LAS VEGAS— The Filipino-American community in Las Vegas rolled out a warm welcome to the newest batch of Filipino special education, math and science teachers who recently arrived to serve in the Clark County School District (CCSD). These educators, part of the district’s ongoing partnership with the J-1 Cultural Exchange Program, are here to help address Nevada’s critical educator shortage.
Since 2017, CCSD—one of the largest school districts in the U.S.—has recruited Filipino teachers to fill highneed roles in special education, elementary education, math, and science. Now in its eighth year, the program continues to be a lifeline for the district, which currently faces significant teacher vacancies, especially in special education.
BY JOHANN SAYSON
To celebrate their arrival, a welcome event was held at the Celebrity Center of Las Vegas on Sunday, August 3, 2025. The gathering brought together community leaders, educators, and local Filipino-American organizations to offer support, mentorship, and a heartfelt introduction to life in Southern Nevada. The event was hosted by the Filipino American Educators of Nevada ( FAME) in colloration with the Clark County Education Association (CCEA). These educators bring not only professional expertise but also a deep commitment to cultural exchange, aiming to share Filipino values and teaching styles with their students and communities. For many, this marks their first experience living and teaching abroad.
Dr. Michael Sta Juana, president of
the Filipino American Educators of Nevada emphasized the unique advantage Filipino teachers bring: “They’re trained to meet both Philippine and U.S. standards, which makes them adaptable and effective in diverse learning environments.”
As the school year begins, the presence of these Filipino educators not only strengthens classroom instruction but also deepens the cultural fabric of Las Vegas. Their arrival is a testament to the power of global collaboration and the enduring spirit of bayanihan — community support and shared purpose.
The Filipino community stands proud, knowing that these teachers are not just filling gaps—they’re building bridges.
DUTERTE’S LAWYERS RENEW REQUEST FOR INTERIM RELEASE AHEAD OF ICC CONFIRMATION HEARING
MANILA, Aug 21 (Mabuhay) -- The camp of former President Rodrigo Duterte has renewed its request of the International Criminal Court’s pre-trial chamber to act on their petition for interim release, about a month before the Filipino politician’s scheduled confirmation hearing in the Hague.
In a heavily redacted document dated August 19, Duterte’s lawyers urged the chamber to “order Mr. Duterte’s immediate release… subject to any conditions deemed appropriate.”
“Mr Duterte’s presence at confirmation proceedings may be waived but, if necessary, may equally be ensured by way of videoconferencing,” the document read.
“Monitoring conditions of release and contact restrictions may be ensured through [REDACTED],” it said.
The Prosecution’s claim that there is a requirement for an ad hoc cooperation agreement “is illusory,” said lawyer Nicholas Kaufmann, Duterte’s chief legal counsel in his crimes against humanity case before the ICC.
“Cooperation agreements on interim release have only been concluded between the ICC and two States Parties,” the Defense’s petition read.
“Notwithstanding, the [REDACTED] has already undertaken to abide by all conditions as would be required by Article 4(2) of the Model Agreement on Interim Release,” it read.
Last month, Duterte’s lawyers asked the ICC’s pre-trial chamber to suspend its ruling on their petition for interim release “until such time as the Defense has assembled all information necessary.”
Duterte has been staying in the ICC’s detention facility since mid-March after Philippine authorities turned him over to the international tribunal after a request from the Interpol.
The Philippines’ 16th president is facing charges of crimes against humanity due to the extrajudicial killings linked to his administration’s war on drugs that saw thousands of suspected drug users and peddlers killed, including minors. (MNS)
COMELEC STARTS PRINTING FTS BALLOTS FOR BARMM POLLS
MANILA, Aug 21 (Mabuhay) -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday started printing over 34,000 Final Testing and Sealing (FTS) ballots for the Oct. 13 parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
“For today, they will finish the 34,650 FTS ballots which will be used by the ACMs (automated counting machines) to be deployed for the [Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections],” Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said in a brief statement.
