071323 - Las Vegas Edition

Fil-Am golfer makes history, wins US Women’s Open

PEBBLE BEACH — Allisen Corpuz found herself on the biggest and most beautiful stage in women’s golf and made it look like a stroll on the beach.

Never mind that she had never won on the LPGA Tour or that she had heard all week about the historic occasion of the U.S. Women’s Open held at Pebble Beach for the first time. Nothing could make her crack.

“Every few holes I kind of looked out and said, ‘I’m here at Pebble Beach. There’s not many places that are better than this,’” Corpuz said.

There weren’t many better performances, either. Corpuz turned a tight duel with Nasa Hataoka into a runaway, closing with a 3-under 69 on Sunday, July 9 for a threeshot victory to become the first American in 20 years to make the U.S. Women’s Open her first LPGA title.

LA’s huge immigrant population is being driven out by high cost of housing

LOS Angeles County, home to one of the nation’s largest population of immigrants, is losing its migrant base, which is moving elsewhere because of the high cost of housing.

One third of LA’s residents are immigrants. Nearly 45% of the workforce is foreign born, and just under 60% of the children have at least one immigrant parent. Over 800,000 Angelenos are undocumented, and over 1 million people in LA County live with someone who is undocumented.

“The future of the region depends on how immigrants do,” said Dr. Manuel Pastor, Professor of Sociology and American Studies & Ethnicity at the University of Southern California Dornsife, and lead researcher on the annual State of Immigrants in Los Angeles report.

Pastor is also the director of the USC Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration.

Cost of Housing

“The thing that’s affecting migrants

‘Dramatic increase’ seen in Filipino patrol ships in West Philippine Sea

by FRANCO JOSE C. BAROÑA ManilaTimes.net

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday, July 11 said a shift to external security operations (ESO) “is on the horizon” as it strengthens its defense posture with more aerial

and surface maritime patrols through its naval, air and ground assets in areas covered by the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in disputed waters of the West Philippine Sea (WPS). The AFP said it deployed additional surface

Imee questions ‘covert’ US military ights in PH

by MARLON RAMOS Inquirer.net

THE government should come clean on the arrival in the country of more air assets of the United States, Sen. Imee Marcos said on Sunday, July 9 as she surmised that the worsening situation in the South China Sea was due to what she described as “covert” flights of U.S. military planes in the Philippines.

The U.S. Embassy clarified that the flights were part of bilateral military exercises and were authorized by the Department of Foreign Affairs, but the flights were not cleared with airport authorities ostensibly because of “clerical errors.”

As chair of the Senate foreign relations committee, Marcos has been harping on the issue, which she linked to the government plan to host Afghan refugees, since last month. On June 8, she filed a resolution seeking a Senate probe.

While she acknowledged the current military exercises involving American and Filipino soldiers, President Marcos’ sister said the government should be equally vigilant in protecting the country’s skies from foreign entities the way it had been speaking out against Chinese incursions in the West Philippine Sea.

Last week, the senator filed another resolution seeking an inquiry into the  PAGE 2

Marcos asked: Explain when Filipinos

will

bene t from his foreign trips in 2nd SONA

MANILA — President Ferdinand

“Bongbong” Marcos should discuss in his second State of the Nation Address when the investment pledges secured during his foreign trips would translate to jobs and other tangible benefits for Filipinos, a senator said on Monday, July 10.

In a press conference, Sen. Raffy Tulfo said that he expects Marcos to discuss his accomplishments, one of which is the numerous “economic partners and investors” tapped during his trips abroad.

Tulfo said in Filipino.

patrol ships to the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) situated in the WPS where numerous intrusions by Chinese vessels have been recorded.

The deployment has raised the military presence to about 90 percent, Lt. Col. Enrique

Fil-Ams and AAPI community show support for Filipino man brutally beaten by neighbor in Las Vegas

FILIPINOS and AAPI community leaders along with union leaders of Southern Nevada joined forces to show support and solidarity for Amadeo Quindara.

The 75-year-old allegedly became a victim of physical and verbal assault by his neighbor, Christian Lentz in May.

The elderly Filipino from Las Vegas was joined by his family and AAPI community members during the initial court hearing for the case.

"We move forward in continuing to fight and in making our voices heard," said Gloria Caoile, a community leader. "Justice is for everyone, not just for a few."

The security footage from Quindara's residence captured Lentz threatening Quindara multiple times before walking away.

Lentz was also heard hurling racial slurs at him.

The Clark County District Attorney recently expanded the charges against Letz to residential burglary and elder abuse perpetrated as hate crimes.

"We want him charged with more," said Crystal

Marcos on nurse exodus: We’re victims of our success

by PIA LEE-BRAGO, ALEXIS ROMERO Philstar.com

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his 2022 State of the Nation Address.

file photo

“Although foreign companies have committed — and it sounds nice — when will Filipinos see and experience its benefits? When will they see the money, investments and jobs it will generate?”

Tulfo maintained that the president is doing an “excellent” job. He also quipped that Marcos is different from his predecessor — former President Rodrigo Duterte — who “liked to pin the blame of his problems on the administration he inherited it from.” Marcos has flown to at least ten countries and made 11 international trips since his term began, many of which involved securing investment pledges during meetings with government and business leaders.

In February, Malacañang said that Marcos’ trips have generated a total of  PAGE 3

MANILA — The Philippines has become a “victim” of its own success as world leaders have asked for help to send more Filipino health workers abroad, resulting in a “shortage” of personnel, President Marcos admitted on Monday, July 10.

Marcos made the remark during a meeting with members of the Business Executives for National Security (BENS) in Malacañang, which tackled U.S. investments in the Philippines’ health, digital infrastructure and energy programs.

“Unfortunately, in terms of health care workers, we have become victims of our own success in that the Filipinos did really well during the pandemic. And so every leader I meet says ‘can we have more Filipino med techs, doctors and nurses?’ So we’re having a shortage here,” Marcos said.

“So we are trying to find schemes so as to alleviate that problem. One of the things our Department of Health (DOH) has come up with is that we  PAGE 2

Third year nursing students of University of Perpetual Help System receive their caps and pins during the university’s 43rd thanksgiving and commitment rites at Ernesto Crisostomo Palanca Hall in Las Piñas City on June 21. Philstar.com photo

Malacañang

‘Dramatic increase’ seen in...

Gil Ileto, AFP Public Affairs Office chief, pointed out.

Ileto said this was a “dramatic increase” from the baseline 30 percent in 2022.

He added that this heightened presence allows the monitoring of sea lines of communications (SLoCs) which is complemented by the AFP’s littoral monitoring stations/detachments (LMS/ LMDs) to detect, track and subject foreign ships to interdiction.

Ileto disclosed that a redeployment of naval special operations units and the Philippine Marines was done with Marine Battalion Landing Team 9’s transfer to Palawan last month, and that the presence of the 4th Marine Brigade in the country’s northern frontier was also part of the AFP’s shift to ESO.

He said the employment of the AFP’s air surveillance radar systems continues.

“We have improved our capabilities and our presence in strategic locations with the effective presence of our maritime detachments in the Batanes group of islands, the Kalayaan Island Group and Tawi-Tawi,” Ileto added.

He said the Armed Forces have facilitated the completion of personnel barracks in Likas, Parola and Kota stations in the island group.

“These are complemented by [the AFP] partnering with its ally and strategic partner armed forces from our global

and regional allied countries that enable leveraging of capabilities through information sharing, subjectmatter expert exchange, and joint and combined maritime exercises,” Ileto added.

“All of these are [done] with the help of an interagencywholistic effort through the National Task Force-West Philippine Sea,” he said.

China has been challenging the Philippines’ ownership of areas in the West Philippine Sea, saying they are part of its territorial waters under the so-called nine-dash line demarcation.

This statement was debunked in 2016 when the Permanent Court of Arbitration issued a landmark ruling in favor of the Philippines’ protest against China’s sweeping claims in the West Philippine Sea.

Chinese ships, however, remain an intimidating presence in the West Philippine Sea, where incursions have been recorded.

Chinese ships have been reported to employ aggressive behavior when confronting Philippine ships through verbal warnings, the use of water cannons and dangerous maneuvers.

In November 2021, three China Coast Guard ships blocked and fired water cannons at two Philippine boats transporting supplies to Ayungin Shoal, which lies 104 nautical miles west of Palawan and is well within the country’s EEZ.

After the Ayungin incident, Beijing issued a statement urging the Philippines to remove the grounded “BRP Sierra Madre” from the shoal in line with Manila’s “commitment.”

Early last year, at least 48 Chinese fishing vessels were sighted swarming off Iroquois Reef, located south of the oiland gas-rich Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea, which is part of the Philippines’ EEZ.

Early this year, over 200 Chinese ships suspected to be maritime militia swarmed the Julian Felipe Reef, also within the Philippines’ EEZ. There have also been reports of Chinese vessels driving away Filipino fishermen from the West Philippine Sea.

Last February, a laserpointing incident in the Ayungin Shoal involving a China Coast Guard ship and a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel on a resupply mission was reported.

In June, several Chinese ships reportedly tried to block two PCG vessels from entering Ayungin Shoal.

These incidents prompted President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to declare a recalibration of the military’s focus on external security defense. Despite this shift, Ileto said, the AFP continues to defeat communist and terrorist groups.

“Our efforts have resulted in success with the significant reduction of their numbers and firearms and the clearing of areas where they used to maintain presence, and [which counter] their propaganda and [suppress] their financial and logistics support,” he added.

Ileto noted that of the five active communist guerrilla fronts at year-end 2022, two were dismantled and two were weakened, leaving only one front active.

“In total, 20 are on a weakened status and one active. With these, we have safeguarded the safety and welfare of our fellow citizens, thanks to the tireless efforts, support, and cooperation of government agencies and different sectors of society,” he said. g

Marcos on nurse exodus: We’re victims...

are coming to an arrangement with countries who will accept Filipino health care workers to at the same time train the equivalent number of health care workers that will stay in the Philippines,” he added.

According to Marcos, the government is also trying to accelerate the board examinations to produce more nurses.

“So that’s the adjustment that we are trying to make. It’s not only in the facilities, it’s also in the training. We are very proud of them but we wish they’d stay home,” the chief executive said.

Late last year, the DOH said the Philippines lacks about 194,000 health personnel as it reiterated the need to upgrade the salaries of workers in the sector. The country was short of more than 106,000 nurses and 67,000 physicians, the agency added.

Last month, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa announced a plan to hire nursing graduates whose scores are slightly lower than the 75 percent passing grade in government hospitals. He clarified that only those whose

scores are 70 to 74 percent would be tapped to work in state-run hospitals.

