President Marcos must be pondering, given his repeated statements about the MDT evolving amid

new global realities. Hence, the review should ask and answer:

What major changes have happened since 1951 in geopolitics, the Philippines, America and other nations, and military forces and technology, among other factors; and how should our alliances be recast to better address our defense needs?

Back in the 1950s, the U.S. and its allies were in ideological and geopolitical competition with the communist bloc, including China and Vietnam and led by the communist Soviet Union, from 1917 to 1991, the intervening state between the Russian Empire and the Russian Federation at present.

This Cold War turned hot in Asia, with some of the region's bloodiest conflicts in Korea from 1950 to 1953 and in Vietnam from 1954 to 1975. China was a hostile communist power then, reputedly backing insurgencies in Southeast Asia, including the New People's Army in the Philippines.

In this ideologically charged climate, East Asia sheltered under Uncle Sam's nuclear umbrella and even formed the U.S.-led Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (Seato) for mutual defense much like the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Europe.

Fast-forward to 2022: Instead of insurgency, China now boosts investment and trade with its neighbors. Seato is gone; economic groupings flourish: Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) and RCEP. There is even travel and trade between Taiwan and mainland China.

While war risk remains in disputed waters, Korea and Taiwan, the region is more keen to work out differences than fight over them, as Pyongyang and Seoul did in 2017 and South China Sea claimants in 2002 and recent years.

While China dwarfs all East Asia militarily, it knows aggression would devastate its economy and army, stampede the region straight into rival blocs, and leave America as a preeminent global power with economic and military might largely intact, as seen after two world wars and with the Ukraine conflict.

In this radically changed situation, Washington wants to augment Asia's relationshipbuilding approach with an oldstyle balance of power. So it aims to move massive naval, air and missile assets to the region, mostly in 10 Philippine bases, including six in Luzon for hostilities in Taiwan, Korea and

Japan. Which approach will best keep war away from us — Asian relationship-building or U.S. arms deployment weaponizing us against China?

The answer partly depends on the future of our relations with China: Will we see growing peace and cooperation with disputes resolved by dialogue — or more and more aggressive encroachment on our sovereign economic rights under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) also ratified by China (though not the U.S.)?

President Marcos should press for a clear answer in Beijing next month. And that may determine if our nation and our region gear up for peace or war.

Former Cabinet secretary Ric Saludo holds an MS in Public Policy and Management (University of London) and a Diploma in Strategy and Innovation (Oxford), and is a resource speaker at the Enterprise Risk Management Academy, Singapore. (ManilaTimes.net)

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

ROBERT

Fil-Am Olivia Rodrigo among music world’s highest earners in 2022 — study

by KrisTofer Purnell Philstar.com

MANILA — Filipino-American singer Olivia Rodrigo’s groundbreaking album “Sour” and its hit song “good 4 u” have helped the artist receive one of the highest earnings in royalties for 2022.

Unted Kingdom-based casino analyst OnlineCasinos, inspired by the Wrapped 2022 campaign of Spotify, set out to find how much the most-streamed artists earned in royalties.

To do so, the company inserted the total play count of Spotify’s top 50 global tracks into royalties calculator Music Gateway. All data was collected from November 30 to December 1, 2022 and is accurate as of then.

“Sour” earned the second-highest earnings for an album as nearly 8.5 million plays translated to $35 million (P1.97 billion) in royalties, around $7 million shy of the top-spot held by Latin artist Bad Bunny’s “Un Verano Sin Ti.”

Wrapping up the top 5 for highest-earning albums were rapper Doja Cat’s “Planet Her,” former One Direction member Harry Styles’ “Harry’s House,” and British singer Ed Sheeran’s “=.”

“good 4 u” was just edged out of the top 5 for the highest-earning songs for 2022, still raking in nearly $7 million (P389 million)

from 1.675 billion plays.

Another Rodrigo song, “traitor,” figured at 17th spot with 1.013 billion plays that led to $4.2 million (P235 million) in earnings.

“good 4 u” was bested by The Neighborhood’s 2013 hit “Sweater Weather,” Styles’ 2019 song “Watermelon Sugar,” British rock band Glass Animals’ viral song “Heat Waves,” the Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber collaboration “STAY,” and topspot The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights.”

The Weeknd’s hit song earned $13.5 million (P761 million) from 3.276 billion plays on Spotify in 2022 alone.

Wrapping up the top 10 were

Styles’ rising hit “As It Was,” Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow’s collaboration “INDUSTRY BABY,” Sheeran’s “Bad Habits,” and the Pnau remix of Elton John and Dua Lipa’s “Cold Heart.”