Laudiangco said the process covers 3,461 clustered precincts across BARMM’s five provinces, the Special Geographic Area with eight municipalities, and the cities of Lamitan, Marawi, and Cotabato.
He also noted that the ballots that will be printed are the actual ballots that will be used by the machines.
The FTS involves an end-to-end test of the election process, from the initialization of the machines, voting, feeding of the accomplished ballots, until the printing of election returns.
Meanwhile, Comelec Chairperson
George Garcia said they are hoping for a 75-percent voter turnout in the BARMM elections.
“It’s an accomplishment for us if we will have a 75-percent voter turnout for the BARMM polls,” Garcia said in an interview at the launching of voter education campaign dubbed “Botong Bangsamoro” in Cotabato City on Wednesday.
“If we reach 75 or recorded more than 75 percent, that’s historic. Victory for each and all Moros. I hope the votes will increase,” he added.
There are some 2.2 million registered voters in BARMM. Garcia said the voter education campaign aims to lower by number of BARMM residents who have no knowledge or enough information about the upcoming elections.
“If we were be able to lower the 50 percent to just 20-25 percent, that’s good for us,” he said.
“It’s sad when someone doesn’t know anything about electoral activities. No one should be left behind when the election is being discussed.”
It will be the first ever parliamentary elections in BARMM. (MNS)
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It’s time to let your skills shine. Find resources for breaking through barriers like degree screens and stereotypes. It’s time to tear the paper ceiling limiting STARs: workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes rather than a bachelor’s degree.
“GOODBYE SUMMER!”
“WELCOME AUTUMN... THE YEAR’S LAST LOVELIEST SMILE!”
AUGUST 9, 2025 – DANCE STARZ CAFÉ, LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
Las Vegas Professionals Lions Club Installation of Officers & Induction of Members - A Smashing Success!
What an honor to attend such a Successful, Fun-filled, Entertaining, Empowering, and Meaningful event—the Installation of New Officers and Induction of New Members of the Las Vegas Professionals Lions Club, held at Dance Starz Café! Congratulations and Best Wishes to King Lion Barbara Grafia Azemikhah and her Officers and Members!
A very Inspiring Keynote Speech was delivered by Charter President Dr. Nita Lopez—excellent job, so proud of you!
The evening was filled with delicious food, elegant décor and romantic ambiance, fabulous entertainment, amazing DJ Music, Fantastic Dancing, an Empowering Program, and Raffle Prizes Galore!
It was also wonderful to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones: Pervin Gupta, Ms. Senior Universe 2025; Region Chairs Genny Del Rosario and Jim Egloff and Tasha; Eric and Susan Fuchs; Tom and Pinky Tagacay; Luz O. Dapat—and so many more!
Together, We Serve!
Where there’s a Need, there’s a Lion!
AUGUST 18, 2025 – POKER PALACE CASINO, NORTH LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
Another Successful, Empowering & Inspiring Event! Armed Forces, Veterans, Military Personnel, & First Responder Appreciation Core Volunteer Breakfast Meeting!
We had a Full House at today’s Breakfast Core Volunteer Meeting at the Poker Palace as we finalized plans for the Armed Forces, Veterans, Military Personnel, and First Responders Appreciation Day hosted by the Armed Forces & Military Veterans Appreciation Inc.
Award-winning Author / Journalist
Carlos Palanca Awardee & Professional Host/Emcee
Author website: www.marylaineviernes.com
Cherish the Love: LA Kids Fashion Show 2025
Congratulations to our growing family and community of adults who are one in empowering our children through fashion! This year’s Los Angeles Kids Fashion Show now on Season 4, featured topnotch Fashion Designers around the globe such as Armhand Remojo from the Philippines, Limuel and Alvin from Canada’s Spotlight Courroune International (SCI), Gifts by Bing and The Vindicated Apparel. All of the children were given a chance to shine and walk under the spotlight which glowed of love, warmth and encouragement; what a great honor to be part of such a significant affair which involves my two children who I love dearly, their wonderful friends and other parents - all of whom are achievers and professionals who share the same hope and aspirations for all our young ones to succeed and walk the paths destined for them and blaze their own trails why looking and feeling great!