At the same meeting, Marcos talked about the government’s initiatives in the health sector, including the groundbreaking of a multi-specialty hospital outside Manila and the plan to build more hospitals in far-flung areas.

“I’m always been a great believer of bringing health care down to the grassroots level.

Right now, there is a tendency for us to only go to the hospital when it is absolutely necessary ... So health care has become an important part of this administration’s efforts,” he added.

Energy, digitalization

Marcos also talked about issues surrounding the energy sector, noting that the price, reliability and supply of energy are among the problems being raised by foreign investors in the country. He assured the members of BENS that the government is addressing the concern.

“The ease of doing business is something that we can do immediately... because putting

up power plants, no matter what kind of power plants, there are six, seven years, lead time. So maybe with the new technologies maybe we can do better,” the President said.

“So that we are certainly working on. The distribution has improved. The distribution is a factor because there are parts of the Philippines where they have ... then there are certain areas where they do not, deficit. So that’s what we are hoping to attend to in the near term,” he added.

Marcos also cited the amendments to some laws that seek to make the Philippines more attractive to investors, especially on the digitalization of the country’s economy. He also enumerated measures aimed at assisting micro, small and medium enterprises, the sector that accounts for the bulk of employment in the Philippines.

“We are trying to bring them into the system of digital marketing. So we put up an app for small businesses,” he said.

“We have encouraged all of these private NGOs (nongovernment organizations) PAGE 4

DIGITAL GLOBE. A worker uses a fire truck ladder to put some electronic devices at the famous globe of SM Mall of Asia at the tip of the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) in Pasay City on Wednesday, July 12. The globe, called “Globamaze”, is a 360-degree electronic billboard located in front of the mall and is among the attractions in the area. PNA photo by Avito Dalan

This photo shows Chinese fishing vessels swarming off the Iroquois Reef and Sabina Shoal, south of the oil- and gas-rich Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea. This was taken from an air patrol by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on June 30.

Photo courtesy of the Western Command of the AFP

Fil-Am golfer makes history, wins US...

At Pebble Beach, no less.

The 25-year-old from Hawaii was calm and cool, no matter the shot or the circumstances, until reality set in as she took a threeshot lead down the 18th fairway.

It’s a path taken over the years by the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Tiger Woods, all of them U.S. Open champions at Pebble Beach.

“Just knowing the history … Tiger just absolutely annihilated this place. Yeah, it’s really special,” Corpuz said. “Twenty, 30 years from now, I think just the fact that it’s a U.S. Open means a lot to me. But know that it’s at Pebble makes it even sweeter.”

She won by three shots over Charley Hull (66) and Jiyai Shin (68) and claimed the $2 million prize, the richest ever for an LPGA major champion.

Corpuz couldn’t contain a wide smile when she tapped in for par, only to cover it with her hand as the tears began to flow. She wiped them with her Aloha-print tower.

Former President Barack Obama was among the first to congratulate her on Twitter. Both went to Punahou School in Honolulu.

“Unreal,” Corpuz said. “This week has felt like a dream come true.”

Hilary Lunke in 2003 at Pumpkin Ridge was the last American to get her first win at the U.S. Women’s Open, that one in a three-way Monday playoff.

Corpuz, who finished at 9-under 279, was the only player to break par all four days.

Corpuz never gave anyone much of a chance. Hataoka lost her one-shot lead on the opening hole

when Corpuz hit her approach to 5 feet for birdie, and the 24-yearold from Japan dropped too many shots down the home stretch. They were tied at the turn until Corpuz hit her approach to just inside 10 feet for birdie on the 10th. The key moment was at the par-3 12th, when Corpuz came up short in the bunker and had 15 feet for par. Hataoka rolled her birdie putt from the fringe 5 feet by the hole. Corpuz made her par, Hataoka missed her putt and the lead was at two.

It only got larger, Corpuz stretching it to four shots with superb wedges to 8 feet on the par-5 14th and 4 feet on the 15th, both birdies that made the final act a battle for second place.

Hull, who started the final round seven shots behind, closed to within two shots early on the back nine and stayed in the game with a 30-foot birdie putt on the 16th. Only later did she realize Corpuz was pulling away. Hull kept firing, hitting 3-wood from under the cypress tree in the middle of the 18th fairway and nearly pulling it off.

“Shy kids don’t get sweets,” she told herself on the 18th before lashing away and dropping to a knee to watch its flight.

Shin made a birdie on the 18th to join Hull as a runner-up. The two-time major champion from South Korea never had a serious chance to win, but she celebrated a big moment for Corpuz and for women’s golf.

“I’m only watching the TV to Pebble Beach and then finally we are here to play,” Shin said. “This course has a great history, and then finally the women’s history is in.”

That history belonged to Corpuz. She joined Michelle Wie West as the only major champions from Hawaii — Wie West won the Women’s Open at Pinehurst No. 2 in 2014 and played her final major this week at Pebble Beach.

They are linked by the Aloha State, their high school (Punahou) and their emphasis on education

— Wie West graduated from Stanford, Corpuz got a business degree and an MBA from USC — and their early start in USGA events. Corpuz broke Wie West’s record as the youngest player to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links as a 10-year-old.

“I never really thought I’d get this far. Just watching Michelle, she’s been such a huge role model to me, and it was really awesome to break her record for the Public Links,” Corpuz said. “But I’ve never really compared myself to her. I’ve always wanted to make my own name. She’s just served as a really big inspiration.”

Corpuz was playing in her 19th USGA championship. She knows the USGA formula of fairways and greens, and loads of patience. She is built for this, especially given her concentration that not even a gorgeous day on the Monterey Peninsula could crack.

Officiating behind the fifth green was Mary Bea Porter King, the pioneer of junior golf in Hawaii and one of the most influential figures in the game. Corpuz first came into the Hawaii junior program at age 7.

“She’s always been calm, cool and … I won’t say serious, but she just plodded along. She was sort of a giant killer,” Porter King said. “I don’t think she was fearful of anything.”

That much was obvious at Pebble Beach, which had enough wind to be challenging as ever. Only seven players finished under par. Hataoka, whose 66 on Saturday was nearly nine shots better than the field, had a 40 on the back nine and tied for fourth with Bailey Tardy, the 36-hole leader who went 75-73 on the weekend for her best finish in her LPGA rookie season.

Fil-Ams and AAPI community show support for...

Salvador, a supporter of the Quindara family. "He should have jail time."

AAPI leaders said elected officials and law enforcement agencies need to take a proactive measure to prevent future acts of violence.

"We want our political officials to pay attention to this," said union leader Grace Mactal. "We gotta be able to put some programs and education on how to get this cross racial line to be together, to be united."

Lentz was ordered to undergo a competency evaluation and is due back in court on July 23.

Incidents of hate crimes in Asian-Americans are rapidly increasing, according to data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Figures from the FBI showed Asian hate crimes were up by a staggering 167% during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic.

(Bev Llorente/ABS-CBN News, Las Vegas)

Marcos asked: Explain when Filipinos will...

PAGE 1

116 investment projects worth P3.48 trillion. Marcos should discuss water crisis, not just Maharlika

Corpuz on March 20, 1998. Allisen’s father is from Ilocos Norte, Philippines, and her mother is of Korean descent. Corpuz was also an avid golf player who moved to Hawaii with his parents when he at eight years old.

from Instagram/@allysoncorpuz

Rose Zhang, who dominated the amateur scene and then won her first LPGA Tour start as a pro, never got on track and closed with a 72 to tie for ninth. She now has top 10s in both majors as a pro, though this time she was never in the mix.

(Inquirer.net with repots from AP)

Meanwhile, Sen. Koko Pimentel said in a statement that Marcos should also discuss measures to mitigate the recurring water shortage and looming threat of El Niño during his SONA.

Pimentel said that he hopes Marcos will not just focus on the Maharlika Investment Fund. He cited the statement by the

Union Bank of the Philippines,

Inc. Chief Economist Ruben Carlo Asuncion that a strong El Niño event could lead to national GDP losses of up to $3.3 billion.

“These staggering economic implications highlight the importance of proactive and preventive measures to mitigate the impact of the water crisis and El Niño. It is crucial for the President to use the State of the Nation Address as a platform to present long-term strategies and sustainable solutions that

can mitigate the effects of water shortage and El Niño,” Pimentel said.

The Senate minority leader also stressed the need for the government to take an “anticipatory approach” to the current water crisis.

Angat Dam — which supplies over 90% of Metro Manila’s water needs — has dipped below the minimum operating level of 180 meters. This has prompted water service interruptions in Metro Manila. (Cristina Chi/Philstar.com)

Allisen Corpuz was born to May and Marcos

Photo

Photos by Bev Llorente

Imee questions ‘covert’ US military...

allegedly unauthorized landing of a Boeing C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft of the U.S. Air Force at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on June 26.

“Too little is known about ongoing U.S. military activity in our territory while we constantly call out the presence of Chinese vessels in the South China Sea,” Marcos said in a statement.

“[T]he same zeal in tracking any violations in our maritime territory and EEZ (exclusive economic zone) must also apply where Philippine air traffic rules and joint military agreements

with the U.S. are concerned,” she stressed.

Marcos also urged defense and security officials to look into the possibility that “covert U.S. military flights aggravated the already tense situation in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait.”

She also asked them to “weigh the risks to public safety” of the presence of U.S. military planes in the country.

Citing information from international flight tracker AirNav Systems, the senator said a Boeing C-17 Globemaster plane, with flight code MC244/RCH244, arrived in Manila at 6:03 a.m.

LA’s huge immigrant population is being...

lives the most right now is high housing costs and the inability to stay here and make it economically,” Pastor told Ethnic Media Services, noting that migrants are choosing other cheaper states from which to restart their lives in the U.S.

The average monthly rent in Los Angeles County is about $2700, but the average wage for immigrant workers is roughly $19-26 per hour, according to the California Immigrant Data Portal. The MIT Living Wage Calculator notes an annual income of $76,610 is required to live comfortably in Los Angeles County.

Mayor Karen Bass released figures July 6 noting that the number of homeless people in Los Angeles County grew by 10% to an estimated 75,518 individuals as of January 2023, up from 69,144 in January 2022. Some 70% had no shelter and are sleeping on the streets.

Overcrowded Housing

The city of Los Angeles has the largest number of unhoused people in the U.S. As she took office last December, Bass declared a state of emergency on homelessness in Los Angeles. She has committed $1.3 billion to eradicating street homelessness, including getting people into motels while they wait for a spot in permanent housing. Bass has also fast-tracked the approval process for building affordable housing, among other solutions.