Other familiar songs within the top 50 were Adele’s “Easy on Me,” Coldplay and BTS’ “My Universe,” Lizzo’s “About Damn Time,” and Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God),” which can be attributed to Netflix’s “Stranger Things.”

Bad Bunny had a total of nine songs in the top 50, seven of them coming from “Un Verano Sin Ti” with “Yonaguni” and the collab “Lo Siento BB:/” being the exceptions.

Alice claps back at bashers telling her to act her age

by Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

ACTRESS Alice Dixson clapped back at her bashers saying she needs to “act your age.”

In her Instagram account, Alice posted a photo of her sporting a new blonde hair.

“Walking in Market2 when my suki said ‘ang Ganda ng hair mo Alice, bagay sa yo!’ Didn’t realize how light & natural looking it has become,” she wrote in the caption.

“So my favorite bashers say ‘act your age,’ ‘your too old for that’ blah x3. Hahah, I think if I acted my age - I probably wouldn’t look this young. Sorry not sorry,” she added.

Last May in Instagram, Alice published photos of herself with her eldest daughter Sassa and of her baby Aura, covered by the application's stickers.

"Being a mom is a gift. I’ve been very lucky in my lifetime to experience it twice," Alice wrote in the post's caption. She shared last April 2021 that Aura was

Dennis has every reason to be proud

by Christina alpad ManilaTimes.net

DENNIS Trillo is one actor who is always grateful for his landmark roles on TV and film. Looking at his rich body of work, there's no question why he got them in the first place — he can skillfully transform into any character given to him and handle every single one with utmost dedication and professionalism.

From playing a transgender woman ("Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita"), a religious leader ("Felix Manalo"), a gay lover ("My Husband's Lover"), and a Muslim family man ("Legal Wives"), Trillo is not one to back out on the most challenging roles. That's why to this day, he never runs out of offers for a diversity of projects and should be well proud of it.

Besides his hit period TV drama "Maria Clara at Ibarra," where he portrays the wealthy and educated titular role, Trillo is also famously part of the crime thriller film "On The Job: The Missing 8."

Trillo plays Roman Rubio in this critically acclaimed Filipino masterpiece by Director Erik Matti. He is an inmate illegally transported from prison on assassination orders from the powers that be.

While OTJ already premiered at 78th Venice International Film Festival in 2021 — as a Main Competition entry up for a Golden Lion and where Trillo's co-star John Arcilla made history as the first Southeast Asian to win the Volpi Cup for Best Actor — it continues to reap recognitions from award-giving bodies here and abroad.

On home ground, it was the big winner at the 45th Gawad Urian Awards and the 5th Entertainment Editors' Choice (EDDYS) Awards.

In the international scene, the movie's six-part miniseries edit earned a Best TV Movie or Miniseries nomination at the 50th International Emmy Awards.

Currently, OTJ: The Missing 8 is the country's official entry to the 95th Academy Awards or the Oscars.

Di ako makapaniwala kasi matagal na naming nagawa ang proyekto na ito pero hanggang sa ngayon, di pa rin natatapos yung recognition, mula sa international and local awards. After Emmys, ito nanaman, Oscars. So thank you talaga, nagbunga lahat ng paghihirap namin," a humble Trillo expressed at the red carpet premiere of the film in Ayala Malls.

Sana magpatuloy ito at pamarisan ng ibang filmmakers, na itong pelikula yung maging hope nila na matutupad din yung mga pangarap nila pag pinagbutihan nila," Trillo added.

The actor admitted he did not expect the overwhelming reception OTJ would get, but he knew from the beginning it was a great film to be part of.

Grabe lang yung pagtitiwala ko kay Direk Erik Matti dahil alam ko na alam nya yung ginagawa. Matagal na nyang napanood itong pelikula na ito sa utak nya at ngayon, finally here's his vision for this film."

And while OTJ is not Trillo's first time to play a gunman — he was also one in the 2014 movie, "The Janitor" — Trillo reaffirmed

that the movie and its miniseries version is a unique film no actor could pass up.

Itong kwento ng OTJ, very unique, hindi lang ito kwento ng isang tao kundi ng isang bayan at kung paano siya pinapatakbo ng maling pamamaraan Nakakatuwa na mapasama sa ganito kalaking proyekto lalo na isa sa mga importanteng projects na nagawa ko talaga sa buhay ko."

Finally, Trillo said OTJ is a story that filmmakers must tell and must be heard by the public.

Parang nagiging controversial ulit yung pelikula dahil nahahalintulad siya sa mga tunay na pangyayari noon at mga nangyayari ngayon. So feeling ko importante rin na mapanood ito ng mga tao para mamulat sila sa mga bagay na kailangan nilang malaman," Trillo ended.

