Fil-Am charged with murdering three of his family members the day after Christmas
POMONA – A 23-year-old Filipino
American has been charged with murdering three of his family members in their Baldwin Park home the day after Christmas, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman has announced.
Kyle Chester De Los Reyes is set to be arraigned Jan. 15 in a Pomona courtroom on three counts of murder in connection with the stabbing deaths last Thursday, December 26, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
The murder charges include the special circumstance allegation of multiple murders, along with allegations that he used a deadly weapon.
The victims were identified by the
California’s first Filipina assemblymember takes on top leadership role
LOS ANGELES – California’s first Filipina assemblymember, Jessica Caloza (D-Los Angeles), has been appointed assistant majority whip of the California State Assembly.
Her appointment to this top post by Speaker Robert Rivas cements her leadership role in state legislature.
A key member of the leadership team, the
Marcos signs 2025 national budget, makes last-minute cuts
by Cristina Chi Philstar.com
MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos
New Year at Fabella: Here comes ‘Gen Beta’
EXACTLY a second after midnight on
Jan. 1, Lea Mae Razo, a first-time mother at 27, successfully gave birth to a baby girl, Alea Jayde, at Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila.
“My only wish for my baby is for her to stay healthy, grow up fearing God, and have discipline,” Razo later told reporters.
Dr. Jeglen Cruz, senior house officer of the hospital, said in an interview on Teleradyo that three more babies had been delivered at Fabella as of 7 a.m. on New
Year’s Day.
The hospital is considered a “baby factory” due to the sheer number of children born in the government-run facility, where the health department showcases its newborn care programs.
“A New Year baby brings hope, joy and perseverance to our families, our communities and to our nation,” Cruz said.
Alea Jayde and the three other newborns are now part of the newest generation called “Generation Beta,” whose daily lives are expected to be fully immersed in more advanced technologies.
Fil-Am attorney general issues alerts to protect undocumented immigrants
LOS ANGELES – California
Attorney General Rob Bonta has issued two consumer alerts to protect the state’s undocumented immigrants from scams and remind them about their immigration rights.
The alerts also serve as a reminder that state and local authorities are barred from assisting federal agencies, such as the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with deportations and other enforcement.
US Navy ship spotted near Panatag amid China patrols
MANILA — A United States Navy ship was sighted around Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal on Sunday morning, Dec. 29 while a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship was conducting patrol in the area, a maritime security expert said.
“While China patrols around Scarborough Shoal in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, the U.S. ocean surveillance ship USNS Victorious patrols nearby,” SeaLight director and retired U.S. Air Force colonel Ray Powell wrote on X.
“As of 1:37 a.m., the USNS Victorious was located near the Luzon landmass but still outside the country’s 12-nautical-mile territorial sea during China’s ‘patrol’” previously reported by its state media CCTV, he added.
Beijing’s state media reported that the CCG conducted patrols around Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea on Friday to safeguard China’s territorial rights. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said the Chinese naval and air forces conducted combat readiness patrols near Panatag Shoal, also called
Jimmy Carter death: FilAm mayor, others honor ex-president’s legacy
SAN DIEGO — San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria joined leaders from around the nation and the world Sunday, Dec. 29 in remembering former President Jimmy Carter as news spread that Carter had died at age 100, after living longer than any other U.S. president.
“San Diego joins the nation in mourning the loss of President Jimmy Carter. His life is the embodiment of service, faith, and compassion,” the Filipino American mayor wrote on X.
“His humanitarian work, including here in our city, will endure for generations to come. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the Carter family.’”
Carter died Sunday at his home in Plains, Georgia, according to his son Chip.
“Jimmy Carter’s extraordinary public service didn’t end when his presidency did. He has remained an icon of kindness and humility and a champion of peace,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn said on X, accompanied by a photo of her with Carter.
“His legacy will live on for generations to come, not only here but around the world. May he rest in peace.’”
“California law expressly prohibits law enforcement from inquiring about a person’s immigration status for immigration enforcement purposes.”
The sanctuary state law –also known as the California Values Act – that took effect in 2018 limits cooperation by local government agencies with federal immigration authorities.
“No matter who is in the White House, in California, we will continue to lead with California values,” Bonta said
“State and local law enforcement cannot ask for your immigration status for immigration enforcement purposes,” one of the alerts stated.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also weighed in on the loss Sunday afternoon.
“While in the White House, President Carter established the idea of human rights as a core tenet of American foreign policy and created a path towards a clean energy future, among other important achievements,’” Bass said.
“The international legacy he leaves behind lives on in the Carter Center as an active and powerful defense of freedom and democracy around the globe. Domestically, his inspiring work through Habitat for Humanity showed generations of Americans that there are no limits to community service and helping others.
“President Carter was a man of rare character — whose beliefs ran true, deep, and never wavered,’” Gov. Gavin Newsom said.
“His candor and compassion, moral leadership, and sense of duty set a standard we all should aspire to. California joins the nation and the world in mourning his passing,” Newsom added.
The Plains native graduated from the Naval Academy in
by Pia Lee-Brago Philstar.com
California Attorney General Rob Bonta. Sunita Sohrabji photo
by Dexter CaBaLza Inquirer.net
Jessica Caloza has been appointed assistant majority whip of the California State Assembly. CONTRIBUTED
Marcos signs 2025 national...
PAGE 1
Marcos said during the signing ceremony in Malacañang.
The president earlier faced pressure to veto the entire budget over controversial allocations, including the P26billion Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) which critics, including retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, likened to pork barrel.
The Department of Education also lost P10 billion from its computerization program during the congressional deliberations, while funds for the subsidy of the Philippine Health Insurance
Corp. (PhilHealth) were gutted altogether. However, Marcos saw no need to return the entire budget bill to Congress, which is dominated by his allies. “A re-enacted budget will set us back, delay our vital programs, jeopardize targets for economic growth, including our goals of achieving single-digit poverty levels and upper-middle income status,” Marcos said.
Instead of a total veto, Marcos wielded his veto power on P194 billion worth of allocations.
The biggest slash came from unprogrammed appropriations at P168.24 billion, while P26.065
billion was cut from Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects.
Bersamin said he was confident that the final budget would survive any legal challenge in court.
“We are confident, but we cannot prevent if there will be challenges that will be mounted by any quarter who might still find this present budget as approved worthy of the challenge... That is something that we cannot prevent,” he said. The new budget law, Republic Act 12116, takes effect Jan. 1, 2025. n
US Navy ship spotted near Panatag...
PAGE 1
Bajo de Masinloc, in the South China Sea on Sunday, Dec. 29. The patrols aim to “further strengthen the control of relevant sea and airspace, resolutely defend national sovereignty and security” in the South China Sea, the
said in a
announcement. n
New Year at Fabella...
PAGE 1
Members of “Gen Beta” are those who will be born from 2025 to 2039, according to McCrindle, a social research firm led by Australian demographer and generational analyst Mark McCrindle.
1.45M babies this year
They are the children of younger millennials (Gen Y, born from 1980 to 1994) and older Gen Zers (born from 1995 to 2009).
By 2035, Gen Beta people are projected to make up at least 16 percent of the global population, and many of them will be able to live in the next century. The oldest Gen Beta members born in 2025, will be 76 years old in 2101.
Based on Philippine Statistics Authority projections, around 1.45 million Filipino babies will be born this year, ushering in the country’s oldest Gen Beta members.
On average, around 4,000 babies are born daily, which translates to 166 babies born per hour or nearly three babies born per minute.
AI generation
While Generation Alpha (born from 2010 to 2024) grew up with smartphones and social media, Generation Beta will grow up in an environment familiar with virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI).
“For Generation Beta, the digital and physical worlds will be seamless. While Generation Alpha experienced the rise of smart technology and artificial intelligence, Generation Beta will live in an era where AI and automation are fully embedded in everyday life—from education and workplaces to health care and entertainment,” McCrindle
said in a news release posted on its website.
“They will likely be the first generation to experience autonomous transportation at scale, wearable health technologies, and immersive virtual environments as standard aspects of daily life. Their formative years will be marked by a greater emphasis on personalization— AI algorithms will tailor their learning, shopping, and social interactions in ways we can only begin to imagine today,” it added.
The role of millennial and Gen Z parents will play a crucial role in how technology will be part of their Gen Beta children.
Millennial, Gen Z parenting
According to McCrindle, these parents are more likely to be cautious with how their children interact with digital technology.
Millennial parents will use
social media to document their children’s lives. But Gen Z parents—who are the most technologically savvy as the first digitally native generation and know most about the pros and cons of exposure to social media at an early age—will most likely limit the screen time of their children.
“Gen Z [sees] the benefits of technology and screen time, but equally they see the downsides of it and are pushing back on technology and the age at which their children access and engage with it,” it said.
But this latest generation is also set to inherit a world grappling with major societal challenges, such as climate change and rapid urbanization.
“This generation will be raised by millennial and older Gen Z parents, many of whom prioritize adaptability, equality, and eco-consciousness in their parenting,” McCrindle said. n
Jimmy Carter death: Fil-Am mayor...
PAGE 1
Annapolis in 1946 and spent seven years as a naval officer before returning to Georgia and entering politics in 1962. He was elected governor in 1970.
When Carter emerged from the pack to claim the Democratic presidential nomination in 1976 he was largely unknown outside his home state. With the nation reeling from the Watergate scandal and the resignation of Nixon in 1974,
Carter’s outsider status, humble background as a peanut farmer, and perceived honesty proved a winning combination in a close election against incumbent Gerald Ford.
Carter’s presidency began with much hope and featured some high moments, most notably his brokering of the 1978 Camp David peace accord between Israel and Egypt. However, the economy was marked by rising inflation and energy shortages, and as Iranian militants seized 52 American hostages and held them for more than a year, Carter began to be perceived by voters as weak and ineffectual.
His stubborn refusal to nurture cooperative relationships with leaders of his own Democratic Party in Congress didn’t help his fortunes either, leading to a primary challenge from Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy in 1980.
Carter held off Kennedy, but was helpless to withstand the nationwide tide of conservatism that swept Ronald Reagan into office in November.
Carter’s reputation among historians and the public at large was at a low ebb when he left the White House, but would undergo a historic transformation in the years that
followed. He established the Carter Center in 1982, a nonprofit institution dedicated to promoting human rights and finding peaceful solutions to conflict.
He traveled the world tirelessly, monitoring elections and otherwise advocating for peace and democracy.
Back home in the United States, he devoted chunks of his time and energy to Habitat for Humanity, and could often be seen wielding a hammer himself helping to build houses for needy families.
He wrote books about faith, family, and good works.
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for “undertaking peace negotiations, campaigning for human rights, and working for social welfare,” according to the Nobel Committee.
Carter’s health gradually weakened in recent years. In February 2023, Carter’s family announced that he would forego further hospital stays and live out his final time receiving hospice care at home.
His wife of 77 years, former first lady Rosalynn Carter, died on Nov. 19 of that year at age 96.
“Today, America and the world lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian,” President Joe Biden said in a statement issued by the White House.
“Over six decades, we had the honor of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend.
“… With his compassion and moral clarity, he worked to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless,
and always advocate for the least among us.
“He saved, lifted, and changed the lives of people all across the globe. … To the entire Carter family, we send our gratitude for sharing them with America and the world,’” Biden continued.
“… And to all of the young people in this nation and for anyone in search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning — the good life — study Jimmy Carter, a man of principle, faith, and humility. He showed that we are great nation because we are a good people — decent and honorable, courageous and compassionate, humble and strong.’”
President-elect Donald Trump commended Carter’s service to the nation as well.
“I just heard of the news about the passing of President Jimmy Carter,” Trump said.
“Those of us who have been fortunate to have served as president understand this is a very exclusive club, and only we can relate to the enormous responsibility of leading the Greatest Nation in History.
The challenges Jimmy faced as president came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans. For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude.