Calling all fabulous parents & their mini-Me’s for our next Marte Productions fashion show!
We hope that all our friends around the USA can join this fun sartorial soiree! It is not only a celebration of beauty and fashion, but Marte Productions and the rest of the team are one big family, helping our kids build their confidence and skills! My own children have benefited from these memorable workshops that instill discipline, individuality, respect and responsibility, not to mention the new friends we’ve made and the bonds of friendship that grow stronger each year! Contact Priscilla Marte today at 626.484.0807 and we hope to see you all there!
Kris Aquino announces going into isolation for six months
MANILA, Aug 13 (Mabuhay) -- After opening up about her new health struggle last month, Kris Aquino has kept a relatively low profile online, only posting irregular updates about her condition. In her latest post early morning of August 11, the popular host and actress shared an update on her condition as she makes another major lifeor-death decision.
In her most recent Instagram post, she wrote, “On purpose matagal akong hindi nag upload. I have to admit if I told you what was happening, some of you may stop praying because my autoimmune diseases were increasing in number & my life threatening ailments needed me to make a brave choice. Trust me it’s difficult to accept every night when I sleep that there may be no tomorrow for me.”
The 54-year-old multimedia personality revealed that her out-of-town stay for the past few months have helped strengthen her resolve to do everything it takes to fight her multiple autoimmune diseases. Kris revealed that she will be in isolation in her family’s compound in the province of Tarlac for the rest of the year because of this new treatment.
“My almost 2 months stay in this private beach property owned by a kind & generous family who want me to regain my health as well as strengthen my faith in God’s merciful healing power, I came to a decision- I have another 6-8 hr. infusion session in 6 days, it’s one of the strongest autoimmune immunosuppressants together with my 2 other, 1 taken daily, and 1 given via injection will totally wipe out my immunity… I will be in preventive isolation for 6 months. I’ll live in our compound in Tarlac; my Cojuangco cousins and I fondly call it Alto…” she added.
In the same post, Kris also explained why her eldest son Joshua (with former partner Philip Salvador) has not been visible in her posts and how thankful she is for the support of her younger son Bimby.
”Where is kuya? Since the deaths of his Lola Cory, Lola P, and Tito Noy, seeing me frail, weak, often attached to my IV drip- kuya is traumatized, visibly shaking, repeating ‘Mama get well, I love you…’ for now he’s living with my genuinely super loving cousin,” Kris explained.
She added: “Bimb, now 18 has sacrificed much to take care of me. He is heaven’s gift, my optimistic adult who reminds me i should ‘never surrender‘. After a few more scheduled tests & treatments, and my recuperation- Bimb & I are ready to reveal all & show you everything for the first time. PLEASE CONTINUE PRAYING kailangan na kailangan ko.”
Kris also made sure to thank her entire medical team for taking care of her in two different hospitals. “Thank you to both Makati Med and St Luke’s BGC, my doctors, their fellows & residents, the nurses assigned to me in the hospitals, my personal nurses, the many skilled technicians operating the high tech machinery, and all who continue to believe gagaling pa rin ako. #tuloyanglaban”
In her post last month, Kris clarified that she did not have cancer on top of her multiple autoimmune diseases. “I have always been cancer free. I think my having another PET SCAN on the day before Mother’s Day was misunderstood. That was done to check the condition of my autoimmune & long term covid damaged lungs. Medyo sumobra na kung pati cancer meron ako. I now have 9 primary autoimmune diseases , # 10 is a result of the 9, and I have an 11th disease that came about because of my lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s (Mayo Clinic defines it as a ‘disorder of your immune system identified by its two most common symptoms — dry eyes and a dry mouth’), and a few of my other autoimmune diseases. I love my sons and they aren’t ready to lose me- especially Bimb who just turned 18. Thank you for loving me,” she wrote. (MNS)
Benito J. Aquino, CFEA
Former IRS Agent Richmond, VA and Las Vegas, NV Districts
Adjunct professor, UNLV Accounting Dept. and Old Dominion University
A change in marital status affects tax filing
A change in a couple’s marital status, such as a separation or divorce, affects their tax situation. The IRS considers a couple married, for tax filing purposes, until they get a final decree of divorce or separate maintenance. Update tax withholding When a taxpayer divorces or separates, a new Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Certificate should be provided to their employer. If they receive alimony, they may have to make estimated tax payments. Taxpayers can figure out if they’re withholding the correct amount with the Tax Withholding Estimator on IRS.gov.