Manny Pacquiao releases movie against Asian hate crimes

LOS ANGELES – Eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao has xxecutive produced a movie to raise awareness of Asian hate crimes titled “Almighty Zeus”, which had a theatrical release in selected theaters starting December 2, 2022.

Pacquiao said, “I hope this movie will encourage and Inspire a lot of people, not only In America but all over the world. I hope It encourages people to spread love Instead of hate.”

[To view Manny Pacquiao’s interview with CBS LA on executive producing Almighty Zeus, visit https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=P-7-lxFqSWs.]

Written, directed, and produced by Chris Soriano, who also stars as the main actor, the goal of the film is to showcase unity through the sport of boxing. The story focuses on the middleweight champion of the world losing his mother to COVID-19 and ends up challenging an Asian American boxer (Zeus) to punish in the ring. Zeus encounters a neighborhood boxing legend, Coach Green, who decides to take Zeus under his wing and teach him fight tactics through the dangerous streets of Los Angeles.

Soriano began filming during the pandemic and incorporated real hate crimes that happened to Asian Americans in his film. Soriano felt the need to tell this story in hope it will shine light on how the country could deal with racism toward minorities. His goal is to promote peace. The co-lead actor in the film is a Black American, Coach Green.

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It’s about time for Jake

by Tessa Mauricio-arriola ManilaTimes.net

AS our side of the entertainment industry keeps coming face to face with the stars anew following the long pandemic, the sight of Jake Cuenca presenting an award at The 5th Eddys a couple of weeks back and then now at his solo media conference for the Metro Manila Film Festival entry, "My Father, Myself," takes me back to round about this time too in 2018.

Sat in a small huddle at a packed resto of a Quezon City mall, Jake was the interviewee for his much talked about role as Lizardo in Coco Martin's then MMFF entry, "Ang Panday." No matter that the film was a fantasy movie, pre-awards buzz had Jake as a shoo-in for Best Supporting Actor.

Seeing him up close — his hair long and going wayward, his nails painted black, and his getup straight out of a dark DC comic book —, it was easy to see why. Jake Cuenca is one actor who deeply immerses in

his character when filming, so much so that he cannot shake it off off-camera.

Intense is the perfect word to describe the famous actor. Back then, he admitted to plastering the walls of his home with pictures of the late Heath Ledger's Joker as his inspiration for molding his own terrifying Lizardo. And as he spoke, Jake's breath seemed to have the faintest smell of alcohol that is expected of such a persona.

Every year, he'd be part of an MMFF entry and, while always cast in a supporting role, be it in Panday, 2019's action-comedy "Mission Unstoppable: The Don Identity" or " Mano Po 7" a couple of festivals back, Jake always manages to stand out because of what he gives any of his characters: His all and his everything.

So for this year's MMFF, his peers, critics and supporters — media included — can't be happier for Jake now that he is finally headlining a movie of his own.

"In the past, I did MMFF with Bossing Vic [Sotto] with Coco

[Martin]. I was also a villain in Panday , now is my first time to lead for Metro Manila Film Festival," the 34-year-old actor who went from teen star to compelling actor confirmed without a hint of anger, regret or impatience.

After all, Jake being Jake — always aiming for that powerful impact from role to role — he wouldn't have wanted anything less than the challenge of delivering his character in "My Father, Myself," nor the controversy the movie's been drawing as early as November.

Jake plays a human rights lawyer in the film, explaining his clean-cut look these days. He is married to Tiffany (Dimples Romana), who has an adopted son from a deceased lover portrayed by indie discovery Sean de Guzman. The conflict begins when Jake's character falls in love with Sean.

"To be honest, I'm very proud that this is the movie I'm starring in [as a lead] for the first time because walang takot itong pelikula na ito

"At the same time, I'm very much honored that my [starring] first movie at the MMFF is with director Joel Lamangan. It's very good for my CV, for my portfolio," added the actor's actor.

It goes without saying then that Jake gave his all in My Father, Myself, especially in the very intimate scenes he had to do with Sean. Their kissing scene in the trailer, which went viral and reaped all sorts of reactions, to begin with.

"It was worth it. It was worth the effort," he said of playing a closeted gay role. "It was worth going outside your comfort zone, doing things na hindi mo naman ginagawa sa totoong buhay. Because honestly, ito rin naman ang dahilan kung bakit ako artista, isang aktor. Para machallenge na makagawa ng isang pelikula na kakaiba sa iba pang mga pelikulang ipinapalabas So for me, I take that with the highest honor."

