Undocumented Filipinos in US advised about their rights as mass deportation threat looms
LOS ANGELES – On President Donald Trump’s first day in office Monday, the Philippine Embassy issued an advisory reminding undocumented immigrants about their rights.
“All Filipinos in the United States have rights, regardless of their immigration status,” according to the advisory, titled “Kabayan, May Karapatan Ka!”
“The Philippine Embassy and Consulates General in the United States are here to ensure that Filipinos are informed, safe and supported. Kabayan, you deserve to know your rights.”
The advisory was released as Trump prepares to issue 10 executive orders related to immigration, including declaring a national emergency at the border, raising fears of mass depor-
Trump’s first trip as president will be to view aftermath of LA fires, says report
Trump was invited to visit the wildfire area amid his war of words with CA Gov. Gavin Newsom
LOS ANGELES – Presidentelect Donald Trump said Saturday, January 18 that he will “probably” travel to California next week to view the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County.
“I will be, probably, at the end of the week,” he told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Saturday. “I was going to go, actually yesterday (Jan. 17),” the president-elect added, “but I thought it would be better if I went as president. It’s a little bit more appropriate, I suspect.”
Meanwhile, sources told NewsNation that Trump’s first official trip of his second administration will
Donald Trump sworn in as 47th US president
by Rogelio Constantino Medina AJPress
THE swearing-in of Mr. Donald Trump, the 47th President of the United States of America, on January 20, 2025 was held inside the Capitol Rotunda due to extreme weather condition in Washington, D.C.
Earlier, President-elect Trump and former President Joe Biden entered the Capitol side by side, the incoming president and the outgoing president together. They were flanked by a military honor guard contingent in the halls and followed by their wives and the outgoing and
incoming vice presidents.
“Good morning,” Trump said as he entered the Capitol with Biden. Asked how they felt, Biden responded: “Well.”
Emancipation Hall’s overflow viewers jumped to their feet in applause as the president-elect walked into the Capitol Rotunda and onto their screens. They started a muted “U-S-A” chant that quickly fizzled as the announcer asked everyone to take their seats for the ceremony.
Governors had also been relegated to the Emancipation Hall overflow viewing space, including Republicans Indiana Gov. Mike
Survey
drop in Marcos, Sara ratings
THE latest survey of Tangere, a public opinion polling company, showed notable shifts in the satisfaction and trust ratings of key government officials.
The survey noted a significant decrease in Vice President Sara Duterte's satisfaction and trust ratings. Duterte's satisfaction figure dropped from 45.5 percent to 40.6 percent, and her trust figure is down to 47.0 percent from 53.4 percent.
The vice president continues to enjoy robust support from Mindanao, her political stronghold.
Duterte's dissatisfaction rating rose from 36.8 percent to 39.0 percent, and
distrust climbed from 27.0 percent to 29.0 percent. Respondents from lower-middle-income and low-income classes were key contributors to these increases, reflecting potential discontent among economically vulnerable sectors.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s satisfaction and trust ratings also trended down, albeit less pronounced than Duterte's. Satisfaction decreased from 47.9 percent to 46.2 percent, and trust fell from 60.1 percent to 58.5 percent.
Support for the president remained strong among respondents from Northern and Central Luzon, as well as respondents ages 18 to 35 years.
Marcos' dissatisfaction and distrust
Braun, Florida Gov. and former presidential candidate Ron DeSantis, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, a Democrat. Kari Lake, a former candidate for senator and governor of Arizona, was also present.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer entered the Capitol. Asked how he felt, Schumer, the New York Democrat, holding a bright blue cap said, “Feel great about the bills.” Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, said it is “bright,
MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday congratulated newly sworn-in U.S. President Donald Trump and expressed eagerness to work with his administration. Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the U.S. on January 20 (U.S. time).
“Congratulations to POTUS @ realdonaldtrump and to the American people on another peaceful transfer of power in their Nation’s nearly 250-year history. I look forward to working closely with you and your Administration,” Marcos said in a statement.
“The strong and lasting PH-US alliance will continue to uphold our shared vision of prosperity and security in the region,” he added.
Last November 19, Marcos had a “friendly” and “productive” call with Trump, where he expressed the Philippines’ desire to further
LOS ANGELES – California
Attorney General Rob Bonta is leading the state’s fight against President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship.
Bonta announced on Tuesday, January 21 the state is filing a lawsuit seeking to block the executive order.
The lawsuit – joined by 21 other states and San Francisco – argues that the order violates the 14th
Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Section 1401 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
“The president’s executive order attempting to rescind birthright citizenship is blatantly unconstitutional and quite frankly, unAmerican,” The Filipino American attorney general said in a statement.
“We are asking a court to immediately block this order from taking effect and ensure
that the rights of Americanborn children impacted by this order remain in effect while litigation proceeds.”