Tax treatment of alimony and separate maintenance
• Amounts paid to a spouse or a former spouse under a divorce decree, a separate maintenance decree or a written separation agreement may be alimony or separate maintenance for federal tax purposes
• Certain alimony or separate maintenance payments are deductible by the payer spouse, and the recipient spouse must include it in income
However, not all payments are considered alimony or separate maintenance. It doesn’t include:
• Child support
• Noncash property settlements – whether in a lump-sum or installments
• Payments that are your spouse’s part of community property income
• Payments to keep up the payer’s property
• Use of the payer’s property
• Voluntary payments
Rules related to dependent children and support
Generally, the parent with custody of a child can claim them on their tax return. If parents split custody fifty-fifty and aren’t filing a joint return, they’ll have to decide who claims the child. If the parents can’t agree, they should refer to the tie-breaker rules in Publication 504, Divorced or Separated Individuals.
Child support payments are never deductible by the payer and aren’t taxable to the payee. Additionally, if a divorce or separation instrument provides for alimony and child support and the payer spouse pays less than the total required, the payments apply to child support first. Only the remaining amount is considered alimony.
Report property transfers, if needed
Usually, if a taxpayer transfers property to their spouse or former spouse due to a divorce, there’s no recognized gain or loss on the transfer. People may have to report the transaction on a gift tax return.
GlaiZa De Castro reVeals
BaBY Plans
With Irish husBanD DaViD RaineY
MANILA, Aug 16 (Mabuhay) -- Glaiza de Castro shared that she and her Irish husband, David Rainey, are now planning to have a baby.
“Gusto ko ng magka-anak,” she revealed in an interview on the Think Talk Tea podcast of Kring Kim. “Isa ‘yun sa projects na talagang tinatrabaho namin ngayon ni David.”
The actress relayed that she is now ready to shift her focus to having a family. “Kasi parang ang tagal ko ng umaarte, ang tagal ko ng binigay ‘yung sarili ko dun sa industriya na thankful naman ako talaga. Gusto kong i-emphasize ‘yun. Napapagod ako yes, wala akong hatred towards it. Kumbaga parang ano lang ibang priority kasi parang sa tagal ko na rin na ginagawa ‘to, ‘yun nga eh makikita mo na may ibang reality ka pa pala,” she said.
Glaiza remarked that meeting her husband made her realize that there is life beyond showbiz. “Nung time na nameet ko si David, ‘yun ang isa sa mga realizations ko na reality ko ito pero iba ‘yung reality ko ‘pag kasama ko siya. Kasi hindi ako si Glaiza de Castro, hindi ako artista, hindi ko kailangang umarte, hindi ko kailangang isipin ‘yung hitsura ko, hindi ko kailangang isipin kung ano ang kailangan kong gawin. Ini-enjoy ko lang ‘yung buhay ko na kasama siya na nasa ibang bansa ako,” the actress remarked.
Glaiza and David first met in Siargao in 2018 during her birthday trip. They became a couple later that year and got engaged in December 2020, during one of Glaiza’s visits to David’s hometown in Ireland.