A starring role in the biggest festival of the year may be long overdue for an actor of Jake's caliber. But then again, with the kind of passion he has for his profession — one that is clearly for the art and not for his vanity; one that aims to keep growing regardless of time — let's take Jake's word for it. Now is only just his time.

Olivia Rodrigo in her acceptance speech on March 2, 2022. Billboard via Twitter

Dennis Trillo

Photo from Instagram/@dennistrillo

Actress Alice Dixson Photo from Instgram/@alicedixson

Jake Cuenca always aims for that powerful impact from role to role.

Photo from Instagram/@juancarloscuenca

Soriano hopes that this film will showcase unity with the journey both characters go through.

Details for “Almighty Zeus”:

Genre: Action/Drama

Runtime: 1hr 55min

“Zeus” is on Facebook, Instagram, @almightyzeusmovie

and Twitter under @Zeusthemov

Movie Trailer: http:// www.tricoastworldwide.com/ almighty-zeus-trailer/ Passcode: 11124

Scene - Asian man gets sprayed with hand sanitizer: https://youtu.be/4bZ22Hvf3hY.

Nye County passes moratorium on renewable energy projects for at least 6 months

by RealtoR Fely Quitevis-Bateman

IN a bid to strike a balance between the desires and needs of the Nye County communities, to which Pahrump belongs to, the Nye County Board of County Commissioners issued a moratorium on all applications for renewable energy generation facilities, which includes solar energy projects.

In recent years, applications for these types of projects have come at a fast clip for Nye County. The county’s planning department, according to a report in the Pahrump Valley Times, requested the county commissioners to pass the resolution “instituting a temporary [six-month] moratorium on the processing of any future applications for permits for renewable energy generation facilities in order for the planning department to conduct discussions and hearings to determine whether amendments or changes to Nye

County Code are necessary in order to protect the public health, safety and general welfare of the citizens of Nye County.”

Both local residents and representatives from solar companies spoke at a recent Nye county commissioners meeting where the item was included in the agenda. Residents spoke in favor of the moratorium, while solar company reps emphasized the need for the county to work with the renewable energy industry to develop standars that everyone could live by.

Part of the resolution passed, reads, “Whereas, the Nye County Planning Department has received a number of inquiries related to the creation and zoning of renewable energy generation facilities, which has resulted in a number of comments and concerns being made by Nye County citizens and members of the general public. And whereas the Nye

County Planning Department is under development pressure with inquiries and issues related to renewable energy generation facilities and… the Nye County Board of County Commissioners have been reviewing the Nye County Code with respect to renewable energy generation facilities and changes may be necessary…

“Whereas, several citizens of Nye County have publicly and privately questioned the provisions of the Nye County Code related to renewable energy generation facilities and the planning director is requesting the… board… pass a resolution instituting a temporary moratorium… to allow time for the planning department to study and research the proper classification, restrictions and requirements for renewable energy generation and other similar activities in Nye County and to propose amendments to the Nye County Code.

“Now therefore be it resolved, the Nye County Board of County Commissioners hereby adopt a temporary moratorium for a period not to exceed six months on the processing of any future applications for permits for renewable energy generation facilities and be it further resolved that said moratorium shall become effective immediately upon its passage…”

With the passage of the resolution, the Nye County Planning Department will work on scheduling public hearings so it can gather relevant information and data that can be used in the event that changes need to be made to the county codes for any renewable energy projects that will be developed in the future in Pahrump and other areas of Nye County.

This is another instance of government taking the reins in protecting the interests of its citizens by carefully looking at projects that are being considered for the future welfare of residents and businesses.

While renewable energy is at the forefront of people’s minds due to climate change, it is vital that the state, county, and city/ town governments also look at the viability of projects, related costs, impact on the environment and local flora and fauna, and other factors that can affect the livability in the area.

Pahrump is a town that has grown by leaps and bounds since its founding in the late 19th

century where large ranch-style holdings typified the area on which cotton and alfalfa were grown, and livestock raised.

It has gone through significant changes, and is one of the fastestgrowing towns in the United States.

Big companies and franchises like The Home Depot, Burger King, Chevron, Coyote Corner, CVS Pharmacy, Domino’s, Davita, Enterprise, Family Dollar, US Bank, Bank of America, Taco Bell and Supercuts have established operations, along with hundreds of businesses that cater to the needs of the diversified, growing population of the town. Of course, Pahrump being in Nevada, there are a few hotel-casinos and legal brothels operating in town.

Pahrump is home to the Mountain Falls Golf Club, which has an 18-hole course codesigned by architectural firms Nicklaus Design Group and Cal Olson Design.