“I want Angelenos to see that tents are disappearing and not coming back,” she said in an

interview with The Wall Street Journal.

Immigrants tend to overcrowd rather than going unhoused, Pastor told EMS, adding that it is not uncommon to see 4 or 5 people in a one-bedroom apartment. “We’re getting way too much overcrowding, way too much income being eaten up by housing costs,” he said.

Excerpts from the Interview: EMS: Did the end of Title 42 significantly impact the number of migrants entering Los Angeles?

Pastor: The ending of Title 42 does not seem to impact the flow at the border. I think that we were all anticipating that Title 42 had restricted some of the flows and that its end would lead to a surge at the border, but it doesn’t seem to have been the case. We’ve got longstanding pressures for people to come to the United States. There is a lot of economic displacement, climate disasters and a variety of other things that are pushing people in particular out of Central America and then a lot of others from around the world.

So while it’s right to focus on Title 42, its ending, and… what we’re really trying to do in this report is focus more on the long term factors that lead people to migrate and then interestingly, whether or not they migrate to California.

In the fourth year of this report, we are paying attention to some of the broader issues that affect all Angelenos: housing, state of the economy, health care, ability to start a business, minimum wage unionization, and the education of children.

These are broad issues and it’s one of the reasons why we keep calling in the report for an intersectional approach to immigrant inclusion.

EMS: The report mentions that 36% of undocumented residents have no health insurance, despite our plan in California to expand access to undocumented residents. Why is that? Is there still the fear of public charge that continues even in the Biden administration?

Pastor: Our data is from the period 2017 to 2021. So I imagine that, currently, that percentage is a little better.

But I do think that immigrants are frightened to make use of resources that are available to them. And that’s not just undocumented folks, but even documented folks in mixed status families who are worried about what being connected to the government will mean for your undocumented family member.

72% of undocumented Angelenos have been in the country for longer than a decade. And that means there are a lot of people who are in situations where they make either too much money or the family makes too much money to qualify for MediCal. They’re not MediCal eligible, but they might still be in very difficult economic circumstances. And health care is very expensive.

So I think that’s a part of the population that’s going to need to be considered as we move forward.

(EMS note: An individual

seeking to qualify for MediCal must have an income below $18,756 for 2023. Immigrant advocates have suggested raising the income threshold to 250 percent of the federal poverty line, about $34,875 in annual wages.)

EMS: Are we lagging behind in providing culturally specific resources, given the huge demographic changes in who immigrants are?

Pastor: Yeah, I think there’s a tendency to think that if we deliver everything in Spanish, we’ve done our job. It is true that a very large share of Guatemalans and Hondurans are undocumented. But there are big numbers of Indian and Chinese who are undocumented. For the new undocumented, more than half are visa overstayers, people who came in on tourist or student visas. There is also a sizable Black population that is undocumented. We need to be reaching people in languages that they understand and providing interpreters, particularly for important circumstances, dealing with legal authorities and government services. Having everything available in every language can be quite difficult. But it’s one of the reasons why we need a county wide approach to some of these issues so that there would be a go to place for at least some of the smaller language groups to be able to get the interpreters and translators they need to be able to access the services that are necessary.

EMS: There is a huge shortage of culturally appropriate mental health providers and similarly in healthcare at large. What would you say about the need to create pipelines of people of color to better serve the immigrant population?

Pastor: This is a big concern of mine: there’s just simply mental stress and trauma that’s associated with being an immigrant, leaving your home, an uncertain journey, and for many, a risky and dangerous journey. And then you arrive in a place where you’re dislocated, don’t know the language and are scrambling to establish ties. That’s a lot of stress, often accompanied by mistreatment at work, and fear about being deported.

And when you couple that together with a common migratory ethos of ‘you got to be tough and get through this journey’ and the fact that Asian, Latino, and African cultures are not necessarily open in terms of talking about their feelings, then you really have this very difficult recipe for a lack of mental health support because you’ve got all these stressors coupled with cultural reluctance.

And then you meet a health system that you might be worried about being too associated with the government and doesn’t have a whole lot of people who look like you or understand the culture that you’re coming from. That’s really challenging in the face of an emergency.

(Sunita Sohrabji/Ethnic Media Services)

Marcos on nurse exodus...

PAGE 2

who have had an interest in promoting startups. We are trying to create an environment that will be friendly to startups because we know that startups have a higher rate of failure than other traditional businesses. So we need to be able to adjust to that new way of doing things.”

Also mentioned during the meeting was the business process outsourcing industry, which continued operating even during the COVID-19 pandemic through the work-from-home setup.

“It derives from the very clear understanding that many of the challenges that we face today, the solutions lie in new technologies. And that’s why the retraining and re-skilling of our people have become important because we have to get them into that line of work so that we have enough people to occupy that,” Marcos said.

“Actually, the workforce is quite full when it comes to tech. But again, we need to catch up in terms of training, in terms of getting involved in the new technologies that we are seeing for many reasons: for digitalization, for climate change, for cybersecurity,” he said.

In a statement, the Presidential Communications Office said BENS members reaffirmed their commitment to boost the cooperation and investment of the U.S. in the health, digital infrastructure and energy programs in the Philippines.

Founded in 1982, BENS is a ten-member business group in the US. Its members are in the Philippines until July 13 to

discuss business and national security issues with Philippine leaders and explore potential areas for investment and cooperation.

Nurses in Vienna

Meanwhile, the Philippine embassy in Austria and the city of Vienna signed a new agreement to bring Filipino nurses to Vienna under a framework that protects their rights and eases professional and social integration.

The agreement comes exactly 50 years after the signing of a similar agreement between Manila and Vienna in 1973. This agreement facilitated the “first wave” of approximately 600 Filipino health care professionals, who worked in 14 different hospitals in the Austrian capital in the 1970s.

Philippine Ambassador to Austria Evangelina Lourdes Arroyo-Bernas signed on behalf of the Philippines the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the recruitment of Filipino nurses between the Philippines and the Federal State of Vienna and the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber.

Department of Migrant Workers Undersecretary Patricia Yvonne Caunan was a signatory witness to the agreement, which is seen as the culmination of sustained bilateral labor talks between the two countries, and a revival of the longstanding cooperation in the field of health care.

The MOU outlines an ethical, transparent and sustainable recruitment framework that will govern the entry, hiring and integration of Filipino health care professionals in Vienna. g

on July 7. Earlier, Marcos also complained about the arrival of another military cargo plane on June 26. g

Sen. Imee Marcos Inquirer.net photo

USE FOR ILLEGAL LOGS. A local government employee paints a chair at a warehouse in Tagum City on Thursday, July 13. The chairs, made from logs confiscated from illegal loggers, are donated to the city’s public schools. PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.

Dateline PhiliPPines

DOT chief going on family leave

by Ghio onG Philstar.com

MANILA — Has the controversy over the discredited promotional video for the “Love the Philippines” tourism rebranding campaign – launched just two weeks ago – taken a toll on Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco?

The STAR learned from sources that Frasco will take a break from her work starting this week to take a vacation overseas with her family, including husband Cebu 5th District Rep. Vincent Franco Frasco, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives. It’s not clear yet how long and where she will spend her vacation.

She might not be able to attend the second State of the Nation Address of President Marcos on July 24.

Without directly confirming Frasco’s leave, some officials who spoke to The STAR emphasized it is “common practice” for any official going on leave to tap the next ranking official to take over his or her place.

According to the Department of Tourism’s list of officials available on its website, Frasco’s chief of staff and Undersecretary for legal and special concerns Mae Elaine Bathan ranks next to the secretary and her head executive assistant.

Since the outbreak of the controversy over the rebranding campaign, Frasco has been elusive to members of the media who wished to hear more from her about the issue.

The controversy was spawned by the use of stock footage shot in other countries for the “Love the Philippines” promotional video shown at the launch of the program last June 27 attended by President Marcos.

DDB Philippines, the ad agency tapped for the project, has since apologized for the blunder. Frasco later announced the termination of the DOT’s contract with DDB and emphasized “not a single peso was paid.”

Asked repeatedly by the media if the DOT would retain the controversial slogan, she kept on saying “Love the Philippines!”

The department was still using the “Love the Philippines” logo

and slogan during its events last week. It was visible in the photo booths, in buses used for the Philippines Hop-on/Hop-off bus tours in Manila and even on tokens for guests.

Business as usual

Meanwhile, it’s “business as usual” for private tourism stakeholders who insist they are undeterred by the furor over the discredited “Love the Philippines” tourism rebranding campaign.

In an interview on Monday, July 10 with dwPM Radyo 630, Philippine Tour Operators’ Association (PHILTOA) president Fe Abling-Yu said there is no letup in their “aggressive” drive to promote the country’s tourism, which has been slowly recovering from the impact of the more than two year pandemictriggered lockdown.

While the slogan for the new tourism campaign could “help” promote Philippine tourism, Yu emphasized tourism businesses such as tour operators “did not bank on the slogan that much kasi kaya namin sa (because we can manage anyway in the) private sector.”

She also lauded the DOT for coming up with a new tourism campaign and addressing the mistakes early on.

“The DOT is properly performing its task of developing tourism. They’re not perfect but Secretary Frasco, being a lawyer, is quick to act,” Yu said mostly in Filipino.

Yu said the issue has not diminished the interest of both foreign and local tourists in exploring the Philippines.

“In the domestic scene, it didn’t pose a problem. We ourselves do the packaging –with images – when we make presentation before clients,” she said.

Meanwhile, Yu said the easing of COVID-19 travel restrictions starting last year has contributed to the so-called “revenge tourism” and “revenge tourism spending.”

She cited rising figures of foreign tourists availing themselves of their tour packages.

According to DOT data as of July 5, the country has welcomed a total of 2,767,138 tourists, composed of 2,529,971 foreigners and 237,167 overseas Filipinos.

Travelers from South Korea were so far the most numerous at 683,983, followed by the United States with 506,496, Australia with 136,606, Japan (131,939), Canada (122,865), China (112,837), Taiwan (94,308), United Kingdom (79,513), Singapore (76,778) and Malaysia (50,850).

According to Yu, they would offer tour packages in Manila –which she said is rich in history and heritage – to foreign tourists upon arrival in the country. Eventually, they would choose to proceed to destinations where they could relax.

“We would take them first to nearby places like Tagaytay and Pampanga where is lot to experience. And then slowly we take them to island destinations like Boracay, Coron, El Nido and Puerto Princesa in Palawan, Cebu and Davao,” she said. g

Donaire eyes WBC bantamweight title anew

MANILA – Filipino boxing legend Nonito Donaire looks to become a two-time World Boxing Council (WBC) bantamweight champion at an old age as he takes on Alexandro Santiago on July 30 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The showdown between the now 40-year-old Donaire and Santiago, as announced by the WBC on Thursday, will be part of a fight card headlined by a much-anticipated showdown pitting former prospective Manny Pacquiao opponents Errol Spence and Terence Crawford for the undisputed welterweight championship.