“Melania and I are thinking warmly of the Carter family and their loved ones during this difficult time. We urge everyone to keep them in their hearts of prayers,” Trump concluded.
Biden added that he would be ordering an official state funeral for Carter to be held in Washington, D.C. (Inquirer.net with CNS Report)
TRADITIONAL WALK. Members of the Knights of Rizal lead the traditional walk at Fort Santiago in Intramuros, Manila on Monday, Dec. 30,
retracing Dr. Jose Rizal’s final steps to his execution site at Bagumbayan (now Rizal Park). The country
the 128th death anniversary of the national hero.
photo by Yancy Lim
Caseworkers coax homeless people out of Las Vegas’ tunnels for treatment
by AngelA HArt KFF Health Newa
LAS VEGAS — Case manager
Bryon Johnson flashed a light into a dark tunnel beneath the glitz of the Las Vegas Strip on a recent fall afternoon. He stepped into an opening in a concrete ditch littered with trash and discarded clothing to search an underground world for his homeless clients.
Beneath the Caesars Palace hotel and casino, Johnson found one of them stretched out on a plywood bed. Jay Flanders, 49, had sores across his back, up his arms, and into his fingers. The homeless man acknowledged occasional meth use and mental health concerns. He couldn’t recall exactly how long he’d lived underground, but it had been several years.
“Why don’t you come inside,” asked Johnson, trying to persuade Flanders to leave the tunnels.
“Come get treatment.”
It’s Johnson’s job to coax homeless people out of drainage tunnels that stretch beneath Las Vegas, a perilous grid where people hide from law enforcement and shelter from extreme weather but risk being swept away by floodwaters. Drugs and alcohol are prevalent. Johnson tells clients they have a better shot at recovery above ground, where they can get medical care to treat chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, depression, and heart disease, and start drug and alcohol treatment programs.
Street medicine providers and homeless outreach workers who travel into the tunnels said they have noticed an uptick in the number of people living underground as housing costs have skyrocketed and local officials have adopted a zero-tolerance approach to homelessness.
Caseworkers are also confronting a level of drug addiction that’s making it harder to get people, many suffering from mental illness and health conditions, to come aboveground for care.
“It’s meth. It’s fentanyl. It’s opioids. We’re seeing it more and more,” said Rob Banghart, vice president of community integration for the nonprofit homeless outreach organization Shine a Light, who lived in the tunnels for 2½ of the five years he was homeless, often using drugs. Now sober for more than six
tunnels providing a respite. “In that state of mind, I said to myself, ‘It’s got a roof; it’s out of the sun.’ It’s a little twisted, but it was a community.”
Outreach workers say more people are retreating underground. Though dark and damp, the tunnels provide cover from the harsh desert sun, warmth when temperatures drop, and privacy from society’s judgment above ground.
Constructed in the 1990s and measuring some 600 miles, the tunnels provide flood control for the city and outlying communities.
Homeless outreach workers said 1,200 to 1,500 people live in them.
Many have constructed elaborate shelters, often out of plywood and scraps of metal or brick below the casinos that define the Strip.
Tunnel living is not limited to Nevada. Across California’s Central Valley and its southern deserts, people unable to afford housing are retreating into caves and earthen tunnels, often dug into flood control berms, riverbanks, or along drainage canals, where people can escape the heat and law enforcement. In San Antonio, homeless people have constructed tunnel encampments, and in New York, homeless people have long retreated into subterranean existence in tunnels and defunct train corridors.
In Las Vegas, some tunnel
is available.
Others said they go down to escape the unbearable weather.
Triple digits are common in the summer; this year, Las Vegas climbed as high as 120 degrees. And the tunnels provide protection when temperatures drop into the 30s in the winter. It even snows there.
Street medicine providers are also trying to persuade homeless people to leave the tunnels to receive care. In addition to more drug and alcohol use, they have seen new problems with wounds and skin disorders associated with the street drug known as “tranq,” slang for the animal tranquilizer xylazine, which is often mixed with fentanyl or meth.
Tranq causes deep skin infections that, left untreated, can lead to bone infections and require amputation.
Flanders, the homeless man in the tunnels, had several of these skin sores, which he referred to as spider bites — a euphemism for the deep skin wounds caused by tranq. He estimated he has been to the emergency room at least 10 times this year, several times requiring hospitalization.
“One time I was there for six days; I almost lost a finger,” Flanders said, holding up the index finger that had been warped from a deep infection, as he started to tear up. Despite the risks, Flanders
How Biden lost the ‘narrative war’ on immigration
by PiLar Marrero Ethnic Media Services
WHICH administration helped 3.5 million people complete the citizenship process, more than any other administration in history, issuing 4.3 million green cards for permanent residency? Which administration restored refugee admissions slashed by the previous president, expanding pathways for legal immigration to ease border pressures, while doubling the length of work authorizations for foreign nationals. And which administration granted temporary legal status to the highest number of immigrants in recent history?
The answer, surprisingly to many Americans and even to immigrants, is President Joe Biden.
Yet, when people think of Biden’s record on immigration, the word “successful” rarely comes to mind. Most analysts agree that the perception of an out-of-control border—combined with inflation’s impact on Americans’ wallets—was a key factor in Republican challenger and President-elect Donald J. Trump’s victory.
However, experts at the non-partisan Migration Policy Institute (MPI), who closely monitor presidential actions on immigration, argue that Biden’s record was far better than public perception suggests.
“I think the legacy of a president is how much impact you have on people’s lives on a daily basis,” said Muzaffar Chishti, a senior fellow at MPI, during a Dec. 17 briefing.
Chishti highlighted Biden’s shift on immigration
controversial “family detention” practice and restored legal immigration processes to pre-COVID, pre-Trump norms.
Despite these achievements, speakers— including outside experts from media and advocacy organizations—acknowledged administration mistakes, shortcomings in media coverage, and the focus of the pro-immigrant movement. These missteps, they argued, undermined the Biden administration’s successes and amplified its perceived failures on immigration, one of which was the increasing numbers of people crossing the border.
“The increase in overall numbers of arrivals and the changing demographics of those arrivals has presented a challenge for border authorities in terms of capacity and processing ability,” said MPI Associate Policy Analyst Coleen Putzel-Kavanaugh, noting the disconnect between outdate immigration laws created to respond to the influx of largely Mexican men seeking work with the reality of immigration patterns today, which are increasingly more diverse in origin, and involve whole families seeking protection.
“The challenge at the border overshadowed the positive,” indicated Chishti. “Biden’s election itself became a pull factor because he had promised during the campaign that he would undo the cruel immigration border policies of the prior administration, and the numbers began to reach record levels.”
More importantly, said the expert, “the administration refused to call it a crisis.”
Instead, the issue was defined by the opposition: Republican governors from 16 states filed lawsuits to block most policy changes initiated by the Biden Administration and engaged in “orchestrated busing of immigrants by the governors of Texas and Florida,” which “brought the border to the interior with large
photo
Avito Dalan
Fil-Am charged with murdering...
Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office as 8-yearold Mia Chantelle Narvaez, 16-year-old Paul Sebastian Manangan and 44 year-old Rona Nate.
The victims suffered multiple stab wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene on Thursday, December 26. Authorities have not disclosed the relationships between De Los Reyes and the victims, but a neighbor, Nathan Garcia, told ABC7 that he heard the little girl screaming coming out and crying for help, saying, ‘Someone call 911. My brother stabbed my mom in the back, I saw blood.”
Baldwin Park Police Department officers responded
at 6:48 p.m. that day to the 4700 block of Bogart Avenue, between Maine and Phelan avenues, where they found the victims, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Michael Modica. Each had suffered multiple stab wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene, according to media reports. A neighbor told KNX radio that a cousin with whom he lives heard noises coming from the house at about 6:30 p.m.
“She heard a loud noise, someone yelling for help [and] to call 911,” the neighbor said. “And then she heard a guy scream, like, just to the top of the lungs and after that she all she heard was just a loud crash. Like [a] boom, like
someone slammed the door really, really hard.”
Modica said that when officers arrived, the suspect tried to drive away from the scene but was detained.
The suspect was determined to be related to the victims and a resident of the home, Modica added. He was arrested and booked at the Baldwin Park Police Department on suspicion of murder.
De Los Reyes remains behind bars without bail, jail records show.
In a statement announcing the charges, the district attorney said his office “will work tirelessly to ensure that justice is served in this devastating act of violence, which has shaken our community and left a family forever changed.” (Inquirer.net with CNS report)
Fil-Am attorney general issues alerts...
in a statement.
“California is the most diverse state in the nation, and immigrants are the backbone of our economy, history and culture. We will not be caught flat-footed if the Presidentelect follows through on his threats of mass deportation.”
The Filipino American attorney general said the alerts are intended to help California immigrants better understand their rights and protections under the law and avoid immigration scams “by those
seeking to take advantage of fear and uncertainty resulting from the Presidentelect’s inhumane threats of mass detention, arrests and deportation.”
“My office will continue to use the full force of the law and every tool at our disposal to protect the rights of California’s immigrants,” he added.
The alerts remind the immigrant community about their rights, including access to emergency medical care, securing housing without
sharing their immigration status and a workplace free of harassment and discrimination.
Immigrants are advised to seek legal assistance only from lawyers, accredited representatives and recognized organizations who can represent them in immigration court.
Immigration scams may be reported to local district attorneys, the county department of consumer affairs or the Federal Trade Commission. n
California’s first Filipina assemblymember...
assistant majority whip works to advance policies that address the challenges facing California, including housing affordability, energy costs and economic opportunity.
“I am deeply honored to serve as Assistant Majority Whip under Speaker Rivas’ leadership,” said Caloza. “Californians need and want us to deliver real progress on quality of life issues that impact their lives and livelihoods. I’m committed to delivering solutions and look forward to working tirelessly with my colleagues to stand up for all working families across our state.”
Caloza is a proud immigrant and daughter of working-
class parents. She was sworn into office earlier this month and made history as the first Filipina elected to the California legislature.
This appointment comes as voters elected a groundbreaking class of leaders, featuring a record number of Asian American women serving in elected office and the highest number of women in committee chair and leadership roles in state history.
“Assemblymember Caloza’s leadership and focus on practical solutions make her an invaluable member of our leadership team,” said Rivas. “Her dedication to addressing the needs of working families and improving the
quality of life for all Californians is exactly what our state needs.”
“I’m proud our Assembly boasts the greatest number of women legislators and committee leaders in California history,” he added. Caloza represents the 52nd Assembly District, which includes East Los Angeles, Northeast Los Angeles and South Glendale. She brings extensive federal, state and local experience as a former deputy chief of staff at the California Department of Justice, Los Angeles Public Works commissioner and policy advisor at the U.S. Department of Education. (Inquirer.net/ Nimfa U. Rueda)
As AI-denied health insurance claims rise, so does nationwide frustration
by seLen ozturk Ethnic Media Services
THE killing of UnitedHealthcare
CEO Brian Thompson sparked a national debate over rising health care costs and claim denials.
AI is used to deny millions of health insurance claims today, while two-thirds of health care organizations plan to increase AI spending in the next three years.
The health insurance landscape and AI
“Health insurance is often the most dysfunctional, fragile and poorly functioning example of the fraught relationship between policy holders and insurers across the insurance industry,” said Dr. Katherine Hempstead, senior policy officer at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, at a Friday, December 20 Ethnic Media Services briefing on AIdenied health insurance claims.
“In health insurance, we have a few things that increase that mistrust,” she continued. “As opposed to a one-time claim, like in life insurance, you have ongoing contact between insurers and policy holders — often when people are ill or feel like their future health is at stake … There’s a fundamental powerlessness for policyholders when providers say something is necessary, but insurers say it’s not … and there’s a tremendous amount of fragmentation as to what’s covered between states or between plans.”
A November 2024 Gallup poll found that Americans’ rating of U.S. health care is at its lowest since 2001, with 44% saying the quality is excellent or good and 28% saying the coverage is excellent or good.