It is also where Spring Mountain Motor Resort and Country Club is situated, which has the longest road course in North America with over 6 miles of challenging racetrack that can be offered in more than 50 unique configurations. The facility is home to car racing schools, and also houses Spring Mountain Estates where luxury trackside homesites are being offered and built.

With affordability the name of the game right now in real estate, Pahrump is one of those

cities and/or towns that keep popping up in due to the lower, affordable real estate prices and its location in Nevada – it is only about 62 miles west of gaming and entertainment hub/emerging sports capital Las Vegas. People who are priced out of the Las Vegas real estate market are looking at areas near the city, and Pahrump is one of those places that offers a quiet, more peaceful alternative to the big city lights and traffic that are ever-present in Sin City.

I have helped many clients look for their piece of real estate heaven in Pahrump and in Las Vegas. I have decades of experience in assisting my clients find their American Dream, property-wise

– one that fits their budgets and needs. Many of my clients have even become repeat buyers and investors, with some now reaping the benefits of their real estate investments via rentals or through Airbnb.

My company, Precious Properties, is a full-service company that has served its clientele since 1992. You can reach me at 775-513-8447, 805559-2476 and 702-538-4948 for more information, or send me an email at fely@preciousproperties.com or fely.precious@ gmail.com. We have investors who buy houses in California and Nevada for cash and quick escrow in as short as 7 days.

(Advertising Supplement)

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman helps those who need business financing, including loans for small businesses. For more information, call (702) 538-4948, or send email to fely@preciousproperties.com or fely.precious@gmail.com.

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman (lower left) had lunch recently at the Symphony Restaurant in Pahrump with her repeat investors who are from Vallejo, CA.

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman (center) with her Pahrump investors –Ron Quilang (left), a Fil-Am Las Vegas resident who will be running for U.S. Congress in 2024, and Mico Osotio (right), his business partner – who looked at commercial properties in town. Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman (center) with Alka Products CEO Andrew Hoang and his fiancée Jenny Truong in Pahrump.

PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS

THIS is a warning, not only for Californians but for residents of other states where COVID-19 is still significant. The national 7-day daily average of cases, as of December 6, 2022, are still more than 53,000 a day and greater than 260 deaths per day. Many of these are unvaccinated and, sadly, many vaccine naysayers have died. Vaccination must be updated with booster #3, the bivalent vaccines, because newer strains are mutating and evolving.

The surge of COVID-19 infections in California and the great burden it imposes on the state’s healthcare system could be alleviated, according to experts, by bringing back masking and distancing, especially among children in school. And the waves of Flu and RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) only complicate the picture of this tripledemic. RSV is especially dangerous for infants and super-seniors.

Contrary to fake news, vaccines, masks, and distancing effectively mitigate transmission, infection, hospitalization, and deaths. Those exposed to infected persons, or who are infected, should isolate themselves for 5 days, and use a mask for 5 days thereafter. COVID-19 is more contagious than the Flu or RSV. Those with infants/ young children at home should be extra careful and use masks in public. Infants, young children and seniors have died from RSV and the flu, besides COVID-19.

Whether we like to acknowledge it or not, those who are antivaccines and anti-masks and who are unprotected are one of the major reasons for the unending waves of COVID-19, not only in the United States but elsewhere around the world.

There is no shame in wearing a mask; it shows wisdom and compassion for others around you. You are also protecting them, besides yourself.

Clinical studies have found that in cities and towns where the rate of vaccination, masking, and distancing are lowest, the infection rate, hospitalization, and deaths are highest. It does need an Einstein to figure this out. Common sense, which, unfortunately is uncommon, is all it takes to decipher and understand why.

The way our people behave, and the way the viruses behave, the COVID-19 pandemic is here to stay, as an endemic, like the flu. This is our own doing, and we have to simply accept this and live with it.

Let’s follow science in protecting our health and life, and those of our loved ones. Vaccines, hygiene, masks, and distancing all work effectively when it comes to mitigating a contagious disease,

Kelvin finds joy in both singing and acting The California surge

albeit not 100 percent. But so are bullet-proof vests, which have nonetheless saved countless lives the past 108 years, like masks since the 1920s.

Heart effects of vaccines Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) and pericarditis (inflammation of the covering around the heart) have been observed after a week in some individuals (around 105.9 per million) who received the COVID-19 vaccines. A new large international scale study showed the incidence of those two are very low, contrary to what was suspected before. Most cases were among male teens and young adults usually after the second dose of a primary series of either Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.