The Donaire-Santiago affair was initially part of the card highlighted by a clash between Frank Martin and Artem Harutyunyan scheduled this Sunday (Philippine Time) at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

However, the postponement of the bout between Jesus Ramos and Sergio Garcia led to the adjustment in the schedule of the Donaire–Sanchez bout.

Ramos suffered an injury and had to withdraw from the bout against Garcia.

Garcia will now take on a replacement fighter who will be revealed soon.

The new match remains part of the SpenceCrawford fight card but will not be shown on payper-view.

Donaire, one of the Philippines' modern-day boxing legends, seeks to reclaim the now-vacant WBC bantamweight title.

On May 29, 2021, Donaire, then 38 years old, stunned the world when he knocked out Nordine Oubaali to win the belt and become the oldest living champion in the 118-pound division.

However, “The Filipino Flash” relinquished the belt the following year to Naoya Inoue in their rematch.

Inoue has since moved to the super bantamweight

Nonito Donaire Photo from instagram/@nonitodonaire division, vacating all his bantamweight title belts in the process.

Donaire looks to reassert his claim as the oldest bantamweight champ.

However, standing in his way is Santiago.

Santiago came just close to stripping the IBF junior bantamweight title away from another Filipino boxer, Jerwin Ancajas, in 2018.

Ancajas escaped with a controversial split draw. (PNA)

ourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco Philstar.com photo

WET JOURNEY. Commuters are stranded at the center island as motorists ply through gutter-deep flood along

Avenue in Manila on Thursday, July 13. The weather bureau said a low-pressure area and the southwest monsoon would dampen most parts of the

until the weekend.

Victim of our success?

HOSPITALS both state-run and private are so hard-pressed to find nurses that the new health secretary has proposed hiring graduates who flunked the nursing board exams to augment health workforces.

Nursing continues to be in demand as a career, but many graduates are jobless by choice, waiting mainly for the opportunity to leave for work overseas. The COVID pandemic heightened this problem. Nurses, worried about catching the virus in the workplace and infecting their households, stopped working.

As of December 2020, the first year of the pandemic, an estimated 200,000 nurses were reportedly out of work – not because of lack of employment opportunities, but because they didn’t want the work conditions starting with the pay in the Philippines.

The problem is about to get worse, as highincome countries facing a nursing shortage ease their rules for migrant workers and dangle incentives such as resettlement for nurses’ families in the destination country. This could mean a slowdown in remittances as nurses are joined abroad by their families who are the recipients of their earnings.

Addressing this problem on Monday, July 10, President Marcos tried to put a positive spin, reiterating his assessment that Philippine nurses have become so in demand all over the world that

Babe’s Eye View

WHEN the Philippines initiated arbitration proceedings before the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague in January 2013 against China’s expansive claims and assertions about its supposed “historic rights” over the South China Sea on the basis of its so-called “ninedash line,” many – including the United States based on the information we received –were initially doubtful about the initiative taken by the late Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario.

During the Obama presidency, the United States was not too eager in supporting the PCA suit. Their policy then was, “The United States does not get involved in territorial disputes.” There were also those – including within the Philippines – who were skeptical about such a move because China, after all, was a giant in terms of economic and military might, while the Philippines “did not have much conventional power,” as one analyst described it. In

the country has become a victim of its own success. In a meeting with the U.S.-based Business Executives for National Security, the president said that in his numerous jaunts across the planet, world leaders ask him to send more health workers.

The problem is how to replace those health workers. As of the third quarter last year, the Department of Health said the country faced a shortage of 194,000 health personnel including 106,000 nurses and 67,000 physicians. Also lacking are pharmacists, medical technologists and physical therapists. The DOH itself had over 2,000 unfilled plantilla positions, including 624 for nurses, 1,332 for midwives and 63 for dentists. This is in state-run hospitals, where the pay is better than the smaller private facilities. Imagine what the problem is like in private hospitals.

The impact is felt in the inadequacy of public health care. Affluent economies can afford to hire health workers from all over the world. Developing countries like the Philippines cannot make up for the loss. It’s no success at all, but abject failure to provide decent jobs to our own people. (Philstar.com)

PCA arbitral ruling: Seven years after

fact, former Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi stated during an ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in 2010, “China is a big country and other countries are small countries, and that’s just a fact.”

With legal research coming from former Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio as outlined in his presentation titled “Historical Facts, Historical Lies and Historical Rights in the West Philippine Sea” with corresponding maps, international cases and decisions that sunk China’s supposed “historic” claims, Secretary Del Rosario went ahead with the filing of the case, oftentimes standing alone in his beliefs during international gatherings.

Saying that our nation “has long placed its faith in the rules and institutions that the international community has created to regulate relations among States” in his impassioned statement before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in July 2015, the late foreign affairs secretary highlighted the “equalizing power of international law.”

Believing that the dispute

far inspires confidence that she will fix the problem and that the campaign of Love the Philippines will be as successful as we hope for it to be.”

resolution provisions on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea allow “the weak to challenge the powerful on an equal footing,” Secretary Del Rosario was proven correct in his conviction that “principles trump power; that law triumphs over force and that right prevails over might” when the PCA unanimously ruled that China’s claims on the South China Sea had “no legal basis.”

Some dubious individuals who tried, and are still trying, to thrash the landmark win of the Philippines are totally wrong – because today, many nations recognize the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling as legally binding, among them the most powerful nations known as the G7 – the United States, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy, as well as the European Union. India, which simply said it has “noted the Award of the Arbitral Tribunal” when the ruling came out, has now revised its position – calling for adherence to the arbitral ruling.

In a joint statement during the recent 5th India-Philippines Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation, the Philippines and India “underlined the

blown scandal.

need for peaceful settlement of disputes and for adherence to international law, especially the UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea in this regard.” Other claimant nations to the disputed territories in the South China Sea are also using the 2016 arbitral award as basis for their submissions that contest the excessive claims of China over the South China Sea, such as Malaysia that made a submission to the UN in December 2019 rejecting China’s historic rights and its nine-dash line claims; in May 2020, Indonesia submitted a note verbale to the UN challenging China’s wide-ranging claims in the South China Sea as having no international legal basis; in March 2020, Vietnam also submitted a note verbale objecting to China’s historic rights claims, saying Vietnam’s position is compatible with the key findings of the 2016 arbitral ruling.

Non-claimant nations such as Japan have also challenged China’s position in the South China Sea through a submission to the UN, citing the 2016 arbitration award, along with Australia, the UK,

the U.S., France and Germany that rebuked China’s claims as being inconsistent with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, to which China is a signatory.

China’s reclamation activities and construction of artificial islands have also endangered marine biodiversity, causing irreparable harm to the coral reef ecosystem. As early as 2019, marine scientists from the University of the Philippines’ Marine Science Institute have warned that the Philippines loses about P33 billion a year due to China’s reclamation and illegal fishing activities. A group of scientists also said the country’s food security is threatened with fish and marine species losing their habitat, while over 600,000 Filipino fishermen could lose their livelihood due to harassment and bullying by Chinese vessels.

Filipinos are alarmed at Chinese Coast Guard vessels continuing to harass, bully and obstruct our Philippine Coast Guard patrol vessels escorting boats on a resupply mission for Philippine Navy troops at the Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, conducting dangerous maneuvers and coming within

100 yards of the PCG vessels. Last Friday, July 7, the Armed Forces of the Philippines also reported the presence of 48 Chinese fishing vessels in Del Pilar (Iroquois) Reef and Escoda (Sabina) Shoal within our exclusive economic zone, describing it as “alarming” and a “potential threat” to Recto Bank.

This Chinese aggression simply tells us one important fact: We must continue to push for strengthening our defense capabilities and working with our allies and partners in standing up for freedom of navigation and the international rule of law.

In any event, we are confident a peaceful resolution of issues between claimant nations to the disputed territories will eventually take place. More importantly, the ASEAN community would like to see the United States and China resolve their differences peacefully. (Philstar.com)

* * *

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

* * * babeseyeview@gmail.com

INSPITE of the hue and cry over some “stock footages” featuring tourism attractions in other countries, the freshly launched country brand “Love the Philippines” of the Department of Tourism (DOT) is here to stay. And after what were all said and done, so to speak, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco also remains in the Cabinet of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (PBBM). Claiming no public funds were paid for the “mood video,” Frasco asserted the rights of the DOT to terminate the contract with the agency that produced the P49-million video used in the launch of “Love the Philippines” last June 27.

PBBM virtually saved the day for the embattled Sec. Frasco whom he credited for taking decisive actions on the matter.

Asked over the weekend if Frasco still enjoys his trust and confidence, the chief executive retorted: “I think she has it under control. She knows what to do. What she has done so

The new country brand “Love the Philippines” initially raised the hackles of Albay Rep. Joey Salceda. The feisty lawmaker deplored in strongest terms the depiction of the iconic Mt. Mayon of Albay into mere pixel in the country brand logo. Following the furor, the DDB Philippines that produced the unwanted “stock footages” apologized for it. While describing the use of “mood video” as a standard practice in their industry, the agency accepted its full responsibility. When the dust settled, the DDB Philippines was the only party, so far, held accountable for the entire brouhaha. A lawyer by profession, Frasco immediately announced the DOT will investigate how such “stock footages” came into this DOT contract with the DDB Philippines. Even after the advertising agency issued a public apology and its contract terminated, Frasco absorbed the full blowback of the DOT fiasco. However, this averted what could have been a full-

Congressman Salceda still believes though Sec. Frasco still has a lot of explaining to do on this DOT fiasco. As far as lawmakers are concerned, Salceda pointed out, Sec. Frasco must present and submit the results and recommendations of the DOT’s internal investigation into this controversy-rocked contract with the DDB Philippines. Since the 19th Congress is still in recess, the congressional inquiry won’t happen yet until sessions of both chambers resume this July 24. Salceda and Frasco are actually political allies dating back during the vice presidential campaign of former Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte who run and won in the May, 2022 elections. Running for reelection as Mayor of Liloan City in Cebu, Frasco was the official spokesperson of then Mayor Sara. Salceda, on the other hand, coined the Ro-Sa tandem that pushed for the campaign for exVP Leni Robredo as presidential bet with Mayor Sara as her VP runningmate.