Why are Americans growing increasingly dissatisfied with this system now?
“One reason, ironically, is that more people are covered under managed care and Medicare Advantage plans –which is a great thing, but it’s one of the environments where issues around denied claims for services and often life-changing medications — like GLP drugs for diabetes and obesity — are coming to a head,” Hempstead said.
Medicare Advantage (MA) is a Medicare-approved private health plan, covering seniors and people with disabilities.
An October 2024 report released by the U.S. Senate found that the three largest MA companies — UnitedHealthcare, Humana and CVS, together covering 60% of enrollees — drastically increased algorithm-automated claim denials between 2019 and 2022 and systematically limited postacute (PA) care, including home health services and long-term hospital care, to maximize profits.
UnitedHealthcare’s PA
denial rate rose from 10.9% in 2020 to 22.7% in 2022 as the company ramped up automation; Humana’s PA denial rate was 16 times higher than its overall denials; and CVS’ PA denials were unchanged even as PA requests surged by 57.5%.
“When people appeal, and especially when the press is involved, many times the decision changes, which can drive a lot of cynicism on the part of people who feel rightly that insurers will try to get away with denying services until they’re exposed or pressured,” explained Hampstead. “That drives inequity by disadvantaging people who don’t speak English as their first language, or are lower-income or less-educated, and so are less likely to dispute a decision.”
At the heart of increasing claim denials is the use of prior authorization, the process requiring insurance approval before a patient can get a service or prescription.
“We have tools like prior authorization and automation to try to expedite delays, curb over-prescriptions and impose guardrails on health care spending, which is very high in the U.S.,” said Dr. Miranda Yaver, assistant professor of health policy and management at the University of Pittsburgh. “But errors are one thing in a lowstake setting, and quite another in health care. We’re spending a lot on health care that isn’t care at all but administration.”
Nearly $1 out of every $5 spent in the U.S. is spent on health care, which represents 17% of the national GDP; in 1960, it represented 5%, or 1$ out of every $20.
Meanwhile, 30 cents on every medical dollar spent — roughly $750 billion annually — goes to administrative costs.
Although U.S. health care spending has skyrocketed, so have out-of-pocket costs spent by all Americans, with health insurance or not, on health care not paid for by a plan. These costs have soared from $115 in 1970 (adjusted for 2024 inflation, $677) to $1,425 per person in 2022, not including money spent on monthly health insurance premiums.
For her book “Coverage Denied: How Health Insurers Drive Inequality in the United States,” upcoming in 2026, Yaver surveyed 1,340 adults nationwide and found 36% experienced at least one claim denial, with 60% of these facing multiple.
“No matter who you are, you’re vulnerable to this, but the effects can cause the most inequities for people from marginalized groups less likely to realize they can appeal,” she said. Even when people are successful in appealing these automated denials, we need to think about the equity costs …
It’s time-consuming, physically and emotionally taxing, and can be expensive.” Limiting AI
“It’s unfortunate that we’re pretty much the only industrialized country that operates in this way,” said California State Senator Josh Becker, author of the Physicians Make Decisions Act (SB 1120) limiting the scope of AI by requiring doctors to make final decisions on what treatment patients receive, and to oversee decisions made by AI like claim requests and prior authorization.
The bill was signed by Governor Newsom last September and takes effect January 5, 2025.
“We need the human element to ensure that health care decisions prioritize patient well-being over automated processes,” he explained, adding that his bill — which faced general opposition by insurance companies and support by physicians’ groups including the California Medical Association — “flew a bit under the radar. There wasn’t as much public attention on the issue as there is now … but we’ve already had other states contact us, and had the federal government and some members of Congress reach out as well. We’re hoping that this is another example where people will follow California’s lead.”
“There will be important roles for AI in detecting disease or reading images, but we’re talking about ensuring appropriate health care decisions that only trained physicians can make, and this holds significant risks,” Becker continued.
In 2023, for example, Cigna Healthcare faced a California lawsuit on the grounds that the company used AI algorithms to refuse over 300,000 preapproved claims over two months in the previous year, with an alleged 1.2 seconds spent to reject each claim and 80% of customer-appealed claims being overturned.
Cigna covers or administers health plans for 18 million Americans.
The suit alleged that a single Cigna medical director, Cheryl Dopke, rejected roughly 60,000 claims in one month.
That same year, in 2023, for-profit health insurance companies made $70.7 billion in profits — “maybe due in part to practices like these denials,” said Becker. “Evidently, they’re doing a pretty good job of cost containment.”
“If you’re denying claims every 1.2 seconds, you’re not really looking at what patients need,” he added. “We just shouldn’t have to spend so much of our health care dollars negotiating these claims. Let’s focus more money on care for patients who need it.” (Selen Ozturk/Ethnic Media Services)
Caseworkers coax homeless people
County homelessness report —
higher than the national average.
As more people get displaced, more retreat underground. And often, outreach workers say, it’s not just locals who can’t afford the rising cost of living who wind up homeless, but also out-of-towners. Some come to make it in the city’s booming entertainment industry, while others become homeless after losing it all at the casinos.
“People come here on vacation to gamble or try and make it, and they lose everything,” said Johnson, who works for Shine a Light, one of two organizations in
Las Vegas that provide substantial outreach, housing referrals, and drug treatment services for homeless people in the tunnels.
“The housing market is insane; rents keep going up. A lot of people wind up down here,” said Johnson, who lived in the tunnels until he got sober with help from Shine a Light. “People just get stuck.”
Still, Nevada’s scorching heat and rains and monsoons pose a major threat to those living in the tunnels, though it’s unclear exactly how deadly life in them can be.
But Louis Lacey, homeless
response director for the nonprofit Help of Southern Nevada, said homeless people living belowground put their lives at risk, often in the monsoon season when the tunnels flood. His organization coordinates with the city of Las Vegas and Clark County to get as many people as possible into shelters before the start of the rainy season, which typically runs from June to a“We go into the tunnels to make sure people who want to get out are out, but not everyone leaves, often because they don’t want to leave their belongings,” he said. “People die every year.” n
How Biden lost the ‘narrative war’...
numbers of newly arrived migrants heavily concentrated in certain cities like New York, Chicago, and Denver, that were already facing housing shortages,” added PutzelKavanaugh.
In the end, the Administration introduced several “carrot and stick” approaches that have precipitously reduced the flow at the border, but many saw this as “too little, too late,” said the experts.
The role of the media in shaping public perception was another key focus of the MPI briefing. Rafael Bernal, an immigration journalist for The Hill, said that despite some good immigration reporters, most media outlets prioritize sensationalism over substance.
“The press did a terrible job in general of covering these issues and continues to,” Bernal said.
“Because of the media structure and how these companies make money, we need a lot of clicks. And what gets clicks is more aligned with political posturing and not with policy.”
Others argued that the Administration’s communication strategy exacerbated the problem.
Immigration Law Center, now a visiting scholar at Cornell Law School, said Biden’s advisors failed to grasp the importance of controlling the narrative.
“This was a narrative war, and they refused to call it a crisis when voters were seeing it on their screens,” she said. She also pointed out that Democrats, who held a majority in Congress at the start of Biden’s term, chose not to prioritize immigration reform.
Congress has the authority to create immigration laws but continues to be absent from taking any measures on the issue, mostly because of opposition by Republicans but also inaction by many Democrats who see it as a losing issue.
The pro-immigrant movement also came under scrutiny for its strategic missteps. Hincapie said the movement focused narrowly on achieving citizenship for the undocumented while neglecting broader public engagement.
“We were talking in a very insular way, only pretty much to ourselves,” she said. “We lost track of the fact that this is a narrative war about remaking America for the next 10, 15, 20, 30 years.”
benefiting millions of immigrants with permanent or “twilight” (temporary) statuses, and protecting long-term immigrant families at a time of record border crossings seeking asylum and protection of any kind.
“You could look at the Biden legacy from two different lenses. On legal immigration, they finally brought an old archaic system into the 21st century with modernization and innovation and technology (which was used to provide appointments, like the CBP One App at the border)”, said Chishti.
However, on the border side, because of massive numbers of crossers and a combination of factors, “it was seen as porous and out-of-control, and the measures that eventually were put in place had detractors on all sides of the political spectrum.” Even as the Administration ends, border crossings are drastically down, a significant step getting little attention.
Marielena
Hincapie, a former executive director of the National
All of that obscured the Biden record of decreasing backlogs,
“Ironically,” said Chisti, “this Administration is handing Trump a much more controlled border and a more robust legal immigration system…. for which they don’t expect any thank you notes”. n
Dateline PhiliPPines
NAIA breaks passenger record with 50 million travelers in 2024
MANILA — Passenger traffic at Ninoy Aquino International Airport reached 50.1 million in 2024, breaking all previous records as travel demand surged past pre-pandemic levels.
The number of passengers that passed through NAIA last year is at least 5% higher than the airport’s pre-pandemic peak of 47.9 million in 2019 and the highest-ever in its history, according to a statement by the San Miguel-led New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC) on Thursday, January 2.
Besides a record-high number of passengers, NAIA also achieved its highestever flight numbers in 2024 with 293,488 flights operating through Manila’s main gateway, up 8.08% from 2019, according to the statement.
NAIA was designed to only accommodate 35 million passengers per year.
“More Filipinos are flying, and more visitors are coming to the Philippines,” said Ramon Ang, NNIC president. “This growth is a clear sign that confidence in air travel has returned.”
The latest figures mark a turnaround from the pandemic’s impact on air travel. NAIA’s passenger count plunged to 11.1 million in 2020 when COVID-19 restrictions halted most flights. Passenger count
dipped even lower in 2021 with 8 million, then jumped to 31 million in 2022, before reaching 45.3 million in 2023. Flight operations have shown a similar rebound. From a low of 91,067 flights in 2020, flight numbers at NAIA increased to 121,095 in 2021, rose to 246,724 in 2022, before hitting 270,911 in 2023.
NAIA’s new management also reported that between December 30 and January 1, more than 83% of flights ran on schedule. At least 88% of flights departed and arrived on time on New Year’s Eve (December 31) — its best on-time performance
since NNIC’s takeover.
“Our goal is to ensure that NAIA provides a better experience for everyonepassengers, airlines, and partners alike,” Ang said in the statement.
NNIC aims to “transform NAIA into a modern, efficient airport that can support the country’s goals for tourism and economic growth,” the statement added.
The San Miguel-led group took over NAIA’s operations in September 2024. Shortly after, it raised overnight parking rates at the airport from P300 to a whopping P1,200. (Philstar.com)
China creating ‘script’ to justify aggression in West Philippine Sea
by gHio ong Philstar.com
MANILA — Philippine Coast Guard Commodore Jay Tarriela accused China of coming up with a “script” that claims both PCG patrol vessels and Filipino fishing boats disrupt Beijing’s sovereignty over the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, to justify its provocations towards Philippine forces.
Comelec slammed for allowing Quiboloy in 2025 polls
by Mayen JayMaLin Philstar.com
MANILA — The Workers’ and Peasants’ Party (WPP) on Sunday, December 29 criticized the Commission on Elections for ruling in favor of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) pastor Apollo Quiboloy, who is currently in detention on charges of alleged human trafficking and child sex abuse.
Party president Sonny Matula said the Comelec rewarded a lawbreaker by allowing Quiboloy to run in next year’s senatorial race.
“If they claim that it is a scripted scenario to organize the Filipino fishing boats, I wonder why they always fall into the plot and continue to insist on playing the villain,” said Tarriela. Tarriela wrote the said remarks on a post in his X account on Dec. 26, when he replied to another post by Chinese state media Global Times.
and maritime rights and interests, and undermine peace and stability in the South China Sea, while playing victim to elicit sympathy from and cause confusion in the international community.”
“This isn’t just an insult to the democratic process – it’s an insult to logic and fairness. Why reward someone with a track record of breaking the law over a candidate with a clean slate?” Matula said.