Majority of the patients recovered quickly; 93 percent required hospitalization, while 23 percent needed ICU care. No deaths were reported. This study was published last week in JAMA Pediatrics.

Monoclonal: Impotent Monoclonal antibody, given by IV infusing as soon as a person tested positive for COVID-19 and proven to be most effective in curtailing the infection, is now ineffective against the new strains of SARS-CoV2, which are outsmarting our treatment strategy. Dealing with these viruses is a fluid exercise in wisdom and patience. They replicate and mutate to a more contagious strain and a more severe one for them to survive. If everybody were protected by the vaccines, they would not have any warm bodies to enter to replicate and mutate, and they self-destruct. Unfortunately, only 68 percent of people in the United States are fully vaccinated. The bodies of the 32 percent (105+ million) who are still unvaccinated bodies are being used by the viruses to replicate, mutate and evolve.

Protein versus carbs

Studies have shown that when protein intake is low, the rest of the calories in a diet usually comes from carbohydrates, which is not a healthy situation. Proteins are from red meat, poultry, fish, legumes, and nuts. These are the healthier foods, unless eaten in excess. Carbohydrates, which includes sugars and sweets, bread and potatoes, on the other hand, are not healthy because they are inflammatory food items. The socalled nightshade vegetables are also inflammatory and oxidants, detrimental especially to those with arthritis. Nightshades include potato, tomato, eggplant, peppers, goji berries, paprika, and red spices.

The recommendation is to have high protein diet (especially fish, chicken, and minimal red meat, no processed meats) and a lot of vegetables, oats, some chocolates, some fruits and nuts.

Carbs like bread, rice, all forms of sugars, especially refined ones, sweets (like desserts) are

to be consumed sparingly and occasionally.

While quality (type) of foods one eats is important, quantity (amount) is vital and essential to maintaining a healthy weight. In general, for those with normal weight, the recommended caloric intake is 2,000 calories a day for women and 2,500 for men. Those with diabetes will have their individual computed caloric requirement. And so with those who are overweight and underweight.

Worse than fentanyl

Fentanyl has been in the news of late. It is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths, including 92,000 in 2020 alone. Many forms are available; some are multicolor like candies. It is responsible for countless fatal and non-fatal overdoses in the U.S. Many victims are children who accidentally eat them. The open southern border facilitates the entry of the cartel and these killer drugs, not to mention the criminal elements and COVIDinfected people. About 3 million people in the U.S. are recovering from opioid addiction.

But there is now a newer and more vicious killer replacing fentanyl. It is called protonitazene, supposed to be even three times stronger than fentanyl. This new drug has been found in Canada and in the U.S., where 3 deaths have been reported in South Carolina. It may even be resistant to the antidote Narcan.

Public education, especially children’s education, starting even in pre-school, is vital in preventing accidental deaths from these killer drugs.

There is basically no difference between taking cyanide (suicide pills) and fentanyl or protonitazene or other potent opioids, except perhaps a few minutes before dying after ingestion.

* * *

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

* * *

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

* * *

Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com.

Maxene breaks silence over party accusations

by Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

ACTRESS Maxene Magalona broke her silence on being the alleged third party between celebrity couple Neil Arce and Angel Locsin.

In her recent interview with Toni Gonzaga, Maxene said she wasn't bothered when she heard the news.

“I live with integrity. And I speak my truth fearlessly because I know I am a woman of my word,” she said.

She also addressed whey she hasn't released a statement sooner.

“Because if I release a statement then the mga negative energy vampires will see na ‘Ay kaya natin

siya',” she said.  Maxene also denied that she's pregnant with Neil's baby.

“I’m not. Sabi ko talaga, ‘Saan nanggaling to? Kailan nangyari to?’ 'Di ako na-inform,” she said.

Maxene told Toni that she is now ready to fall in love after her separation with husband Rob Mananquil.

“Of course! Ako , I’m never closing my doors to love. I love love. I really love love,” she said. When asked if there are already suitors, the actress admitted she has been “speaking and forming connections.”

“And I want to really connect.

I know, I’m 35 – I’m turning 36 in a few days – and I don’t want to parang let pain stop me from living my life the way I want to,” she said.

Vhong to return to ‘It’s Showtime’ after allowed bail for rape

by KriStofer Purnell Philstar.com

HOST -comedian Vhong Navarro has posted the P1 million bail granted to him by the Taguig Regional Trial Court 69, temporarily earning him the freedom to return to "It's Showtime" after resting with his family.

Navarro surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) last September after being dealt an arrest warrant for rape by model Deniece Cornejo. Navarro also received an arrest warrant for acts of lascivousness but posted P36,000 bail then (rape is a non-bailable offense).