Long before “Love the Philippines” got mired in the DOT controversy, its Tagalog translation – “Mahalin ang

Pilipinas” – has been the battle cry, so to speak, of VP Sara since she first became an elected politician. So it should not be surprising that the DOT adopted “Love the Philippines” country brand which loosely translated in English means: “Mahalin ang Pilipinas.”

Following the career track in politics of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, she first got elected as vice mayor of Davao City in 2007 to 2010 while her father was then mayor of their home city. The father-anddaughter switched positions as mayor and vice mayor of Davao City.

With a maternal grandfather a Jewish who fled to the Philippines from Germany during World War II, VP Sara was born to a half-German mother, Elizabeth Zimmerman (nee) Duterte. When she became VP, Sara kept her public espousal for love of her birthplace – the Philippines.

As VP, she has kept standard extro or ending of her public speeches which she always caps with ardent appeals: “Mahalin natin ang Pilipinas.”

Salceda believes VP Sara’s love for country is much more demonstrated as the concurrent

Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd). Being a mother of three children, he credited VP Sara for being able to ensure that children and students went back to school safely without any COVID-19 resurgence.

The gradual resumption last year to the face-to-face classes at all levels of schools that got underway nationwide paved the way for the “national reopening” of the Philippines after the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, Salceda recalled.

To Salceda, this is the top “executive accomplishment” of the PBBM administration in its first year in office. After more than two years of the closures of schools during the pandemic, Salceda believes the onsite and physical return to schools of students contributed a lot to the economic recovery of the country as well.

Giving PBBM a grade of eight in a scale of ten as the highest, Salceda credited VP Sara to some of the better performances in key areas of governance in the first year in office of this administration. This is the same love for country, Salceda explained, where VP Sara is obviously coming from in her

strong support for the approval of the bill on the return of the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) as mandatory in the college curriculum.

VP Sara is herself a member of the ROTC. She got confirmed by the Congressional Commission on Appointments on her promotion as Army Colonel. Naturally, VP Sara also publicly rants against intrusions of communist ideology in the country’s education system.

The ROTC bill is pending passage in Congress and is among the new set of priority bills approved by the LegislativeExecutive Advisory Council (LEDAC) that PBBM convened last week at Malacanang.

“This (ROTC bill) is to instill love for country, especially by our youth as future leaders of the Philippines,” Salceda enthused.

So by complementarity, the DOT keeps “Love the Philippines,” or “Mahalin ang Pilipinas” as the new country brand hallmark. (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.

Las Vegas, San Diego.

‘Mahalin ang Pilipinas’

China accuses US of ‘forcing’ it to accept 2016 tribunal ruling

by Gaea Katreena CabiCo Philstar.com

MANILA — China on Wednesday, July 12 accused the United States of forcing it to accept a landmark ruling that invalidated Beijing’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea, including parts that Manila calls the West Philippine Sea.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila called the US the “mastermind” behind the arbitration in a statement issued on the seventh anniversary of the Philippines’ victory against China.

The ruling handed by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in 2016 concluded that Beijing’s claim of historic

BI launches electronic service for foreign travelers

MANILA – To further help boost the country's tourism industry, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) officially launched on Wednesday, July 12 an end-to-end electronic service (eServices) for foreign travelers.

In a statement, BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the platform would streamline procedures for foreigners wanting to come to the Philippines.

“Our eServices (platform) allows our visitors to comply with their immigration requirements from the comfort of their own homes, hotels, or even by the beach. This would definitely aid in boosting tourism, which is one of the main thrusts of the President (Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.),” he said. Through the platform, foreign nationals may access applications and payment services with convenience.

This would grant them access to several options, including the annual report, Republic Act 9225 dual citizenship principal application, emigration

clearance certificate, visa waiver, waiver of exclusion grounds, and tourist visa extension features.

“Visa extension is really one of the highlights of our eServices, given its impact on Philippine tourism. We all know that the Department of Tourism has recently launched the country’s new slogan. That’s why, we are finding ways to make it easy for everyone to love our country more,” Tansingco added. Foreign nationals may try these features by simply logging in using an existing account or creating a new one at e-services. immigration.gov.ph.

Once directed, applicants may then click the desired application feature to fill up online forms. Once completed, the succeeding step will show a wide range of payment options.

An email from biis@ immigration.gov.ph will also be received for the confirmation of the application together with the transaction's official receipt.

The eServices platform was soft-launched in December 2022

under Republic Act 11032, or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.

The BI earlier pledged to launch more system advancements using technology to improve its services to local and foreign nationals, as well as ensure protection from illicit border schemes of human traffickers.

(PNA)

rights in the South China Sea was baseless. Seven years later, China still does not accept or recognize the decision, calling it “illegal, null and void.”

“The US ropes in allies to play up the issue each year on the anniversary of the illegal award to gang up against China and to exert pressure, and force China into accepting the award. We are firmly against this,” the Chinese Embassy said.

Washington on Wednesday pressed China to cease its “routine harassment” of maritime vessels and finally abide by the tribunal’s ruling. On Tuesday, the European delegation in the country reitereated the importance of fully complying with the United Nations Convention

on the Law of the Sea.

In response, the Chinese Embassy said the countries outside the region should respect its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interest in the South China Sea, and stop using the issue “to drive wedges among regional countries.” It also urged those nations to “refrain from being a troublemaker to peace and stability in the South China Sea.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs said the landmark ruling has a “definitive contribution” to the development of international law. The agency also launched a microsite dedicated to providng the public with official information on the country’s maritime victory. g

ICC decision on Philippines’ appeal vs drug war investigation set on July 18

MANILA — The International Criminal Court’s appeals chamber is set to announce next week its decision on the Philippine government's appeal to stop the court's investigation into the Duterte administration's war on drugs.

In a scheduling order posted on Monday, July 10, the appeals chamber said, "Judgment in the above appeal will be delivered in open court on Tuesday, 18 July 2023 at 10h00."

The ICC temporarily suspended its probe into the drug war under former President Rodrigo Duterte in November 2019 after the

government said it would conduct its own inquiry into the thousands of deaths that resulted from antinarcotics operations.

The ICC’s pre-trial chamber moved to resume its probe in January after it found that the Philippine government had not been adequately conducting its own investigations and prosecutions.

This decision prompted the Philippines to appeal for the ICC to reverse its decision in March, insisting again that the tribunal had no jurisdiction over the country years after Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the Rome Statute on March 17, 2019.

The ICC rejected this appeal last March 27, prompting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to say that the country will be "disengaging from any communication" with the ICC. According to the provisions of the Rome Statute, the ratification of which Marcos supported when he was a senator in 2011, the court retains jurisdiction over crimes allegedly committed while the Philippines was still a member. The Philippines officially ended its membership in the ICC in 2019, a year after it withdrew its ratification of the Rome Statute. (Cristina Chi/ Philstar.com)

8

of 10 Filipinos back PH alliances to defend territory

A PULSE Asia survey commissioned by international think tank Stratbase ADRI Institute showed 8 out of 10 Filipinos agreed that the Philippines should form alliances and strengthen its relationships with like-minded countries to defend its territorial and economic rights in the West Philippine Sea.

The polling firm released the survey results on Wednesday during a forum titled "The 7th Year of the Arbitral Victory: Defending the West Philippine Sea, the Indo-Pacific, and the Rules-Based Order" organized by the Stratbase ADR Institute. Pulse Asia conducted the survey from June 19-23, 2023 and asked 1,200 Filipinos nationwide whether or not they agree with the statement: "Alliances should be formed and relationships strengthened with other countries that have similar beliefs to the Philippines to defend the territorial and economic rights of the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea and protect international order." A total of 80 percent of those surveyed said they agreed, while 17 percent said they were undecided.

When asked to identify measures the Marcos administration should prioritize to effectively address issues in the West Philippine Sea, 7 out of 10 Filipinos, or 72 percent, said that the government should strengthen the capability of the military, especially the Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force.

Meanwhile, 64 percent said the government should conduct joint maritime patrols and military exercises with allied countries, and 61 percent said the government should shift the focus of Philippine defense institutions, and allocate more resources to strengthen the ability to defend the country from external threats.

In his speech during the forum, Stratbase President Victor Andes "Dindo" Manhit emphasized the importance of building and strengthening the Philippines' alliances with likeminded countries in defending the West Philippine Sea.

"We are here today marking the anniversary of our victory at the Permanent Court of Arbitration, but the real test is for us to continue in the struggle to actualize this victory. We are happy to have our friends here with us today from Australia, [the] United States, Japan, [the] European Union, France, [the] United Kingdom and India. We

are thankful for everything we have done together, and we look forward to future areas of collaboration as we deal with traditional, non-traditional, and evolving threats on various fronts," Manhit said.

"The decision of the arbitral court assures us that we are on the right side of history and provides a solid foundation for our acts. The challenge for us moving forward is how we can build on this foundation. We must commit that we will never allow this victory to be diminished and trampled on. We at Stratbase ADR Institute support all forms of cooperation with countries who share our ideals, values, and reverence for a rules-based order," he added.

Among those who participated in the forum were Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Hae Kyong Yu PSM, United States Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko, Delegation of the European Union Ambassador to the Philippines Luc Veron, French Ambassador to the Philippines Michele Boccoz, British Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils, and Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Shambhu Kumaran.

In a Pulse Asia survey conducted in June last year, 89 percent of those polled said they trust the United States, 79 percent trust Australia, 78 percent trust Japan and 64 percent trust the United Kingdom.

"Defending our territory, asserting our sovereignty and committing to uphold a rulesbased international order in this dynamic, multipolar world is the right thing to do. It is the only thing to do. Together, let us defend the peace and stability of the West Philippine Sea, the Indo-Pacific and the rules-based international order," Manhit said.

He also highlighted the need for a Philippine Strategic Initiative, which will explore the interplay between geopolitics and geoeconomics development and focus on cross-sectoral concerns revolving around the global economy, security, governance, energy and environment.

"This initiative will bridge the gap between geopolitics and economic development and highlight the importance of shared democratic values and a rules-based order in a multipolar world," Manhit said. (PNA)

SUPER HEALTH CENTER. Senator Christopher Lawrence Go (4th from left) leads the embedding of the capsule during the groundbreaking ceremony of a Super Health Center in Barangay La Filipina, Tagum City, Davao del Norte on Thursday, July 13. The P11.5-million project will have an outpatient department, as well as laboratory, X-ray, ultrasound, birthing, diagnostic, pharmacy, and emergency services. PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.

VEGAS&STYLE

Olivia Rodrigo stuns as the

first Fil-Am on the cover of Vogue US

by Amrie Cruz Philstar.com

A FILIPINO American is finally on the cover of American Vogue, and another Fil-Am got to profile her for the story.