The latter quoted Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense, who said, “The Philippine side repeatedly organized its coast guard vessels and fishing boats to violate China’s territorial sovereignty
In his X post, Tarriela called on China to resolve issues in the West Philippine Sea by “adhering to international law rather than resorting to aggression against ordinary civilian fishermen who are simply trying to make a living within our country’s exclusive economic zone.” n
He issued the statement after Comelec upheld a previous decision dismissing a petition to declare Quiboloy as a nuisance bet.
Matula said the Comelec’s decision is contrary to reason and justice.
“With all due respect, Comelec’s decision-making seems to have lost its anchor in reason. How can you justify a process that allows for piecemeal justice? It’s not just illogical; it’s a disservice to the Filipino people,” he said.
“This is not just a technical lapse – it’s a blatant mockery and trivialization of the electoral process,” Matula said. n
The WPP is filing a petition with the Supreme Court seeking to overturn what it describes as a “grossly unfair and discriminatory” Comelec ruling. It further questioned Quiboloy’s failure to comply with a crucial deadline to submit an answer to the petition within five days.
LOUD, DEADLY. Manila Police District Director Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay presents confiscated illegal boga (improvised cannons) and firecrackers on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. Ibay said the items were seized in Baseco and Tondo areas. PNA photo by Avito Dalan
“Kingdom of Jesus founder Apollo Quiboloy filed his certificate of candidacy for a Senate seat through his lawyer Mark Tolentino at the Manila Hotel tent on Oct. 8, 2024. Philstar.com photo by Ian Laqui
No RIP for Rizal
IT’S regrettable that the nation is commemorating the 128th anniversary of the execution of Jose Rizal amid protests over the insufficiency of funding for the education sector.
Rizal was fortunate to have obtained formal education in top universities abroad. He understood how education can empower people and lead to emancipation from poverty. He wanted the Filipino masses – not just the wealthy elite and the small middle class – to be educated first before the country would become independent from Spain. Today, there is universal free education from kindergarten to college. It is, however, free education on a shoestring budget compared to the resources poured into the sector by other Asian countries. There is a continuing backlog in classrooms. Teachers, who have to beg for every meaningful increase in their pay, continue to seek greener pastures overseas. The consequences include large, unwieldy class sizes and shorter hours in school, which further hinder proper education.
The declining quality of education is evident in the country’s progressive fall in international surveys on national competitiveness. The deterioration was validated in the results of the two times that the country participated in the Program for International Student Assessment, in 2018 and 2022. Education officials said they wanted the Philippines to participate in the PISA to determine how much work needed to be done in the sector. While the nation knew that the quality of education
ON January 20, 2025, Donald J. Trump will be sworn in at the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol as the 47th president of the United States. Thousands of visitors are expected to come to Washington, D.C. to take part in this historic event in one way or another –with the National Mall teeming with spectators and thousands lining up along Pennsylvania Avenue to watch the president’s entourage make their way to the White House during the ceremonial parade.
As early as October, luxury hotels in Washington were already getting fully booked, with reservations blocked out from Jan. 14 to 21 and room rates increasing by as much as 1,000 percent. According to Destination D.C., a nonprofit corporation that supports the travel and tourism sector, bookings for the inauguration weekend are now at 50 percent and expected to go higher as Jan. 20 comes closer, since hotel occupancy rates usually surpass 90 percent during inaugurations.
A complete list on road
THE world is heading into 2025 with high uncertainty. And no factor has contributed more to this unpredictable environment than the reelection of Donald Trump as the United States President.
The U.S. is the world’s biggest economy ($27.4 trillion), the biggest importer of goods ($3.17 trillion), the second largest exporter of goods ($2.02 trillion), and the largest source of foreign direct investments (FDI, $404 billion).
The massive size of its economy and influence in global trade and investment means any major shift in U.S. government policies is likely to have a significant impact on the global economy, including the Philippines.
The U.S. and the Philippines have developed a strong economic relationship over the years. In 2023 alone, the U.S. was the Philippines’ top
had been going downhill, the PISA results were still dismaying: Filipino 15-year-old students ranked at the bottom in mathematics, science and reading literacy. Between 2018 and 2022, there was little improvement in the results.
Other countries would consider such findings a national crisis and respond accordingly. Not in the Philippines. The year is ending with Filipinos outraged over the funding priorities of Congress, with the budget for the Department of Education slashed by P12 billion. Meanwhile, the appropriation for the Department of Public Works and Highways was increased by a hefty P289 billion during the bicameral conference, bringing its total to P1.1 trillion – higher than the appropriation for the entire education sector.
The bicam also cut funding for the Department of Social Welfare and Development by P96 billion and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. by P74.4 billion, while increasing allocations for members of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The realignments are not only shameless but also unconstitutional on at least two counts: Congress may cut but not increase funding proposed under the National Expenditure Program, and education must get the largest slice of the annual budget pie.
Today on his death anniversary, Jose Rizal must be turning over in his grave. (Philstar.com)
Editorial Washington getting ready for the transfer of power
closures will be issued by the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department a day before the inauguration, but definitely, streets around the inauguration area and the ceremonial parade will be closed throughout the day for security purposes.
Because the inauguration is considered a “National Special Security Event” with U.S. political leaders and foreign dignitaries in attendance, security plans are very stringent, with the U.S. Secret Service as the lead federal agency with support from other entities that include the U.S. Capitol Police, the Metropolitan Police Department and the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region (composed of service members from all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, including Reserve and National Guard components).
According to the Joint Task Force Commanding General, they will be deploying as many as 12,000 in the parade, of whom 5,000 are service members.
Although the JTF did not issue an estimate on crowd size, inaugurations can draw over one million attendees, requiring mammoth logistics and security preparations.
During the January 2021
inauguration of President Biden, security preparations were also strict because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The rising number of cases prompted the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies to limit the number of dignitaries in attendance.
The atmosphere at the 2021 Biden inauguration was very different from the 1989 inauguration of President George Bush Sr., which I also happened to attend. The National Mall was mostly empty, with around 200,000 small flags planted across the mall in lieu of Americans who were unable to attend, while the streets were relatively quiet.
For the Biden inauguration, we were bused in by the State Department that planned and coordinated the health protocols that were implemented for the invited diplomats. We all wore masks, and social distancing (six feet apart) in reserved seating arrangements was observed during the entire event.
From all indications, President Trump’s inauguration will be an “all out” celebration with fireworks displays and performances by celebrities. Top companies that
include Amazon, Meta and Uber reportedly pledged millions of dollars to the inaugural committee. Automotive industry giants Ford and General Motors are giving generous donations and will supply vehicles for the event. ABC News also reported that the upcoming inauguration has already surpassed the $150-million fundraising goal – by far larger than the $107 million raised during the first inauguration of President Trump.
Washington officials are certainly happy that the “inauguration is back” because it would also mean a boost to the local economy, since people go shopping and dining and visit other attractions as well, with various business establishments offering special packages for tourists. Certainly, the city is looking forward to hosting people from all over the country who will explore and experience the unique charms of Washington, and this in itself is a “win,” according to deputy mayor for planning and economic development Nina Albert.
Traditionally since the 1800s, no foreign head of state is invited for the inauguration, with only foreign ambassadors
representing their countries in Washington, D.C. getting invited.
However, President Trump has issued invitations verbally to a few world leaders such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Argentinian President Javier Milei (who posted on X that he will be attending) and Chinese President Xi Jinping. It is unclear whether President Xi accepted the invitation or will be attending the inauguration.
President Trump has promised to make America great again – and according to a survey by global CEO consulting and advisory company Teneo, global investors are optimistic about the economy, believing that the “Trump effect” will generate a lot of positive economic activity that will create more jobs and greater levels of U.S. and foreign investment.
For the Philippines, we are pleased with the appointments made by President Trump, such as Florida Senator Marco Rubio as Secretary of State. Senator Rubio has been sympathetic to the Philippines, visiting Tacloban City in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in January 2014 and vowing more aid for rehabilitation efforts. Other appointments are
Cerberus Capital Management chairman Steve Feinberg for Deputy Secretary of Defense. He relentlessly pursued the Cerberus investment in the abandoned Subic Bay shipyard which today employs thousands of Filipino workers, with additional investments expected to pour in.
We are also pleased that Elbridge Colby has been appointed Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, who is acknowledged as a lead architect for the 2018 U.S. National Security Strategy. We also have a very strong bipartisan support from the U.S. Congress. Additionally, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his congratulatory call to President Trump re-established his personal relationship with the incoming U.S. president, whom he met in New York many years ago with his mother, former First Lady Imelda Marcos. (Philstar. com)
* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
* * * Email: babeseyeview@gmail.com
What could the Trump presidency mean for the Philippines?
export destination ($11.5 billion), biggest source of overseas Filipino remittances ($13.7 billion), largest source of development assistance grants ($615 million), fourth biggest source of FDI inflows ($113.1 million), and fifth largest import source ($8.4 billion).
Based on Trump’s pronouncements during the campaign, there are three policies that could potentially affect the Philippines. Stop outsourcing of jobs. Trump has pledged to stop the outsourcing of jobs to generate local employment. This could negatively impact the IT-BPO sector in the Philippines, which employs some 1.7 million Filipinos and generates at least $30 billion in revenues annually, more than half from the U.S. Tariffs
Trump has floated the idea to impose a blanket 10 to 20 percent tariff on imported goods from countries where the U.S. has a trade deficit with. This will make our export goods such as textiles, garments, and coconut
oil more expensive in the U.S., and likely lower demand and reduce earnings for these industries.
Trump has also threatened to levy as much as 60 percent tariffs on all imported goods from China, which would indirectly affect the country, especially exporters linked in the global value chain. To illustrate: exporters of electronic parts to China as inputs for the manufacture of smartphones would likely suffer from lower demand.
But high tariffs on China could also bring potential benefits, as U.S. companies that face higher costs due to tariffs might look for alternative and cheaper sources of inputs, or even move out and establish production factories in alternative locations.
This is where the Philippines could assert itself as a viable option. However, it remains to be seen whether recent reforms such as CREATE MORE Act and amendments to liberalization laws would make us an attractive investment destination at par with Vietnam, Indonesia, and
Malaysia.
Strict immigration policy
Trump has threatened a massive deportation of illegal immigrants in the U.S., ending automatic citizenship for their children. Currently, there are an estimated 370,000 undocumented Filipino migrants in the U.S. This policy is likely to lower remittances and reduce the income of OFW families at home. It could also mean a more stringent vetting process for those seeking job opportunities in the U.S.
Overall, early assessment shows that the net impact of Trump’s campaign agenda would be negative for the Philippines. Nevertheless, we’ll conduct another review of his policies six months after he assumes office in January.
While there is much uncertainty heading into next year, the key takeaway for the government is to make our economy more resilient by focusing on things it can control.
This includes diversifying the country’s growth drivers
by investing in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors. Developing the agricultural sector through improvements in the supply chain is important for food security and managing food inflation. The government could partner with the private sector in building common warehouses, cold-storage facilities, and farmto-market roads to minimize post-harvest losses.
Strengthening the manufacturing sector, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs), could generate quality jobs. The government could invest further in Shared Service Facilities of the Department of Trade and Industry which provide SMEs access to technology and equipment to improve their productivity. Ramping up reskilling and upskilling programs with universities and industries can improve the skills of Filipino workers.
We should also improve our position as an investment destination for manufacturing companies, particularly those that can transfer technology
and know-how to local firms. The government should continue addressing ease of doing business, particularly the burdensome process of permit approval and extra fees imposed at the local level. Equally critical is the need to lower the cost of doing business, like high power rates and unreliable internet connectivity which hampers digitalization.
Lastly, it is crucial to strictly monitor budget utilization and program implementation of national government agencies to ensure that the limited resources of the government are spent prudently.