After two months of detention by the NBI, Navarro was transferred to the Taguig City Jail after Cornejo's camp argued the warrant's jurisdiction, but his stay only lasted two weeks following the court's bail decision last Monday, Dercember 5.

"It must be emphasized, however, that a grant of bail does not prevent the Court, as trier of facts, from making a final assessment of the evidence after full trial on the merits," court documments read.

The actor posted the recommended bail in cash around 6 p.m. the following day and he was then released from detention, even being fetched by his wife Tanya Bautista.

“ Sobrang happy. It’s going to be a blessed Christmas, a very good Christmas for the family,” said Bautista of Navarro's provisional release. "We deal with things one day at a time... Sumusunod lang tayo sa process. This time, ito na ‘yun, we were granted bail, and we are so thankful.”

According to Navarro's legal counsel, which includes Atty. Alma Mallonga, Navarro was in tears after learning about the bail decision. After being

released, Vhong was “tired and wants to spend time with his family.”

After sufficient rest time, Navarro plans to make a return to "It's Showtime," which he has been cohosting since 2009.

Cornejo's camp, led by Atty. Howie Calleja, has not released a statement regarding Navarro's release. The host's rape trial wil begin in February 2023.

by Jerry Donato Philstar.com

KELVIN Miranda manages to squeeze in music into his fulltime acting career. Proof of it is the single Sumayaw, a follow-up to his Slow Dance, released last year to remind everyone that Kelvin had the knack for singing. Produced under GMA Music, Sumayaw is now available on all digital platforms.

“They are totally opposite,” Kelvin, who is seen weekdays in the GMA Afternoon Prime drama Unica Hija, compared his previous single to his latest in a virtual group interview. “In Slow Dance, (the voice in the song is) asking for another chance. (He seems) not sold on the idea of losing a person. Parang it’s a sad but hopeful song. Sumayaw is a happy version, (telling) na ‘wag mong pigilan ang sarili mo, magpadala ka na lang sa hangin (the song is telling you not to stop yourself from pursuing something and follow where the wind blows).” In both songs, the word dance may be taken literally or figuratively.

Again, as a contrast to the melancholic and pensive music of Slow Dance, Sumayaw carries a chill, upbeat and easy-going vibe and is perfect as a music background when one is going on a long ride, said Kelvin, who added that the song may not only be seen from the lens of love and romance.

“I can also see it in a different angle… and you can also apply it in a personal level, in which sometimes you need to loosen up para lang makasabay ka ulit sa agos ng trabaho o ng pakikipagkaibigan (for you to get back your rhythm at work or get along with people).”

Asked if Slow Dance and Sumayaw are part and parcel of his music team’s plan to release singles individually but later on have them compiled into one album, Kelvin said, “ Hindi pa talaga namin totally na pa-plano yung bagay na yun. When it comes to (creating a) song, people sit down and talk about it. Hindi siya basta-basta gagawa kami. There’s a process that we follow.”

But what Kelvin hopes to foray into in his next song is to be part of those who figure out the instruments and over-all music style to be used in it or to be a composer.

“I think I’ll be needing again a long time,” said Kelvin of giving

songwriting a try and finding his foothold in it. “I want to write a song and explore it. I also want to produce (my own song) someday.”

However, he still loves the idea of interpreting a song, written by another songwriter, “Kung magugustuhan ng puso ko, kakantahin ko pa rin naman (if my heart desires it, I will gladly lend my voice),” said Kelvin and shared again his stance on doing an album by saying, “I’ll be thankful, pero wala pa po talaga sa linya namin ngayon. But there’s a possibility.” For now, Kelvin said he wishes listeners will like Sumayaw and can relate to its narrative.

As for how the recording of Sumayaw came about, Kelvin recalled that composer Viktor Nhiko Sabiniano simply asked him about his perspective on love and life. “After two to three weeks, the song was completed with (proper) arrangement,” said he. “The composer was asking for the date to talk about whether to proceed with the song and the changes and adjustments (to be made). And then, he and my producer (Paulo Agudelo) at GMA Music spoke. (The composer) just asked my perspective about (love).”

What’s his two cents’ worth on the latter? His line of thought revealed that love grows and develops every day and each day allows one to discover something new about love. “I think it’s healthy (to be in love), and when we say love life, it doesn’t mean there (has to be) someone else as the object of your love (in a romantic sense),” said Kelvin.

“Having a love life could also

mean self-love, love towards your friends and love for your parents and siblings.”

Prior to Slow Dance and Sumayaw, Kelvin recorded Two of a Kind and Basta Masaya Tayo (with Mikee Quintos) for The Lost Recipe and Maniwala Ka Lang for Wish Ko Lang, while, as one may know it, doing acting.