Ahead of the release of her upcoming “Guts” album, Olivia Rodrigo makes her story as she stuns on the latest Vogue cover, and writer Jia Tolentino is dishing details on their East Village meet-up where they talked about Rodrigo’s twenties and how all Filipinos can, purportedly, sing.

On the cover, the 20-year-old from Riverside County, Southern California, stuns in a metallic Emporio Armani dress. Other notable looks in the spread include a whimsical Loewe top and Prada skirt pairing. There are also ’60s callbacks with Miu Miu dresses.

Tolentino gushed about getting to hang with Rodrigo at the A-1 Record Shop in East Village and Mogador on St. Marks “just before she got the keys to her new apartment, her SATC era, her whole twenties.”

“Her paternal family is Filipino, as my family is, and in A-1 Records, we joke about the more-or-less accurate ethnic stereotype about Filipinos: We all know how to sing,” writes Tolentino in the profile.

Living the Dream Rodrigo opened up about pursuing her Hollywood dreams at a young age. She also talked about heartbreak, “Peter Pan boys,” her penchant for writing autobiographical, and the public’s

interest in her relationships.

The pop star also shared being possibly not single and moving to New York, where she’s currently living her “Sex & The City” fantasy.

On her IG Story, Tolentino also shared how when she told Rodrigo that her daughter is “half white, half Filipino, like she is,” the singer replied, “OMG! She’ll probably look like me!”

Another interesting anecdote in the story is how Rodrigo brought up a piece about

28-year-old Bubble Gang reinvents itself

by NAthAlie tomAdA Philstar.com

“IT’S a welcome change.”

Said Michael V. of the latest developments — from new timeslot, new cast members to new live-audience format — in the country’s longest-running comedy program, which is now also called as BBLGANG.

“We’re giving it a new face, of course, because habang tumatagal, you always have to really reinvent yourself, especially for a program that has lasted this long,” said Lilybeth Rasonable, senior vice president for GMA Entertainment Group.

The GMA 7 show, which is turning 29 years old this year, will officially be relaunched tonight, moving from its late-night Friday schedule to its new primetime and more family-friendly timeslot at 6 p.m. every Sunday.

“For the longest time, Bubble Gang has been airing on Friday nights. The Sunday night timeslot is more wholesome,” said Michael V during a mediacon.

“(The timeslot is) for a wider audience and we’re very, very conscious of the content we’re creating.”

abortion that Tolentino wrote in 2022. “The reproductive rights rollback, [Rodrigo] says, feels ‘actually insane—I think it’s sickening.’ We talk about how many girls in her generation, and in my daughter’s, and in mine, will be ‘forced to give birth if they get pregnant,’ she says.”

Preorders for “Guts” began on June 26, and it is set for release on Sept. 8. Its massive lead single “Vampire” is out and climbing towards a #1 debut on music charts.

Atasha: The ‘It Girl’ showbiz has long been waiting for

by Tessa Mauricio-arriola ManilaTimes.net

SHE was always going to be a significant showbiz "It Girl" from the moment she was conceived. But for the only daughter of showbiz royalty Aga and Charlene Muhlach, it would take 21 years before she was allowed to step into the limelight and claim her birthright.

On Monday, one-half of the famous Muhlach twins (her brother is Andres, of course) officially signed a contract with the long-established Viva Artists Agency (VAA) of star makers. No less than multimedia conglomerate's head honcho and staunch showbiz pillar Boss Vic del Rosario welcomed Atasha to their fold along with his children Veronique, Vincent and Val, who now comprise Viva's top executive levels.

Stunning and statuesque, as expected, what made Atasha an instant hit when she was officially introduced to media was her genuine warmth which radiated in the way she spoke, her sincere smile, her polite ways and her unperturbed patience as she diligently replied to many similar questions from an excited press pack.

Naturally, the questions repeatedly ranged from why she is only joining showbiz now, what genre she would like to pursue in entertainment to whether she feels pressured by her parents' huge celebrities as she starts her own career.

Smart and articulate, too, Atasha's answers were consistent and delivered with respect every time, giving her parents their due that they have really done a great job raising her. (Kudos all around!).

Now, the latest Muhlach to take the spotlight openly revealed that she had wanted to join show business since she was 10, following a brief theater stint in "The Sound of Music." However, her sensible and loving parents — who themselves grew up as celebrities and are well aware of the distractions and burdens of being one so young — were happily able to strike a deal with their talented daughter. So long as she finished college, Atasha could pursue her dream of becoming an actress.

"I've always wanted to do this," Atasha openly enthused, "but it was always clashing with my school [schedule]. But now that's out of the way, I've kept my promise to my mom and dad, and I'm here!"

Technically, the deal with Aga and Charlene only becomes official in two weeks when Atasha flies to England to graduate no less from a business school in Nottingham. But what the hey? Give the dutiful daughter and doe-eyed lass the moment and excitement she's long been waiting for already. To be sure, the giddy happiness about her is more priceless for her folks than a minor clause.

"I was thrilled when my parents told me, 'You're ready, go. Spread your wings and fly,'" she sweetly giggled. "They've been nothing but supportive and caring to me [with my decision] and have given me lots of advice already.

"And to know I'm in the good hands of their long-time friends — the del Rosarios — makes them feel safe."

As to what genre she would like to tackle as soon as she gets back from the UK, Atasha gamely said she wants to try her hand at everything.

"I'd like to sing and dance, I'd love to act, and I'd be grateful for the opportunity to do all of that," she gushed.

It can be recalled that Charlene was considered

the Philippine dancing queen during her time in the biz while acting has always been second nature to Aga. Her dad is still among the most sought-after actors in the industry, even if he had chosen to spend more time with family since the twins were born.

Seeing Atsha today, he definitely made the right choice, just like Charlene, who happily took up motherhood for a career.

The celebrity couple, while sharing photos of Atasha and Andres growing up as much as they can on social media, have been successful in keeping their children away from the public eye until now, allowing them what their daughter describes as a normal childhood that shaped who they are today. Well-rounded and down-to-earth scions of pure showbiz royalty who value family first and foremost.

"The four of us are really very close," Atasha shared. "My brother's my best friend," she told the T-Zone when asked if she sees showbiz as her turf without her twin beside her. "I mean, I'd also love it if he decides to join me here, but that's something that's best to ask him if he's interested."

Once more demonstrating how important family is to her, Atasha's answer to the question of feeling pressured by her parents' success proves she deserves all the attention she will get from here on and that this de facto it girl will surely go far.

"I wouldn't say I'm pressured [about it], but what I will say is that I really do admire them and that [their success] instead encourages me to somewhat be like them and see how far I can go in this industry."

Make no mistake though that Atasha Muhlach will ever choose to ride on her parent's celebrity at any time. It is evident the girl has her own mind, and M.O.

In fact, she has chosen singing to debut her career and will be meeting with composers by next week to pick her first single. Definitely not how Aga and Charlene made their names in showbiz, but given her genes, pedigree and groundedness, this It Girl can do anything. g

Gang and so for the longest time, I knew the flavor of the show. But this time around, nagbago ng konti. That for me is the biggest change.”

He pointed out that the good thing about BBLGANG is that its creative team is “always in the present.”

Palaging aware sa mga nangyayari sa paligid. Parang naging requirement na yan for the creative team, for the writers, and whoever is part of that team,” he explained.

Bubble Gang, is not one person, we are a gang for a reason,” Michael V said.

“And that’s not just within the cast, it’s the same with the creative team, with the production, with the network and all those who are helping us. As long as we are like that, as long as we’re a definitive gang, ‘di kami mauubusan ng material.”

The timeslot change is also connected to the relevance of the show.

According to director Frasco Mortiz, “Pinu-push namin maging more relevant ang show in the advent of social media, where every day you see comedy content. So how do you stay relevant when your competition is social media?

“So, we make our topics relatable to the wider audience… and that would make people more engaged.

“Yes, it’s more wholesome, but maloko pa rin kami. ‘Di mawawala ang tatak Bubble Gang.”

Another big change for the cast is the instant reaction they get via the live audience.

Frasco said that the artists now deliver a different kind of energy while doing sketches and skits.

“You feel that they’re all on their toes,” he said.

The director also came up with the idea of a rooftop setting, reimaginging BBLGANG as a hangout place for family and friends to chill, relax and have some laughs.

“True enough, I think it has a different flavor…. because there’s instant reaction from the audience. Nakukuha namin kaagad ang pakiramdam kung maganda ba yung ginagawa namin. For me, it’s still the same Bubble Gang with different sketches. (At the same time), it’s a different vibe. Parang nabuhayan ulit.”

Michael V said that an inspiration for the live audience is the American sketch-comedy show Saturday Night Live (SNL).

“Even before direk Frasco (came onboard in 2021), SNL was an inspiration. We tried that several times during the lifespan of Bubble Gang,” he said.

The most notable was Parokya Bente Dos, which “was really a big endeavor for Bubble Gang and a milestone of the show.”

“This time, we will give it a try once again and will see what happens,” Michael V added.

The veteran comedian also suggested as much that the materials for this new phase of the comedy show will be somewhat “different in flavor.”

“For the longest time I was also the creative director of Bubble

“Even the cast, we have to be aware of what’s happening right now. As long as there’s material na pinanggagalingan, hindi ka mauubusan ng material i-produce.”

Asked if social media is a boon or bane to the show when it comes to content creation, direk Frasco said, “We get something from online, they get something from what we do. I think that’s the new norm na kailangan namin makasanayan, mag-iiba at mag-iiba talaga yung means of how we devour content. It’s up to us kung paano maging up to date in the things that we do.”

He further said the only advantage of social media is in terms of speed or how fast it reacts to events and issues.

“Let’s say, may issue na pumutok ngayong umaga, sa hapon may spoof na sila. Before, yung Bubble Gang known for that. If may issue ngayon, next episode may makikita ka ng parody or something,” Frasco said.

“But in terms of creativity and content, nanggagaling pa rin talaga dun sa creative team and the cast yung humor that audiences look for every week.”

For Michael V, it’s a symbiotic relationship. He admitted that social media is now a “big part of mainstream television and entertainment.” It does provide some ideas, he noted, especially “if it’s a gem, talagang dapat you have to do something about it.

Pero hindi mo dapat gayahin. You have to do something better and improve.”

But he also pointed out, “If you analyze yung mga ginagawa sa social media, if you dig deeper, madalas ang source niyan Bubble Gang. It’s very evident na ang inspiration ng gumagawa ng comedy sa social media, it’s also the show. But it’s not just this show but even the (comedy) movies that came before us and …. other sitcoms, not just in GMA but also in other networks.