As the saying goes, the best way to predict the future is to create it. (Inquirer.net) * * *
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
* * *
Gary B. Teves has served as finance secretary under the Arroyo administration
ManilaTimes.net photo
Philippines needs P22 billion for 2026 ASEAN summit – Palace
by aLexis roMero Philstar.com
MANILA — The Philippines needs P22 billion to prepare for its hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in 2026, Malacañang said on Monday, December 30.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said the regional event is “a very important part” of the Philippines’ international relations and preparing for it is a “gargantuan” task.
“It is a showcase of Philippine politics, Philippine leadership and Philippine social condition. It involves a huge effort... We may require P22 billion to prepare,” Bersamin told Palace reporters after the signing of the 2025 budget.
He noted that the government has to pay rent for the summit venues, including the Philippine International Convention Center, which is owned by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
According to the executive secretary, Congress increased the Office of the President’s proposed budget for next year by P5.2 billion so the executive branch could begin hosting preparations.
President Marcos’ office originally requested P10.5 billion in funding for next
year. “We needed to start the work now. So we asked for funds,” the executive secretary said.
“After 2025, we will ask for more, bigger (budget) but that will be in the NEP (National Expenditure Program) that will be submitted in 2025 for 2026,” he added. Myanmar was supposed to host the 2026 ASEAN Summit but was replaced by the Philippines because of the political crisis it is experiencing. Malaysia will host next year’s regional meet.
Meanwhile, the Philippines has concluded its six-month tenure as chair of the Asia Pacific Group (APG) as Manila championed the region’s voice in key international organizations based in Vienna, Austria, representing 54 member-states.
During a turnover ceremony in Vienna, the Philippines officially passed the chairmanship to fellow ASEAN member Vietnam.
Representatives from Palestine, Malaysia, Myanmar, China, Singapore, Laos, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Japan, Lebanon, Iran and India expressed their gratitude to the outgoing Philippine chair for enhancing the group’s visibility and influence within the international organizations in Vienna and ensuring high-level participation and
representation in expert group and annual meetings.
In her remarks, Philippine Ambassador and Permanent Representative Evangelina Bernas emphasized the importance of the group’s representation in fostering impactful collaboration on global issues, ranging from economic development and science to combatting transnational crime.
She also expressed her confidence in Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang of Vietnam, assuring him of the Philippines’ full cooperation as he takes the helm of the APG.
The incoming chair commended the Philippines’ leadership and reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to advancing the collective aspirations of the APG and assured the group of its commitment in fulfilling the responsibilities as the group’s chair.
“As Vietnam assumes the role of coordinator, we look forward to your collaboration in ensuring that the APG perspective is fully reflected in the normative works of various international organizations in Vienna. Vietnam is committed to advancing the collective aspirations of the Asia Pacific Group, in the spirit of unity and solidarity,” Vu said. (With reports from Pia Lee-Brago)
Marcos enjoins Filipinos to embody Rizal’s patriotism
by Luisa CaBato Inquirer.net
MANILA — In observance of Rizal Day on Monday, December 30, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called on Filipinos to embody the patriotism and civic virtues of national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal.
“As we remember his noble works and honorable life, let us take to heart his words and ideals that awakened the consciousness of our forebears and stirred a national movement for freedom,” Marcos said in his Rizal Day message.
“I call on my fellow Filipinos to look back in pride and
embody all the things he cherished-love of country, dedication to the truth, and commitment to the betterment of our people,” he continued. According to Marcos, the national hero’s vision of a “just and forward-thinking society” remains as alive today as it was more than a century ago.
“Truly, it is through Dr. Rizal’s works that one can realize that true change can begin within us, especially when we stand firm on the issues that we face today,” he said. The president further encouraged the public to be catalysts of change and remain, firm believers, that
they can contribute to the country.
“Whether in service to our communities, in the pursuit of knowledge, or in uplifting the marginalized, let us make decisions that will echo his resolve,” Marcos said.
“May we rise as a nation, ever unyielding, in our shared quest for a brighter and stronger Bagong Pilipinas that we can be proud of.
I wish everyone a solemn observance. Mabuhay si Dr. José Rizal!,” he added.
Earlier in the day, Marcos led the commemoration of the 128th death anniversary of Rizal. He offered a wreath at the Rizal Monument in Luneta. n
Hopefulness among Filipinos for New Year hits 15-year low – SWS
by JeAn MAngAluz Philstar.com
MANILA — Fewer Filipinos are set to enter 2025 with hope, as the Social Weather Stations (SWS) recorded the highest number of people who are fearful of what the New Year will bring.
The SWS found that 90% of respondents remain hopeful about the New Year. While this is still a significant portion of the population, it is also the lowest figure recorded since 2009, when 89% expressed hope.
In contrast, 96% of Filipinos were hopeful for the New Year in 2023.
The SWS noted, “10% will enter the New Year with fear, up by 7 points from 3% in 2023. This is the highest since 11% in 2009.”
Hopefulness for the New Year
declined across all areas, with the following decreases recorded:
• Metro Manila: 91% in 2024; 97% in 2023 (down six points)
• Balance Luzon: 92% in 2024; 97% in 2023 (down five points)
• Visayas: 87% in 2024; 93% in 2023 (down six points)
• Mindanao: 89% in 2024; 96% in 2023 (down seven points)
Declining in hope. The survey also revealed that hopefulness declined across all education levels compared to 2023. Among college graduates, the hopeful proportion dropped from 98% to 96%. For those with some senior high school education, it fell from 96% to 93%.
Among junior high school graduates, it declined from 96% to 91%, while the proportion of hopeful respondents who only completed elementary school decreased from 97% to 89%.
For those with no formal education, hopefulness dropped from 93% to 83%.
The happiness factor
The survey also noted a correlation between those who anticipated a happy Christmas and those who are hopeful for the New Year.
However, fewer Filipinos expected a merry Christmas this year, with the percentage dropping from 73% in 2023 to 65% in 2024.
The SWS conducted the survey from December 12 to 18 through face-to-face interviews with 2,160 adults: 1,080 from Balance Luzon and 360 each from Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao.
“The sampling error margins are ±2% for national percentages, ±3% for Balance Luzon, and ±5% for Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao,” the SWS reported. n
Sen. Risa Hontiveros urges ‘rethink’ of Maharlika Fund, warns of economic risks
by Charie aBarCa Inquirer.net
MANILA — Opposition
Senator Risa Hontiveros called for a “rethinking” of the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) on Saturday, December 28 questioning “its usefulness and timeliness in a time of economic storms.”
She appealed on Saturday to President Bongbong Marcos to stop pumping capital into the MIF and instead prioritize the capitalization of the Landbank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).
In a statement, Hontiveros warned the Palace that “siphoning billions of pesos in capital from Landbank and DBP into the MIF has left the nation’s economy less prepared to deal with looming economic storms.”
“Using an estimated P75 billion from state banks as capital infusion for the untested MIF is both ill-timed and counterproductive when the Philippines should instead be preparing for imminent economic disruptions, such as protectionist policies of the United States under the second Trump administration,” she said. The opposition lawmaker
then pointed out that removing capital from the Landbank and DBP made it harder for them to provide the necessary support for borrowers and consumers during times of economic stress when borrower delinquencies could rise.
“Even the International Monetary Fund recently stated that the capital taken from Landbank and DBP should be restored, kapital ng mga bangko natin, at kayang indahin kahit pa ‘yung biglaang pagbaba ng value ng piso laban sa dolyar, halimbawa,” Hontiveros said.
“Malacañang cannot ignore the fragility of the Landbank and DBP after their MIF contributions. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ so-called regulatory relief only postpones the inevitable reckoning if borrower delinquencies increase,” she added.
She then noted that the BSP should take heed and alert the Palace regarding the “inadequacy and irregular nature” of the regulatory relief measures taken after LandBank and DBP were made to contribute billions in capital to the MIF. n
Senator Risa Hontiveros
Inquirer.net file photo
ANNOUNCEMENT / EMPLOYMENT LEGAL SERVICES
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Advertisement for Bids Notice is hereby given that the San Diego Unified School District, acting by and through its governing board, will electronically receive bids for the furnishing of all labor, materials, transportation, equipment, and services for:
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A mandatory site visit is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2025, outside the main office of Nye Elementary School, 981 Valencia Parkway, San Diego, CA 92114. Upon completion of the first site, contractors shall proceed to the following sites in the order listed: Garfield Elementary School, 4487 Oregon Street, San Diego, CA 92116, Florence Elementary School, 3914 First Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103, Longfellow K-8, 5055 July Street, San Diego, CA 92110, Hawthorne Elementary School, 4750 Lehrer Drive, San Diego, CA 92117. Prime contractors must be present at all 5 sites in order to bid this project. All attendees must preregister with the District prior to attending the site walk at sandiegounified.org/sitewalks. The Bid and Contract Documents may be downloaded free of charge at the District’s online Planroom at sandiegousdplans.com. All bids must be received electronically via PlanetBids before 1:00 p.m. on JANUARY 23, 2025. Prime contractors interested in submitting a bid must go to tinyurl.com/SDUSD-PlanetBids then search under “Bid Opportunities” for “Invitation number” CP25-0734-05-00-00 Playground Equipment and Surfacing Group 3. For new vendors, please register under “New Vendor Registration.” The project estimate is between $950,000 and $990,000, inclusive of allowances. This is not a PSA project but requires the District’s prequalification for projects estimated under $1 million. The District requires that Bidders possess any of the following classification(s) of California State Contractors License(s), valid and in good standing, at the time of bid opening and contract award: A, C-61/D-12 with C-61/D-34, or other appropriate license, subject to District approval. SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, George A. Harris III, Director, Fiscal Controls and Information Systems, Facilities Planning and Construction CP25-0734-05-00-00.
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FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9023979
SALIE’S PLACE located at 3403 E Plaza Blvd Ste A1, National City, CA 91950.
Registrant: Rosalie Navales, 3403 E Plaza Blvd Ste A1, National City, CA 91950. This business is conducted by An Individual. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 11/01/2024.
Signature: Rosalie Navales. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 12/05/2024. AJ 1572 12/13, 12/20, 12/27/2024, and 01/03/2025. AJSD 1572
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9022909
a. Black Rose Tattoo located at 277 S Rancho Santa Fe Rd, San Marcos, CA 92078.
b. Black Rose Tattoo SM located at 277 S Rancho Santa Fe Rd, San Marcos, CA 92078.
Registrant: Duffield Art Collective LLC, 277 S Rancho Santa Fe Rd, San Marcos, CA 92078
This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company.
REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE. Signature: Matthew Duffield. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/18/2024. AJ 1575 12/13, 12/20, 12/27/2024, and 01/03/2025. AJSD 1575
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9022621
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9023977
SD Custom Transfers located at 7798 Gaston Dr, San Diego, CA 92126. Registrant: Mark Anthony Gustilo, 7798 Gaston Dr, San Diego, CA 92126. This business is conducted by An Individual. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE. Signature: Mark Anthony Gustilo. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 12/05/2024. AJ 1573 12/13, 12/20, 12/27/2024, and 01/03/2025. AJSD 1573
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9024308
American Smoke Shop #5 located at 2502 S. Santa Fe Ave, Suite A2, Vista, CA 92084. Registrant: The High Country Pro Glass INC, 2502 S. Santa Fe Ave, Suite A2, Vista, CA 92084. This business is conducted by A Corporation.
REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.
Signature: Raged Saco. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 12/10/2024. AJ 1576 12/13, 12/20, 12/27/2024, and 01/03/2025. AJSD 1576
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9023925
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9024089
TJ BAJA LOCKSMITH located at 1211 4th Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91911. Registrant: Joel Mariscal Morales, 1211 4th Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91911. This business is conducted by An Individual.
REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE. Signature: Joel Mariscal Morales. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 12/06/2024. AJ 1574 12/13, 12/20, 12/27/2024, and 01/03/2025. AJSD 1574
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9023631
Manifest Eats And Catering located at 6231 Madeline Street 182, San Diego, CA 92115. Registrant: Manifest Success LLC, 6231 Madeline Street 182, San Diego, CA 92115. This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 11/26/2024.
Signature: Charles Washington. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/27/2024. AJ 1577 12/13, 12/20, 12/27/2024, and 01/03/2025. AJSD 1577
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9023385
must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 02/05/2025 Time: 8:30 AM Dept. 61 Superior Court of California, County of San Diego 330 WEST BROADWAY DEPT. 61 San Diego, CA 92101 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county. Asian Journal: DEC 19, 2024 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT Maureen F. Hallahan Judge of the Superior Court AJ 1588 12/27/2024, 01/03/2025, 01/10, and 01/17/2025. ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME (JC Form #NC-120) NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120). If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner. To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, drivers license, passport, and other identification, a certificate copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issues the legal document that need to be changed to determine if a certificate copy is required. A certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC230) may be obtained form the Civil Business Office for a fee. Petitioners who are seeking a change of name under the
Happy Little Feet Childcare located at 852 49th St, San Diego, CA 92102. Registrant: Rubicelia Leander, 852 49th St, San Diego, CA 92102. This business is conducted by An Individual. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 05/21/2024.
Signature: Rubicelia Leander. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 12/12/2024. AJ 1578 12/20/2024, 12/27/2024, 01/03/2025, and 01/10/2025. AJSD 1578
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9024292
Perez Landscaping located at 1537 Q Ave Apt 6, National City, CA 91950. Registrant: Francisco Perez Badillo, 1537 Q Ave Apt 6, National City, CA 91950. This business is conducted by An Individual. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 06/13/2012.
Signature: Francisco Perez Badillo. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 12/10/2024. AJ 1587 12/20/2024, 12/27/2024, 01/03/2025, and 01/10/2025. AJSD 1587
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9024443
Castor Bernadeau Mylvia Family Child Care LLC located at 3121 Sweetwater Springs Blvd 76, Spring Valley, CA 91978.
Registrant:Castor Bernadeau Mylvia Family Child Care LLC, 3121 Sweetwater Springs Blvd 76, Spring Valley, CA 91978. This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company.
REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 09/16/2024. Signature: Mylvia Castor Bernadeau. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 12/12/2024. AJ 1592 12/27/2024, 01/03/2025, 01/10/2025, and 01/17/2025. AJSD 1592
Centennial Realty Financial Services located at 9026 Penticton Way, San Diego, CA 92126. Registrant: Ed M. Bermudez, 9026 Penticton Way, San Diego, CA 92126. This business is conducted by An Individual. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 01/09/2020. Signature: Ed M. Bermudez. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/13/2024. AJ 1579 12/20/2024, 12/27/2024, 01/03/2025, and 01/10/2025. AJSD 1579
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9024948
Postal Connections San Diego located at 4231 Balboa Ave, San Diego, CA 92117.
Registrant: Papouz Global LLC, 10461 Guindo Place, San Diego, 92124. This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 03/19/2024.
Signature: John Georges. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 12/19/2024. AJ 1589 12/27/2024, 01/03/2025, 01/10/2025, and 01/17/2025. AJSD 1589
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9023675
Loraine Lashes LLC located at 2720 E. Plaza Blvd Suite L, National City, CA 91950. Registrant: Loraine Lashes LLC, 3633 Peach Blossom St, National City, CA 91950. This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company.
REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 10/02/2020. Signature: Loraine G. Reduque. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 12/02/2024. AJ 1593 12/27/2024, 01/03/2025, 01/10/2025, and 01/17/2025. AJSD 1593
Ava Massage & Beauty Spa located at 2856 Main St, San Diego, CA 92113. Registrant: Ava Luxurious Beauty LLC, 4815 Ebony Ridge RD, San Diego, CA 92102. This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company.
REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 12/04/2024. Signature: Christina Xueman Xu. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 12/04/2024. AJ 1580 12/20/2024, 12/27/2024, 01/03/2025, and 01/10/2025. AJSD 1580
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9024883
a. Custom Glass Specialties INC located at 821 E 2nd St, National City, CA 91950. b. Commercial Glass & Hardware located at 821 E 2nd St, National City, CA 91950.
Registrant: Custom Glass Specialties INC, 821 E 2nd St, National City, CA 91950. This business is conducted by A Corporation.
REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 05/01/2024.
Signature: Leticia Arias. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 12/19/2024. AJ 1590 12/27/2024, 01/03/2025, 01/10/2025, and 01/17/2025. AJSD 1590
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9023450 COURT ‘N JO’S SOUND ROOM located at 923 E St, San Diego, CA 92101. Registrant: NO REQUESTS EXPERIENCE LLC, 625 Broadway Apt 715, San Diego, CA 92101. This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 09/04/2024. Signature: Jolene Ho. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/25/2024. AJ 1594 01/03, 01/10, 01/17, and 01/24/2025. AJSD 1594
Health Quest Community Care located at 8090 Parkway Drive Ste 100, La Mesa, CA 91942. Registrant: H Squared Health INC, 8090 Parkway Drive Ste 100, La Mesa, CA 919421070 56th St, San Diego, CA 92114. This business is conducted by A Corporation. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE. Signature: Huy Thanh Ho. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/25/2024. AJ 1585 12/20/2024, 12/27/2024, 01/03/2025, and 01/10/2025. AJSD 1585
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9024966
Abide Home Health located at 9474 Kearny Villa Road, Ste. 101, San Diego, CA 92126. Registrant: Abide Home Health Care INC, 9474 Kearny Villa Road, Ste. 101, San Diego, CA 92126. This business is conducted by A Corporation.
REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 08/09/2024. Signature: Camilo Gallego. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 12/19/2024. AJ 1591 12/27/2024, 01/03/2025, 01/10/2025, and 01/17/2025. AJSD 1591
DIEGO
10 Filipino traditions to bring luck and prosperity for the new year
AS the clock strikes 12 on New Year’s Eve, many Filipinos mark the end of one year and the beginning of another with traditions and rituals that are believed to invite prosperity and good luck for the new year.
These time-honored traditions, with a touch of superstition, are rooted in Philippine history and culture with Chinese and Spanish influences.
From arranging 12 round fruits to scattering coins and wearing polka dots, here are some of the ways Filipinos welcome the next 365 days with hopes for good fortune.
10 Filipino New Year
traditions
1. Wear polka dots or the Pantone color of the year
Why settle for the basic red
when you can incorporate polka dots into your New Year’s Eve outfit? Filipinos believe the round silhouette of the pattern (like a coin) represents money and good fortune.
For some people, donning the Pantone color of the year is also believed to bring them luck — plus style points for those family photo ops!
For 2025, the Pantone color of the year is Mocha Mousse, a warm and rich brown hue that’s inspired by chocolate and coffee, symbolizing comfort and harmony.
2. Jumping into the new year (literally)
Grandparents tell kids to jump up and down – as high as they can – at the stroke of midnight, believing this will help children grow taller. Jumping is also
by Mary Villegas / Inquirer.net
believed to bring in good luck.
3. Media Noche
Filipino families gather for Media Noche, a festive table filled with dishes symbolizing prosperity and long life.
This spread, a sumptuous blend of tradition and flavors, includes sticky rice treats, believed to help form a closer family bond, and pancit (noodles) representing long life.
Media Noche also symbolizes togetherness and reflects the values of family, faith and gratitude.
4. A dozen round fruits
Arranging 12 types of round fruits, rooted in Filipino-Chinese tradition, is believed to attract wealth for the new year. Round shapes symbolize money. Some people even add eggs for even more prosperity.
Jessica ann evangelista
GMA Pictures’ “Green Bones” emerged victorious at the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2024 Gabi ng Parangal after it secured a total of six awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Dennis Trillo, and Best Supporting Actor for Ruru Madrid. Following closely behind, Isang Himala ,” which claimed 4th Best Picture, also emerged as one of the night’s biggest winners, with Kakki Teodoro taking home Best Supporting Actress, among other wins. Meanwhile, Judy Ann Santos delivered a career-defining performance in “ Espantaho ,” earning her the Best Actress trophy.
Rounding out the top honors were “The Kingdom” and “My Future You,” named 2nd Best Picture and 3rd Best Picture, respectively.
Vice Ganda was also honored with the Special Jury Citation for his work in “And The Breadwinner Is…” as a “performer who has broken the ground and gone out of the familiar and comfort zone to prove his growth as an artist and tackle issues relevant to contemporary society.”
The host-comedian also bagged the Gender Sensitivity Award, a special recognition given to his film “And The Breadwinner Is…” that thoughtfully and effectively promotes gender awareness, equality, and inclusivity. See the full list of winners
below:
Best Picture: “Green Bones”
2nd Best Picture: “The Kingdom” 3rd Best Picture: “My Future You” 4th Best Picture: “ Isang Himala
Best Actress: Judy Ann Santos of “ Espantaho
Best Actor: Dennis Trillo of “Green Bones”
Best Supporting Actress: Kakki Teodoro of “Isang Himala”
Best Supporting Actor: Ruru Madrid of “Green Bones” Best Director: Michael Tuviera for “The Kingdom” and Crisanto Aquino for “My Future You.”
Best Child Performer: Sienna Stevens of “Green Bones”
Breakthrough Performance: Seth Fedelin of “My Future You” Best Screenplay: “Green Bones” Best Float: “Uninvited” and
“Topakk”
Best Cinematography: “Green Bones”
Best Editing: “My Future You”
Best Production Design: “The Kingdom”
Best Sound Design: “Strange Frequencies: Taiwan
Killer Hospital”
Best Original Theme Song: Juan Karlos’ “ Ang Himala Ay
Nasa Puso ” from the musical entry “ Isang Himala .”
Best Musical Score: “ Isang
Himala ”
Best Visual Effects: “The Kingdom”
Special Jury Citation: Vice Ganda of “And The Breadwinner Is…”
Gender Sensitivity Award: “And The Breadwinner Is…”
Special Jury Prize: “Topakk” and “ Isang Himala ” MMFF Lifetime Achievement Award: Joseph “Erap” Ejercito-Estrada FPJ Memorial Award for Excellence: “Topakk”
Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award: “The Kingdom”.
and pineapples) as they are believed to symbolize obstacles.
5. Open all doors and windows
Every door and window must be open throughout the home when the clock strikes 12 to let the old year and bad spirits out and welcome blessings and good fortune coming in with the new year.
7. Make some noise Fireworks, blowing car horns, banging pots and pans — the noise is believed to scare away evil spirits and ward off bad luck. No fireworks? Grab that torotot (hornpipe) or get creative with kitchenware.
8. Scatter coins everywhere Coins, symbolizing wealth, are scattered everywhere, from the Media Noche table to every nook and corner of the house.
6. Turn the lights on Bright lights symbolize a bright future. Turning on the lights in your home at midnight on New Year’s Eve is a symbolic gesture to welcome positive energy and good luck as brightness is often associated with prosperity and new beginnings.
Since its inception in 1975, the MMFF has been a cornerstone of Philippine cinema, showcasing the best of local films during the holiday season. Buong buhay ko underdog
10. Skip the chicken and some seafood
Some dishes are believed to be unlucky or inauspicious for the new year. Chickens are avoided as they scratch backward, symbolizing setbacks. Because they have wings, all your luck could fly away.
Bottom-feeders like flatfish, cod and shrimp are also avoided as they are believed to symbolize sinking fortune. n
9. Fill up rice and water containers Empty pantry? Not on New Year’s Day. Bare cupboards could mean poverty. Filipinos believe rice bins and water containers filled to the brim symbolize abundance for the coming year. Some people include a glass filled with water and another filled with rice on the Media Noche spread.