They tied the knot in October 2021 through a Game of Thrones-inspired ceremony in Northern Ireland.
On January 23, 2023, the couple held a second wedding in the Philippines, which was a Filipiniana-themed beachside ceremony in Zambales. (MNS)
David is currently based in Ireland. “’Pagka nandun ako sa ibang bansa parang sa araw-araw, ‘yung ginagawa ko dun, wala akong kailangang i-please na tao, parang ganun,” she shared.
KC ConcePcion BacK With UN WorlD FooD Programme, gets gift from mom
Sharon
MANILA, Aug 22 (Mabuhay) -- After five years, KC Concepcion has returned to the United Nation World Food Programme (UN WFP) as a National Goodwill Ambassador.
Concepcion signed the designation letter, coinciding with World Humanitarian Day, in a gathering also graced by WFP Philippines Country Director Regis Chapman and Deputy Country Director Dipayan Bhattacharyya.
The actress has been with the UN WFP since 2008, taking part in numerous mission trips in the country and overseas.
Shortly before the signing event, the WFP team surprised Concepcion with a gallery of her past trips in the last 13 years, which led the actress to become emotional.
“It’s been a long journey for me and you don’t really know, you don’t really have a life review, often. And standing in front of the different trips that I’ve taken with WFP and different activities and mission trips we’ve done together, I didn’t realize how much I’ve already done with all of you, with WFP,” said Concepcion.
“It gives me a sense of purpose, I don’t have a family yet out of my own, but this is such a family for me that really gives me that sense of, ‘Hey we can all be useful, we just need to move,’” she added.
Concepcion credited her stepfather, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, for encouraging her to take on the role.
“He was really one of the driving forces why I considered working for WFP. He really encouraged me to take it on,” she said. The night before the announcement, Concepcion received a gift from her mom, Sharon Cuneta.
“My mom has been so supportive as well. She gave me this last night just as a reminder that she is always here with me - it’s a Tiffany necklace na ginawa kong bracelet. She gave it (to me) last night ‘cause she knew na I was back with World Food Programme,” she said.
“This is her protection gift or something,” she added. (MNS)
Marco Gallo on Past relationshiP
With HeaVen PeraleJo: ‘I Will cherish that’
MANILA, Aug 21 (Mabuhay) -- Actor Marco Gallo expressed that he will always have good memories with his girlfriend, Heaven Peralejo, and nothing can change it despite parting ways this year.
The former Pinoy Big Brother housemate shared some of his thoughts as he shared the stage with his ex-girlfriend at the VIVARKADA: The Ultimate Fancon and Grand Concert.
Marco and Heaven publicly announced their relationship back in 2024, to the delight of their fans.
In the brief interview, the actor shared how he can’t help but reminisce the times when he would do mall shows with the actress.
“Nung nasa stage ako kanina sa rehearsal, syempre hindi ko maiwasan na maalala ‘yung mga memories namin, katulad ng mga mall shows,” he shared.
Marco expressed that those memories will always leave a smile on his face and, despite breaking up, he will always remember them with fondness.
“Natutuwa pa rin ako kasi Heaven would always just leave a smile on my face. All of those memories, it doesn’t matter if we don’t end up together, I will cherish that until I get older,” he added.
To end the quick interview, he then jokingly admitted that, similar to their
fans, he also has moments of “relapsing” from their relationship.
“Ako rin nag rerelapse ako eh, joke lang ah,” he ended.
It was late in July when Heaven announced the end of their relationship, which surprised their fans. In an interview with TV5’s MJ Marfori, the actress shared that it was a mutual decision and they both remain good friends to each other.
“We’re not together anymore. It was a mutual decision to move forward individually… We’re okay, we’re good friends. Sana, of course, maintindihan po ‘yan ng mga taong nagmamahal sa amin and tuluy-tuloy pa rin po ‘yung pag-suporta kahit we are on different paths na,” she previously shared. (MNS)