“So, it’s safe to say mainstream is still at this point inevitable, necessity pa rin siya to produce content,” he said.

One thing is for sure, everyone on the show is dependent on each other, in creating content and making the comedy click with its viewers.

“I always say that the gang, the

In this new era of Bubble Gang or BBLGang, they are introducing fresh faces like EA Guzman, Buboy Villar and Chesca Fausto. Paolo Contis, Chariz Solomon, Kokoy de Santos, Betong Sumaya and Analyn Barro are still part of the show, but Valeen Montenegro, Faye Lorenzo, Sef Cadayona and Archie Alemania were let go. Maliit lang naman ang mundong ginagalawan,” said Michael V. “Even with our former cast members, there was a time when we made it a point to guest ‘graduates’ like sila Rufa Mae Quinto, Ara Mina… It was going to happen. It’s inevitable.”

The ideal cast members for him are “kelangan magaling ka na artista, that’s No. 1. Hindi lang kasi pagpapatawa ang comedy, a good chunk of it is acting so as long as you’re confident in doing characters and being someone else other than yourself, I think that’s a good sign. That’s a plus factor when it comes to joining the show.”

For his part, direk Frasco said, “That person should also be fearless, not afraid to join the gang. Because if you’re a newcomer, you will really feel intimidated to be in the company of these people (referring to Michael V, et. al.). And may hilig din magpatawa, magpasaya because if the comedy is innate in that artista, it will show. It’s a team effort.”

As the only remaining original member and one-time creative director of Bubble Gang, Michael V stressed that they’re not strangers to major casting changes.

“Being the eldest in the show, we’re a bit used to the reformat. This is not the first time na nangyari,” he said. “I’m always open to welcome new faces to the show. It’s an opportunity for the older cast to train and work with the younger talents.

“Hopefully, we can produce a bunch of new comedians and talented performers under our tutelage,” he added.

Besides the possiblity of having former cast members as guests, Michael V wants It’s Showtime host and Kapamilya comedian Vice Ganda to appear in the show for a collab skit with his signature character, Mr. Assimo.

“Vice Ganda has always been open to collaboration. And the last time we met, the last time we talked… He has always said, ‘I hope to guest in Bubble Gang.’”

A photo of Olivia Rodrigo at the A-1 Record Shop taken by Jia Tolentino.

The 21 year old Atasha Muhlach, daughter of A-listers Aga and Charlene, is finally where she’s meant to be.

Photo from Instagram/@atashamuhlach

Paolo Contis, Michael V., Betong Sumaya, Kokoy de Santos, Chariz Solomon and Analyn Barro GMA photos

Cox back-to-school fair dates announced for 2023

COX Las Vegas is proud to announce its annual Cox Back-ToSchool Fairs will be held over four consecutive Saturdays starting Saturday, July 15 and concluding on Saturday, August 5. The event is sponsored by Clark County Credit Union.

The Cox Back-To-School Fair is the longest running, most visible school-readiness event in Southern Nevada serving as a one-stop resource for parents and students to prepare for the 2023-24 school year.

Cox Back-To-School Dates & Locations:

• The Boulevard, Saturday, July 15, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (3528 S. Maryland Pkwy.)

• The Galleria at Sunset, Saturday, July 22, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (1300 W. Sunset Road in Henderson)

• Meadows Mall, Saturday, July 29, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (4300 Meadows Lane)

• Downtown Summerlin®, Saturday, August 5, 9 am to 1 p.m. (2025 Festival Plaza Drive)

Representatives from several divisions of the Clark County School District, CCSD, will be at each event along with more than 30 community agencies and organizations.

Immunize Nevada will offer schoolrequired immunizations on site on July 15 at The Boulevard and July 29 at Meadows Mall. Click here to register for immunizations.

About Cox's Affordability Program

Cox is dedicated to ensuring digital equity for households of all incomes and economic statuses in

our communities. Whether learning from home, working remotely or surfing the web, internet access is crucial for all children and adults. Cox offers several affordable internet programs to qualifying households to keep our communities connected, in addition to digital literacy training and discounted PCs. To learn more about Cox's dedication to digital equity and explore affordable internet tiers, please visit cox.com/ digitalequity.

Cox Communications is committed to creating meaningful

Megaworld International launches KKK raffle promo in partnership with NHCP

MEGAWORLD International celebrates the Philippines’ 125th Independence anniversary in partnership with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) through the Kalayaan, Kinabukasan, at Kasaysayan (KKK) raffle promo that offers a chance to win a brandnew condominium unit at One Eastwood Avenue, an investment for education, and a limited-edition home furniture piece from the renowned Filipino designer Ito Kish, among other prizes.

The global marketing specialist of Megaworld Corporation –Megaworld International – aims to join the NHCP in igniting nationhood, promoting Philippine history and cultural heritage among the Filipino people with the KKK, highlighting the marketing group’s biggest raffle promo to date.

an effort to bridge the country’s heritage and financial freedom objectives to the countrymen, wherever they may be.

moments of human connection through technology. The largest private broadband company in America, we proudly serve seven million homes and businesses across 18 states. We're dedicated to empowering others to build a better future and celebrate diverse products, people, suppliers, communities and the characteristics that make each one unique. Cox Communications is the largest division of Cox Enterprises, a family-owned business founded in 1898 by Governor James M. Cox.

Fraudsters never go on vacation

by Annie WAlters Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Nevada

FRAUDSTERS will never take a break. While you are out enjoying fun and sun this summer, they are working hard to find new ways to scam you. Seniors and younger people are particularly vulnerable to scammers who claim to represent Social Security. To protect you and your loved ones, you can:

• Visit our Protect Yourself from Social Security Scams webpage at www.ssa.gov/scam for information on what tactics scammers use and how to report them.

• Check out the Federal Trade Commission’s page at consumer. ftc.gov/scams for additional scamrelated information. Here are some tips to follow when you identify a potential

scammer:

• Hang up right away or ignore the message.

• Never give personal information or money.

• Report the scam immediately to our Office of the Inspector General at https://oig.ssa.gov/report/. If you owe money to Social Security, we’ll mail you a letter

with payment options and appeal rights. We only accept payments electronically through Pay.gov or Online Bill Pay, or physically by check or money order through our offices. We will never do the following:

• Threaten you with arrest or legal action because you don’t agree to pay us money immediately.

• Promise a benefit increase in exchange for money.

• Ask you to send us gift cards, prepaid debit cards, wire transfers, internet currency, cryptocurrency, or cash through the U.S. mail. There are no vacations for fraudsters, so you need to stay informed of the latest Social Security-related scams. For more information, please visit our blog at www.blog.ssa.gov. Please share these useful resources with your loved ones.

The raffle promo will run from June 25, 2023 to June 25, 2024. Participants will get more chances of winning minor prizes with three quarterly draws and the major prizes in the grand raffle draw [per DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-170502 Series of 2023].

Kalayaan, Kinabukasan at Kasaysayan raffle promo hopes to showcase Filipino artistry, hospitality, and world-class investments to the global community. Megaworld International ties with the best and the biggest brands to date: Megaworld Corporation, Global-Estate Resorts, Inc., Suntrust Properties Inc., Emperador Inc., Megaworld Hotels and Resorts, Megaworld Club Access,

Pick-A-Roo, Ito Kish, Makina Watches, and Roots Collective.

The promo is open to everyone who purchased or sold one (1) unit of Megaworld Corporation, Global-Estate Properties, Inc., Suntrust Properties, Inc., and Stateland Inc. projects from any of the participating projects – for a minimum of P6,000,000.

Major prizes are categorized into three: The Kalayaan Package, Kinabukasan Package, and Kasaysayan Package.

In the spirit of nationhood, Megaworld International affirms its corporate vision to uplift lives, impact society and help shape the nation through the KKK raffle promo. At the core of this endeavor, the international marketing group visualizes a financially-free country by investing in world-class Megaworld properties. The company is exerting efforts to increase the demand for the nation's real estate landscape, so its homegrown brands and partners may reach the worldwide market.

This raffle promo aims to connect with the different Filipino societies all over the globe: whether to the permanent residents abroad, dual citizens, or Filipino workers who stay overseas – all in

Megaworld International implements various activities – both in online and offline platforms –such as roadshow presentations, conferences, expos, recruitment events, events sponsorships, business summits, and financial literacy talks. For this year-long promo, Megaworld International will participate in NHCP's series of events in celebration of the 125th Philippine Independence anniversary.

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines is a recognized government agency whose mission is to promote the history and cultural heritage of the Philippines through various means such as conducting and supporting research, information dissemination, and implementation of educational activities to popularize Philippine history.

Megaworld International is the international marketing specialist of property giant Megaworld Corporation, the Philippines’ leading residential condominium developer office space developer, and pioneer of the live-work-playlearn lifestyle concept. The international group has been proudly showcasing world-class MEGA townships for 23 years to over 60 countries worldwide.

For more information, visit www.megaworldinternational. com; on Facebook: https://www. facebook.com/megaworldintlmktg; and on Instagram: https://instagram.com/megaworld_intl/.

Maria Victoria M. Acosta (center left); National Historical Commission of the Philippines’ OIC Executive Director Carminda R. Arevalo (center right); witnessed by Vice President for Marketing and Customer Care Mia A. Buenaventura (left); and Deputy Executive Director for Programs and Projects Alvin Alcid (right).

HOW many cells do we have in our body?

The figures often quoted are between 50 to 75 trillion cells. The average life span of the cells: red blood cells, 120 days; white blood cells, over a year; platelets, ten days; bone cells, 25-30 years; brain cells, lifetime; colon cells, 3-4 days; skin cells, 19-34 days; stomach cells, 2 days; and sperm cells, 2-3 days. Obviously, these cells regenerate under normal conditions.

What is the force of a human bite?

Tightly clenched teeth can generate a force as much as 55 pounds (25 kilos) on the incisors and 200 pounds (90.5 kilos) on the molars. For the molars, a greater force at 268 pounds (122 kilos) has been recorded.

Which is the largest organ in our body?

The skin is the heaviest and largest organ in the human body. The total surface area is 20 square feet or 1.98 square meters for an average individual and 25 square feet or 2.3 square meters for a larger person, and a weight of about 5.6 pounds or 2.7 kilograms. The liver is the second largest organ (1.1 to 1.5 kilos) and serves about 500 functions as the main chemical factory of the human body.

How long is the human intestine?

Our small intestine is about seven meters (22 feet) long, and the large intestine (colon) is about 1.5 meters (5 feet) in length.

How much blood do we have?