Ruru Madrid wins Best Supporting Actor at MMFF 2024
A TEARY-EYED Ruru Madrid took the stage of the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival Gabi ng Parangal on Friday, December 27, as he got his Best Supporting Actor Award for his portrayal of jail guard Xavier Gonzaga in “Green Bones.”
Ruru was pitted against Jhong Hilario, Kokoy de Santos, David Ezra and Sid Lucero, the latter nominated twice for “The Kingdom” and “Topakk.”
It took a few minutes for the actor to compose himself as he prepared to give his acceptance speech.
“Buong buhay ko, lagi po akong underdog, lagi akong talo, naa-underestimate, lagi akong binababa,” Ruru said.
He proceeded to share how he initially felt when he was panned for his acting in the past, but he was made to realize about those criticisms when he achieved his major acting win at the MMFF.
“Nu’ng una, nasasaktan ako, iniisip ko bakit. But then I realized na kaya pala siya nangyayari sa ‘kin, para ‘pag dumating ‘yung araw na ibibigay na sa ‘kin ‘yung kapalit no’n, katulad po nito, hindi ko po ite-take for granted lahat ng ‘yon kasi alam ko ‘yung hirap na pinagdaanan ko bago ko makuha ‘to at hindi po ‘yon naging madali,” he said.
Kaya siguro gusto ko lang rin pong sabihin ‘to dahil alam ko na marami pong nangangarap na sumusuko na lang dahil nauunahan po sila ng takot, nauunahan sila ng hindi nila kaya, na pakiramdam nila walang naniniwala sa kanila. Pero naniniwala ako na basta ikaw, naniniwala ka sa sarili mo na kaya mo, na mararating mo ‘yung pangarap mo, basta malinis ang intensyon mo, nagpu-pursige ka at pinipili mong maging mabuting tao sa lahat ng pagkakataon, makakamit mo ito,” Ruru added. He also mentioned his co-star Dennis Trillo,
whom he said he was privileged to work with. “Green Bones” is GMA Picture’s entry to the 50th MMFF.
Earlier in the night, it won Best Screenplay for National Artist Ricky Lee and Anj Atienza and Best Child Performer for Sienna Stevens. After Ruru’s win, his co-star Dennis also bagged the Best Actor award for his role as the soon-to-be released inmate Domingo “Dom Saltik” Zamora. (Philstar.com)
MANILA — Young star Andrea Brillantes leads the seven Filipinas, including former No. 1 Liza Soberano and new entry BINI’s Aiah, in the list of 100 most beautiful faces of 2024 by a global beauty poll. Andrea bested the likes of Jisoo and Rose of Blackpink, American actress Sydney Sweeney, Korean-American K-pop idol Nancy McDonie, and Chris Evans’ wife, Portuguese actress Alba Baptista.
The other members of Blackpink, Jennie and Lisa, also made the annual list compiled by TC Candler.
After Andrea, Janine Gutierrez entered the list for the fourth year at the 28th spot.
Ivana Alawi also figured in the list at the 52nd and 69th spot, respectively. The Philippines’ new entries come from the K-pop and P-pop worlds. Gehlee, one of the Philippine-born members of K-pop group UNIS, debuted at the 82nd spot. BINI member Aiah, meanwhile, is
Tip: Skip the thorny variety (durians
The winners of the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival held in Solaire on December 27, 2024 include (from
Ruru Madrid Photo from Instagram/@rurumadrid8
Actress Andrea Brillantes STAR / File
IN spite of what critics say about director-writer-actor Atty. Vince M. Tanada, he is a fairly easy person to get along with if you know him well enough. He is an indefatigable workhorse and he is a perfectionist at times. He is not a glamor guy some think of. He loves to work and to do his work well. He is one of the founders of Philstagers, a mobile theater group in the Philippines.
* * *
This month of December was filled with outreach activities for Asia’s Queen of Fire Lae Manego, bringing cheers to the elderly at the Home for the Aged, kids with cancer at CHILDHaus Manila (she went there three times this month; thanks to its director Jeannette Cu’s help) and to Manila’s street children. Lae, who hails from Davao, is a multi-awarded Filipino artist, the latest of which is the 2nd Southeast Asian Premier Business and Achiever Award. Her line-up of activities for 2025 is filled mostly with solo concerts or performances with other artists. She auditioned via Zoom recently for America’s Got Talent and is hoping she would make it to the live performance audition in the U.S. to showcase the Filipinos’ God-given talent. In the interview with Marc Logan on a TV5 show, Lae never forgets her roots. She is not really the glamor girl some
Atty. Vince Tanada and the Philstagers
people may think of. She is a simple person with a kind heart. You are going to love Lae and her music indeed.
* * * Even before I became journalist, I did my own mission of uplifting the lives of the poor in the best, though small, way I could. During my student days at De La Salle UniversityManila, I joined game shows on TV to share my winnings to those persons who needed help. Outside the La Salle campus, I would go to depressed areas. I used to visit in 1987 the burn unit of the Philippine General Hospital where I tried to help Maribel T. Suarez (a malnourished child), Rosemarie Garcia (an epileptic) and a young man from Pampanga. The money given to me by the late famous hairdresser Jun Encarnacion, who I featured in some newspapers, was given to these children. I wrote to concerned institutions and persons to help the burn patients. When I returned to PGH, the three burn patients were not there anymore for an American philanthropist sponsored their treatment abroad. I was very happy and I met the said philanthropist in Manila.
I also made a personal request to some showbiz celebrities and friends I featured to donate whatever they could to ABSCBN’s “Bahay Kalinga,” a publicservice TV program that assisted sick children. It was then hosted by Vicky Garchitorena and the late Frankie Evangelista (Gretchen Tanada OcampoRecto, granddaughter of the late
Sen. Lorenzo Tanada, was then the executive producer).
I tried to help Rechelle Garcia, a one-year-old child who had no anus, through the late Betty GoBelmonte’s column “Pebbles” of the Philippine Star by giving my one-half month salary from the Office of the Press Secretary where I worked as Information Officer III in Malacanang.
* * * I spent Christmas Day lunch and merienda with my aunt Gilda Fernandez-Perez, uncle Federico Fernandez, my cousins and nephews/nieces in Ayala Alabang Village, Muntinlupa City. Later, we attended an online mass at 7 p.m. I am also happy and proud to know that my nephew Gabriel Luis Antonio M. Perez graduated cum laude in Asia Pacific College with BS Computer Science and Cyber Security and Forensics.
In the evening, I went to Quezon City’s Lantana Heights and spent time with the Varsovia, Garcia, de Mesa, and Daigdigan relatives. We had some funny games.
I missed attending the annual Christmas Day Party of Philstagers at the PSF Blackbox
City of San Diego to install permanent barrier along section of Sunset Cliffs
Bluff area deemed unsafe for public access due to coastal erosion
SAN DIEGO
– In order to protect public safety and address the impacts of ongoing coastal erosion, a permanent barricade is being installed at a small section of the bluffs on Sunset Cliffs Boulevard in Point Loma. City of San Diego crews are working this week to install the barrier, replacing a temporary one, to prevent people from accessing the cliff.
Cracks that had developed in rocks along the cliffside, at the water line and away from the road, have since worsened and city staff believe they present a potential risk to people who could be standing on the bluff or the sand below. High surf that is expected this week presents the potential for further damage and erosion to the cliffs.
The location on the cliffs between Adair Street and Osprey Street is a popular photo spot and people had previously climbed down the rocks to access the water. While the area was used as an access point, it was never officially designated as such under the Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
Master Plan – developed in 2005 as a guide to shape and preserve the future of the park.
Construction of the permanent barrier is expected to be completed within the next week. In the meantime, the area is blocked off with caution tape and signs that warn visitors to avoid the bluffs.
As climate change is accelerating sea level rise, coastal erosion is just one of the issues that the city aims to address with the Coastal Resilience Master Plan. A draft
of the plan is currently available for public review, and the city is asking residents for input on coastal resilience projects, including at Sunset Cliffs, to help shape the future of our coastline.
Residents are encouraged to read the plan and then provide feedback on several potential project sites that aim to adapt to sea level rise, support coastal access and recreation, and protect historic cultural resources.
Power up the new year with the library’s Winter Reading Challenge
Theater in Sampaloc, Manila due to time constraints. Last year, I, together with director Emmanuel dela Cruz, was able to attend the New Year’s Eve at the top of the Tanada’s building as we enjoyably watched the fireworks. Mrs. Emy Tanada, Vince’s mother, generously attended to me then. It was my first time to join them.
* * * An actor at Philstagers Foundation, OJ Ar Ci is a phenomenal transgender actress. She will star soon in renowned filmmaker Brillante Mendoza’s movie “Chameleon,” a story about transgenders working in Japan.
* * * Chris Lim and Adelle Ibarrientos-Lim are excellent Philstagers artists. They are award-winning theatre couple who enacts in dozens of theater performances. For one thing, I am amazed by their acting in both Vince Tanada’s “ Juan Luna: Isang Sarsuwela” and “Sa Barong-Barong” (reflecting the issues confronted by persons living in makeshift dwellings in a city). More of this couple in the future issue of this column.
New
* * * Thanks to Dr. Patrick Saburit of Kylledmed Philippines, a golden recipient of the 2nd Southeast Asian Premier Business and Achiever Award, for inviting me to their Christmas party. I won a new cellphone thru a game in which you rolled a white tissue under a glass full of water to reach to your major prize.
Thanks too to Dr. Patrick’s wife Maricar and kids Mariam Kylle and Marion Khalid, Maricar Diaz, Paulo Saburit, Joanne Rabang, Gretchen Coronado, Angelo Sta. Maria, Ehrold Cerda, and Miguel Vistal.
* * * I enjoyed the Christmas party of Police Files Tonite publication at the historic National Press Club. It was a night of prizes, games, songs, music and camaraderie. Thanks to publisher Joey Galicia Venancio and entertainment editor Blessie K. Cirera.
*
* * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
* * * rogeliocmedina@yahoo.com
in 2025: Building more homes faster, safer roadways, protecting more workers
SACRAMENTO — As the new year begins, California continues its forward momentum with a new set of laws signed by Governor Gavin Newsom that improve the health, safety, and well-being of all Californians.
“California’s new laws tackle today’s biggest emerging challenges head-on. Through partnership with the Legislature, we’re strengthening public safety, building more housing, and providing more resources for our communities. These practical reforms protect what matters most while creating more opportunities for all Californians,” Gov. Newsom said in a release sent out by his office, Building more homes, faster Here are just some of the laws taking effect in 2025 that will create more housing for all Californians:
By streamlining processes and holding local governments accountable, these changes will create more housing available for Californians across all income levels.
new and increased penalties for possession of items stolen from a vehicle with intent to resell, and allows prosecution of automotive property thefts, regardless of whether the vehicle was locked.
• Speed safety in Malibu:
Along the Pacific Coast Highway earlier this year, the governor signed SB 1297 by Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), which allows Malibu to install up to five automated speed enforcement cameras to reduce speeding, particularly in high-risk areas like school zones. The pilot program focuses on promoting traffic safety by automatically detecting vehicles exceeding speed limits and issuing fines.
Technology-focused program offers prizes for San Diego readers of all ages
SAN DIEGO – Pick up a new book in the new year and join the City of San Diego Public Library’s (SDPL) Winter Reading Challenge. This year’s theme is Be a Reading Machine and focuses on the world of engineering, invention and high-tech skills.
“The new year is a great time to reconnect with the fun and enjoyment of reading, and our staff has recommendations to help you find the perfect book, no matter your age,” said Library Director Misty Jones. “SDPL also has exciting events and programs centered around this year’s Winter Reading Challenge theme. We encourage everyone to stop by their local library or IDEA Lab and create something new.”