“I do (singing) on the side, but I value it,” said he, “kasi mahal ko talaga yung pag-arte, kasi hindi talaga siya mawala sa puso ko. Bata pa lang ako gusto ko na yun, eh. (I remember years back) while I was watching a stage play, I told myself that I wanted to act or to be like (the actors playing characters on stage).” A previous chat with Kelvin revealed that his love for performing started when he was tapped to play the guitar in a school program. He never had an inkling that would lead him to pursue and enjoy a career in showbiz.

Given his interest in singing and acting, Kelvin was also inquired about the connection of the two. “For me, I put emotion and my heart into my singing. Niraramdam ko yung lyrics, yung gustong iparating habang kinakanta ko siya (I feel and imbibe what the lyrics are trying to put across), ganun lang (that’s my approach). (When I’m singing,) I feel there’s a part (that’s like) performing an emotion, which is similar to telling a story. It’s the same with acting. You’re portraying a character to tell his emotion (and personal narrative). The two are just the same.”

Having said that, one can say that Kelvin finds joy in singing and acting.

Dina Bonnevie only talks smart

by ronnie CarraSCo ManilaTimes.net

PERHAPS to get Dina Bonnevie to sit down and converse with you, you definitely have to be like her: a good conversationalist.

It is a known fact this side of the world that Dina is one of the few actresses who's both smart and articulate.

In fact, it is an exaggeration to say that guesting with her on a talk show maybe can be an intimidating experience.

Dina has this "dating" that makes you feel you weren't born with as much grey matter as she was.

In fairness though to her, Dina can also share her thoughts so much.

Politics for a topic? I doubt if Dina has ever been passionately interested in dwelling on it.

Yes, she may have married a politician (former Ilocos Sur Governor JV Savellano) but that's just about it.

Never have the netizens chanced upon a single entry posted by Dina on social media on the country's political or social goings-on. It doesn't make her "un-woke" or walang pakialam" though. It is simply not her cup of tea.

Same thing with her seeming reluctance to engage in a huddle with Pauleen Luna, her "predecessor" in Vic Sotto's colorful lovelife.

Matter-of-factly, Dina finds it awkward to be chewing the fat with her ex-husband's present, Ano naman ang pag-uusapan namin ni Pauleen, si Vic?"

What Dina is actually driving at is that the TV host-comedian is part of her youthful past long before relegated to her archives of sorts, no point of digging up the files.

It's not Vic that Dina and Pauleen can solely talk about. It can be about motherhood or how to maintain longevity in the business or how to remain beautiful in their respective husbands' eyes.

Oh, there can be too many talk points for a glib talker like Dina you wouldn't want to be caught with your pants down.

Dominic reacts to wedding with Bea

by Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

In

“

Kasal? Secret,” he said.

He, however, said that he is seeing Bea as "the one."

"Of course, oo naman . We were doing good now together. Ayokong sabihing super happy but we're happy now,” he said.

Lalo na no'ng nagbakasyon kami, nakilala naming maigi 'yung isat-isa. From there, sa mga experience namin together, ang dami pa naming gustong gawin,” he added.

It was in April 2021 when Bea revealed that she and Dominic are dating, adding that "Dominic is a good guy."

When she transferred to GMA network in August 2021, Bea confirmed that they are officially together.

The couple most recently visited Verona, Italy, the setting of William Shakepeare's "Romeo and Juliet."

Bea shared on her YouTube channel that they toured around

the city, visiting Juliet's Balcony, the apartments in the film "Letters to Juliet," and the pilgrimage site for couples, Pozzo Dell' Amore.  The couple previously toured Milan and Lake Como. Bea's vlog will then feature their trip to Lucerne, Switzerland.

Bea bought an apartment in Spain recently.

After releasing Slow Dance more than a year ago, Kelvin follows it up with Sumayaw. When seen beyond the lens of love and romance, the song encourages one to loosen up and go with the flow. GMA photo

The seasoned actress who's known to have a good head on her shoulders. Photo from Instagram/@dinabonnevie

Celebrity couple Dominic Roque and Bea Alonzo Photo from Instagram/@dominicroque

ACTOR Dominic Roque revealed that Bea Alonzo is "the one" for him, though there are no wedding bells yet ringing soon for them.

an interview with the media during the Esquire PH Man At His Best event recently, Dominic was asked if there are wedding plans already.

Maxene Magalona Photo from Instagram/@maxenemagalona

Comedian and television host Vhong Navarro Photo from Instagram/@vhongx44