A male weighing about 70 kilos (154 pounds) would have about 5.5 quarts or 5.2 liters of blood. A female of about 50 kilos (110 pounds) would have about 3.5 quarts or 3.3 liters. This blood is circulated through blood vessels that stretch to about 60,000 miles (95,500 kilometers), if placed end to end. The largest artery in the body is the aorta, the largest vein, the vena cava.

How fast does human hair grow?

On average, human hair grows about nine inches each year. It grows faster in the summer because warm weather increases blood circulation to the hair follicles. The fingernails, on the other hand, grow about 0.8 inches (2 centimeters) every year. The middle fingernail grows the quickest. Fingernails grow four times faster than toenails.

What does the term LASER stand for?

The acronym LASER stands for “light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.” The

applications of laser technology is far reaching and wide: micro matching of components and circuit boards for our computers; fiber-optic communications in long distance telephone networks; bar coding scanners; medical diagnostics and therapeutics; desktop printers, color scanners, etc; military target designators, etc.

Why the dimples in golf balls?

Dimples reduce the drag that will slow down the golf ball as it travels (some up to 300 yards or more) by minimizing the eddies or wake effect that drain the ball’s energy and velocity. This is achieved by the air clinging to the dimpled balls longer.

Can human voice break glass?

Yes, this has been proven in several experiments. The amplified high-pitched singing voice of a soprano or a tenor standing about ten feet from a wine glass cracked the glass in less than half a minute. Without amplification, this could conceivably be done with the glass about two feet away. The sheer force of the vibration from the vocal cords does it.

Do babies feel what moms feel?

Research has shown that the baby inside the womb feels what the mother is feeling. If the mother is happy, crying, or depressed, the baby could feel the emotion of the mother and feel the same. And it also cries in the womb but without sound. At this stage, the baby could also feel pain.

Will a resected heart beat?

Yes, a human or animal heart cut out of the body will continue to beat on its own, until all the stored energy (glucose and derivative enzymes, etc.) in the cardiac muscle cells is used up. This is usually within five to eight minutes. The heart is the only organ in the body that has automaticity and rhythmicity, hence it beats automatically and with rhythm even after resection from the body (as in the preparation for heart transplant).

How does icy temperature cause frostbite?

Prolonged exposure to extremely low temperature, mostly during winter in parts of the world where subzero weather is the rule, causes the capillaries (most distal tiny blood vessels), arterioles and venules (small arteries and veins), and regular sized blood vessels to constrict (go into spasm) and shut off the circulation to the toes, fingers, and ears, depriving these parts of the much-needed blood. Frostbites, and even gangrene, are very common. Holding your finger directly against ice for prolonged period can also cause frostbite.

Do our hands have bacteria?

Yes, as a rule, everybody’s hands and fingers, the entire body, are full of “resident” bacteria 24/7, about 10 million in each

hand. They do not get infected because the intact skin is a tough protective layer that prevents the bacteria from gaining access into the soft tissues and muscles, etc. underneath the dermal shield.

Severe abrasion, contusion or cut will allow the bacteria to invade and infect the inner parts of these structures. Washing our hands daily, before and after eating, after using the bathroom or touching money, or any activity that will add more bacteria to our hands and fingers, would minimize the number of bacteria and ward off infection. And the same is true with our mouth, where a lot of bacteria reside, about 20 billion, of 700 different species. The intact mucus membrane in the mouth, like the intact skin, protects the deeper structures from getting infected.

How many muscles do we use to smile?

To produce a smile, we use seventeen (17) facial muscles. To frown, we use 40% more muscles, 43. So, let’s exert less effort, use less muscles, and use less energy, by smiling more and having a happier and more attractive face.

When was the first shopping mall built?

In 1896, built at Roland Park, Baltimore, Maryland, United States. West Edmonton Mall in Alberta, Canada, is one of the world’s largest, covering 5.2 million square feet (480,000 square meters) on a 121-acre (49 hectares) lot. There are 828 stores and service centers in it, with parking space for 20,000 cars.

* * *

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

* * *

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

* * * Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He was a recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995.

Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry Truman, President George HW Bush, Muhammad Ali and Astronaut Gus Grissom (Wikipedia). Websites: FUN8888. com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua. com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com.

How we serve people who have limited English proficiency

WE strive to deliver great customer service and helpful information to everyone. That includes improving access for underserved communities. We aim to reduce language barriers and increase access to Social Security programs, services, and benefits. If you’re assisting a client with limited English proficiency (LEP), know that we have the resources available to help them in their preferred language.

What resources are available?

We encourage you to learn about the resources that are available to serve LEP communities. We provide benefit information online in Spanish – including Retirement, Disability, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) at SeguroSocial.gov.

Our free interpreter services are available, by telephone and in person, in more than 200 languages, to your clients who

prefer to conduct business in a language other than English. These services are accessible by calling our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 or by visiting a local office and asking for an interpreter in their preferred language.

If your clients need information about our programs, we offer publications in languages other than English. Please check out our non-English publications and other resources available in more than 12 languages at www.ssa. gov/multilanguage. These include:

• A sample Social Security Statement and 10 supplemental fact sheets.

• Social Security Number for Non-Citizens.

• Understanding the Benefits. Our Language Access Plan showcases our commitment to increase access to benefits and services for people who prefer a

language other than English. For more information, we encourage your clients to review the updated plan at www.ssa.gov/pubs/ LAP2022-23.pdf. Diversity is one of our nation’s greatest strengths. We want to ensure an inclusive environment for everyone we serve. (Annie Walters/Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Nevada)

A STUNNING $75,000 crown for Miss Filipina International (MFI) 2023, custom-designed by royalty and red carpet designer Narcisa Pheres, was recently revealed by Geoffrey Jimenez, chairman of the board of directors, Worldwide Media Entertainment Corp., the new owner of MFI.

Jimenez, in an interview with Entertainment News Portal, unveiled the beautiful crown, made of Swiss blue topaz, Japanese pearls and other gems. He announced that on August 5, at the black-tie MFI coronation night at the prestigious International Ballroom of The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, one lucky woman will be wearing the crown especially made by Narcisa Pheres.

“The crown has 38 pieces of Swiss blue topaz, 175.73 carats, 15 Japanese pearls, a total of 43.7 carats and 1,555 pieces of cubic zirconia and 124.773 carats total set in 234.72 grams of silver,” Pheres said. “The crown’s value is around $75,000 and it is entirely made by hand. It took about three months of work just to handset it.”

The Romania-born and raised Pheres, who was appointed in 2018 by Her Royal Highness, Princess Olga Romanoff, as the official jewelry supplier, described her inspiration in making the crown.

She said, “I live in Hong Kong and so I travel to the Philippines a lot. When I go to the Philippines, I pay a lot of attention to the nature around me. So, to complement the country, there are elements of sea pearls, the beautiful blue ocean and ideas of pineapple as well. If you pay attention more, you will see many of these elements that will bring you back to the Philippines.”

Pheres, who studied fashion design at the Instituto de Moda Burgo in Milan, fashion marketing studies at Central St Martins, London and got her GIA (Gemological Institute of America) Jewelry Design and Diamond Certification in Carlsbad, California, explained that it took her about three months just to handset the crown “but the entire thing took me about four to five months to finish.”

The most challenging, she added, was coming up with the design. “I wanted a royal influence but for the modern queen.”

Owner of the Pheres brand and creative director of Narcisa Pheres Fine Jewelry which she started in 2006 in Japan, she expanded her line of one-of-akind jewelry pieces and launched her line of evening gowns and menswear as well.

Based in Hong Kong, Pheres

has been recognized for her accomplishments as a designer. Her jewelry has been worn by A-listers on most of the red carpet of awards shows like the Golden Globes, Oscars, Grammys, Screen Actors Guild Award and Met Gala. Her clients include the former First Lady Michelle Obama, Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce, Rihanna, Madonna and Taylor Swift.

“This is the first time that I have designed a crown for a beauty pageant,” Pheres said. “Most of the time, I do royal crowns and tiaras as well. I specialize in royal jewelry and have done four or five crowns.”

“I wanted this crown to really have a very vivid blue so that when the new MFI queen is onstage and away from the crowd, you can still see the colors clearly and that is why I chose blue topaz.”

The 41 MFI candidates represent various states across America and several countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom and the Philippines. They will vie for these titles: Miss Filipina International; Miss Tourism; First Runner-up; Second Runner-up; and Third Runner-up.

Jimenez also announced that in partnership with Jonas Gaffud’s Empire Philippines, three winners will be eligible to compete next year in Miss Universe Philippines (MUP) while two winners will vie in The Miss Philippines pageant.

The following are the MFI official candidates, listed by their numbers (randomly drawn by the contestants in a raffle) in the pageant:

1. Hannah Pearcey

2. Matea Mahal Smith

3. Alexia Reign Hernandez

4. Jesse Grace Felix Soriano

5. Ella Del Rosario

6. Rylen Faith Steinbuch

7. Brooke Barredo

8. Claudia Vidanes

9. Denisse Nicole Samaniego

EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT

10. Patricia Bianca Tapia

11. Janessa Gwen Rubio

12. Amanda Russo

13. Keilin Danao Tankiamco

14. Alyanna Joelle Santos

15. Katie Sophia McIlroy

16. Sandra Irene Goff

17. Aira Lei Maigue

18. Angelique De la Cruz

19. Princess Caventa Reyes

20. Katie Wadman

21. Mia Valdes

22. Alexandria Bollier

23. Heather Casigna

24. Lauren Skeoch

25. Hope Corpus

26. Hannah Angelica Marte

27. Samantha Gavin

28. Sarah Lizaso Obal

29. Beatriz Mclelland

30. Jessica Zemanek

31. Bryanna Vasquez

32. Aliza Orjalo

33. Ronniedith Dimapasoc

34. Skylar Vasquez

35. Dakota Swart

36. Kelly McIlroy

37. Kawena Janessa Kanhai

38. Sabrina Pajarillo

39. Mary Ann Monda

40. Issha Rose Mata

41. Tia Mailani Bustamante

In addition to the previously announced top prize of a BMW 3 Series car, the winner will also receive a $10,000 gift certificate from iSkin Beverly Hills. Other prizes include $5,000 cash and a $10,000 gift certificate from iSkin for Miss Tourism; a $2,500 cash prize and a $5,000 gift certificate from iSkin for each of the First, Second and Third Runners-up. MFI’s sponsors include Philippine Airlines, BMW, Jojo Bragais Shoes, Narcisa Pheres, iSkin Beverly Hills, Biaggi Luggage, Bell Beachwear, The Beverly Hilton, See’s Candies Manila, FlexPro Meals and Celsius Beverages. For sponsorship inquiries, email: missfilipinainternational@gmail. com.

(Advertising Supplement)

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