The Winter Reading Challenge runs from Jan. 1 to Jan. 31, 2025, and is open to readers of all ages. Participants can earn prizes by completing a combination of five books, five hours of reading or literacy-based activities like attending a library STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) program, creating a simple do-it-yourself machine or using a free tool to learn more about coding. Upon completion, readers will be eligible for prizes, including museum passes, a bendable robot and a special edition robot pin featuring Odi, SDPL’s mascot. The newly opened Pacific Highlands Ranch Library will host a free Winter Reading Challenge kick-off celebration on Tuesday, Jan. 7, at 5 p.m.
(City of San Diego Release) of recommended books and activities by visiting sandiego.gov/WinterReading. Registration is also available in person at any SDPL location and participants can visit the SDPL calendar online to find storytimes and book discussions near them. With a vision of being the place for opportunity,
• More housing in more communities: SB 1037 by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) cracks down on local governments that block or delay approved housing, imposing penalties up to $50,000 per month — funds that go right back into supporting affordable housing in those same areas.
Meanwhile, AB 3093 by Assemblymember Chris Ward (D-San Diego) updates the rules so cities and counties must plan for everyone’s housing needs — especially folks at the lowest income levels — so that all Californians can have a place to live.
• Expanding emergency shelter options: SB 1395 by Senator Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park) makes it easier to develop and operate interim housing, including emergency shelters and navigation centers. These facilities provide more than a place to stay – they connect people with housing assistance, health care, and other services to help them get back on their feet.
• Expanding farmworker housing: Every day, California’s farmworkers put food on tables of residents across the state, yet many struggle to find homes near the fields where they work. AB 3035 by Assemblymember Gail Pellerin (D-Santa Cruz) makes it easier to build new farmworker housing in Santa Clara and Santa Cruz Counties, helping agricultural workers live closer to their jobs and spend more time with their families.
The legislation adds to California’s ongoing efforts to address the decades-long housing and homelessness crisis and create foundational changes that will build strong communities now and in the future. For a larger list of new laws that strengthen California’s comprehensive effort to streamline housing production, address homelessness, and hold localities accountable to state housing law, visit https:// www.gov.ca.gov/2024/09/19/ governor-newsom-signsbipartisan-housing-packageand-launches-prop-1-homekeyinitiative/.
Safer roadways
Meanwhile, here are just some of the laws taking effect in 2025 to improve transportation for all Californians:
• Cracking down on sideshows: A package of new laws will strengthen law enforcement’s ability to combat sideshows and street takeovers. The laws expand vehicle impoundment authority, impose stricter penalties, and target reckless driving activities on highways and parking lots.
• Stopping license plate obstruction: AB 2111 by Assemblymember Wallis (R-Rancho Mirage) will prohibit a person from altering their license plate’s reflective coating to evade electronic capture of the license plate for any reason. The new law seeks to improve the enforcement of traffic violations that can be detected by cameras.
• Fighting car break-ins and theft: SB 905 by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) adds
• Safer, more inclusive street design: SB 960 by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) will enhance California’s state highway system by requiring Caltrans to incorporate complete streets elements, such as bike lanes, sidewalks, and transit facilities, into its planning and projects. These projects will help improve our state’s transit infrastructure and support our climate and mobility goals.
• Making transportation spending clear and accountable: AB 2086 by Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo (D-Santa Clarita) ensures Californians can see the impact of their transportation dollars by requiring Caltrans to publicly report how projects align with efforts to improve safety, plan for a changing climate, and serve all communities.
Safer streets and transparent spending help the transportation system work better for all Californians.
Protecting more workers In other developments, here are just some of the new laws taking effect in 2025 that protect more workers:
• Empowering workers to control their digital likeness: AB 2602 by Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San José), ensures workers have control over the use of their digital likeness, a critical protection in the age of generative AI and emerging technologies.
• Ending captive audience meetings: SB 399 by Senator Dr. Aisha Wahab (D-Silicon Valley) bans employers from requiring workers to attend captive audience meetings on religious or political matters unrelated to
(From left) Jeannette Cu, David Angelo Inigo, Lae Manego and Oggie Medina
Gabriel Perez with grandmother Gilda Fernandez-Perez
Vicky Garchitorena, host of ABS-CBN’s Bahay Kalinga TV show
Philstagers couple Chris and Adelle Lim
Director Vince Tañada brings relief goods to Museo ng Pag-asa.
(From left) Maricar Diaz, Oggie Medina, Patrick Saburit, Ehrold Cerda, Angelo Sta. Maria, Gretchen Coronado, Joanne Rabang, Maricar Saburit, and Paulo Saburit at Kylledmed Philippines’ thanksgiving party.
Left photo: (from left) Jun Perez, Mae Perez, Federico Fernandez, Boots Perez, Oggie Medina, and (seated) Gilda Perez; Right photo: (from left)spending Christmas Day with the Perez family in Ayala Alabang Village.
Police Files Tonite publisher Joey Galicia Venancio (standing with white shirt and thumbs-up sign) at the National Press Club.
OJ Ar Ci in Fukuoka, Japan
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Commissioner Lara issues landmark regulation to expand insurance access for Californians amid growing climate risks
Measure is final major step in historic reform to expand insurance coverage across California SACRAMENTO — Insurance
Commissioner Ricardo Lara on Monday, December 30 announced the final major step in his Sustainable Insurance Strategy, issuing a historic regulation aimed at restoring stability to California’s insurance market while addressing the growing risks of wildfires and climate change.
The new Net Cost of Reinsurance in Ratemaking Regulation requires insurance companies – for the first time – to increase coverage in high-risk areas, ensuring more options for Californians while limiting the costs passed on to consumers. The regulation works hand-in-hand with other reforms that Commissioner Lara has spearheaded that will have the effect of increasing insurance coverage options for Californians across the state.
“Californians deserve a reliable insurance market that doesn’t retreat from communities most vulnerable to wildfires and climate change,” said Commissioner Lara. “This is a historic moment for California. My Sustainable Insurance Strategy is focused on addressing the challenges we face today and building a resilient insurance market for the future. With input from thousands of residents throughout California, this reform balances protecting consumers with the need to strengthen our market against climate risks.”
Reinsurance is a financial tool that is part of how insurance companies manage their risk portfolios associated with the policies they write to homeowners and business owners. Its roots date back to the 14th century, when merchants and traders sought ways to spread the risks of perilous ocean voyages, often relying on multiple insurers to cover their ventures. Today, as climate risks escalate across the nation, reinsurance has become an even more imperative component of insurance companies operating in high-risk and distressed areas, including California. Modernizing regulations around reinsurance will enable insurance companies to expand coverage and write
more policies in communities across the state facing greater risk, ensuring stability and resilience in our insurance market.
All other states except California allow for costs of reinsurance in rates and, in 2023, the first systematic review of climate risk strategies by Ceres and the California Department of Insurance revealed that reinsurance is the primary strategy most insurance companies use to continue to write and expand coverage in higher risk parts of California and across the country.
At a glance
What it means: Insurance companies must increase coverage in wildfire-prone regions, ensuring they write policies for at least 85% of their statewide market share, with annual increases until the threshold is met.
More coverage for Californians in wildfire-distressed areas:
All homeowners insurance companies must increase the writing of comprehensive policies in wildfire distressed areas equivalent to no less than 85% of their statewide market share, whereas there is no current legal requirement today for insurers to provide any coverage in highrisk areas. Companies will have to continue to increase by 5% every two years until they meet this threshold.
Cost caps: The regulation treats reinsurance like other insurance company expenses allowed under Prop. 103 today – such as claims handling or agent commissions –by establishing an industry-wide standard cost of reinsurance and capping the amount of reinsurance costs that can be charged to consumers. Companies spending more than the industry standard cannot pass these costs onto their policyholders.
Greater efficiency: Establishing a standard cost based on an index of what insurance companies spend encourages them to be efficient and compete for the best price for reinsurance, so consumers get the best value. California-only costs: The regulation limits costs to California-only, so consumers
do not pay for the cost of Gulf Coast hurricanes or Midwest windstorms.
Reliable rates: The regulation goes hand-in-hand with forwardlooking wildfire catastrophe models that can better predict future rates. Under the current system of historical data, insurance consumers are paying balloon premiums and rate spikes after major wildfires, without increased availability.
Prevents “model-shopping”: “Model shopping” describes when insurance companies choose one model that produces higher rates for consumers, and another that lowers their reinsurance costs. To prevent model shopping, the regulation requires insurance companies utilize the same model for both. This promotes more consistent approaches to assessing risks, and balances the scales for consumers.
Largest insurance reform in 30 years: The new regulation is the final major element of the largest insurance reform in 30 years for California. The Department held multiple workshops and hearings in 2024, including a meeting on December 5 which was attended by more than 500 people and received 70 verbal and written comments which helped shape this regulation.
Commissioner Lara has met with tens of thousands of Californians in all 58 counties across the state since taking office as well as testifying at four legislative briefings about his Sustainable Insurance Strategy over the past year.
Commissioner Lara announced on December 13 that he had finalized a wildfire catastrophe modeling regulation with a requirement for insurers to increase their policy offerings in underserved areas of the state as a condition of incorporating catastrophe modeling into ratemaking. These two regulatory efforts work together, with other Sustainable Insurance Strategy reforms, to increase the availability of homeowners and commercial insurance policies in wildfire distressed areas.
(CA Dep’t of Insurance Release)
Make 2025 the year to get involved: City of San Diego seeking volunteers for boards, commissions
You can help shape San Diego’s future by serving on a city board or commission
SAN DIEGO – As the season of fresh starts and New Year’s resolutions gets underway, the City of San Diego is inviting residents to kick off 2025 by making a difference in their community.
Volunteering for one of the city’s boards and commissions offers San Diegans a chance to get involved and help shape the future of their city.
City boards and commissions play an important role in guiding San Diego’s policies, regulations and community priorities. With nearly 50 boards and commissions, there are numerous opportunities for residents to contribute their skills and perspectives to a range of areas, including:
• Access and Inclusion
• Arts and Culture
• Finance and Economic Development
• Neighborhood Infrastructure
• Parks and Planning
• Public Protection
• Sustainability.
Examples of these boards and commissions include the Consolidated Plan Advisory Board, the Franchise Compliance Review Committee, the Human Relations Commission and many more.
“Serving on a board or commission is a meaningful way to give back to the community and
make your voice heard,” said Chida Warren-Darby, director of the Office of Boards and Commissions. “We encourage anyone interested in volunteering to explore the various boards and commissions to find the one that aligns with their passions and expertise.”
To be considered for a board or commission, applicants must complete an online application, which asks for information such as employment history, references and specific interests related to the board or commission. Some board seats have specific requirements as to an applicant’s skills, political affiliation or demographics.
In 2024, San Diego’s boards and commissions included more than 400 volunteer members, who contributed to several notable accomplishments, including the launch of a new Women’s Survey by the Commission on the Status of Women. This survey aims to gather valuable insights into the experiences, challenges and aspirations of women across San Diego. As another example, the Human Relations Commission authored a resolution to declare a united front against hate in San Diego. For more information or to submit an application, visit sandiego.gov/Boards-and-Commissions. (City of San Diego Release)
their work, and protects them from adverse action if they choose not to participate. This important law defends worker rights and autonomy.
• Improving janitorial worker safety: AB 2364 by Assemblymember Luz Rivas requires evaluation of ways to enhance worker safety and protect employment rights in the janitorial industry.
• Reforming PAGA: AB 2288 by Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San José) and SB 92 by Senator Tom Umberg (D-Santa Ana) reform the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) to strengthen worker protections, encourage employer compliance, and provide additional opportunities for early resolution of claims –striking a balanced approach that benefits both businesses and workers.
• Establishing a $25 healthcare minimum wage: SB 525(enacted in 2023) by Senator María Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles) sets a new minimum wage for healthcare workers, a significant win for workers. 2025 will mark the first full year of the law’s implementation.
Our workplaces, families, and communities are stronger when workers have protection from extreme weather, fair payment for their work, and time to prepare for workplace changes. These
help
services continue reliably while giving workers and their families the stability they deserve. (Collated from CA Governor’s Office Releases)