Bonta said Trump “has overstepped his authority by a mile with this order, and we will hold him accountable.”
Under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, all children born on U.S. soil are automatically granted U.S. citizenship and the rights u PAGE 2
MANILA — Malacañang on Monday, January 20 branded as “lies” the alleged presence of blank items in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), or whose amounts were supposedly meant to be filled out at the behest of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his close associates.
In an interview in Taguig City, the president denied allegations by former President Rodrigo Duterte and his allies that the 2025 GAA was riddled with blanks.
“He’s lying. He’s a [former] president, he knows that you cannot pass a GAA with a blank,” he told reporters after the launch of the Tesla Center Philippines.
Marcos was reacting to allegations made by Duterte about alleged irregularities in the bicameral conference committee report on the 2025 GAA, which aired in an online podcast on Saturday, January 18. Davao City Rep. Isidro
CA Attorney General Rob Bonta File photo
Donald Trump sworn in as...
sunny outside and bright in our heart.” Johnson said he expects “a lot” of executive orders from Trump. Republicans and Democrats sat among each other as lawmakers did not have designated seats and took selfies before the official inaugural ceremony began. While a majority of those in attendance were allies of President-elect Trump, lawmakers who have been critical of him and most recently outcasted also arrived to watch his inauguration ceremony.
Rep. Pete Aguilar, a member of Democratic Leadership, led his colleagues into the Rotunda. The California lawmaker was pardoned by Biden recently for his work on the January 6, 2025 committee, which spent more than a year investigating Trump’s efforts to stay in office in 2020. Also in attendance were Rep. Mike Turner, a Republican from Ohio, who until last week was the chairman of the powerful House Intelligence committee. Turner was removed from the position by Speaker Mike Johnson after reportedly being urged by Trump to fill his place with a more conservative
member.
All former living presidents attended and they were followed by the Supreme Court justices. All of Trump’s children took their seats on the platform. Former and current foreign leaders also made their way into Rotunda, including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and recently-elected Argentinian President Javier Milei.
The CEOs of Meta, X, and Amazon sat in front of the president-elect’s entire Cabinet, a nod to the importance Trump has given the heads of some of the most powerful companies and social media platforms over his agency heads. Telsa owner Elon Musk and media magnate and Fox News creator Rupert Murdoch took their seats in the VIP area. Podcast host Joe Rogan was also seen taking his seat near the platform.
The bipartisan leaders of the 60th Inaugural Committee kicked off the ceremony by highlighting the endurance of American democracy as the country is close to celebrating 250 years. “Our great American experiment, grounded in the rule of law, has endured. So as we inaugurate a new president, let us remember
that the power of those in this room comes from the people,” Sen. Amy Klobuchar, the committee chair, said in her speech.
Her Republican counterpart, Sen. Deb Fischer, echoed that sentiment. “Our democracy promised the American people the power to change, to chart their own destiny,” Fischer said. “That’s the beauty that is the importance of democracy. It allows endurance, the permanence of a nation and never change.”
During Presidentelect Trump's inaugural speech, he is laying out his executive orders, starting with declaring a state of emergency on the southern border, which received a standing ovation from all Republicans and a few swing state Democrats, including Reps. Don Davis and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. Elon Musk threw his hands up in the air as Trump announced the U.S. will plant its flag on Mars.
Later, the 60th Presidential Inaugural Ceremony Viewing and Parade was held at the Capital One Arena, a 20,000seat entertaining and sports venue that hosts big-name acts plus NBA, NHL and WNBA games. n
Fil-Am attorney general leads fight...
and privileges that come with it.
In 1898, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed this right in a case brought by Wong Kim Ark, a San Franciscoborn, Chinese-American man who had been denied his re-entry rights after a trip abroad.
“As home of Wong Kim Ark, a San Francisco native who fought – successfully –to have his U.S. citizenship recognized, California condemns the president’s attempts to erase history and ignore 125 years of Supreme
Court precedent,” Bonta said. Within hours of taking office, the president issued an executive order “disregarding the U.S. Constitution and this longestablished precedent,” Bonta said. The order directs federal agencies to deny the citizenship rights of American-born children whose parents are not lawful residents. The order instructs the Social Security Administration and Department of State,
respectively, to cease issuing social security numbers and U.S. passports to these children, and directs all federal agencies to treat these children as ineligible for any privilege, right or benefit that is reserved by law to individuals who are U.S. citizens.
“If allowed to stand, the order would strip tens of thousands of children born each year of their ability to fully and fairly be a part of American society as rightful citizens, with all the benefits and privileges,” Bonta said.
(Inquirer.net)
Ronald McDonald House
Smith’s Food & Drug
Marcos slams Duterte ‘lies’ on items...
Ungab found the blanks in the approved report of Congress’ bicameral committee and said that it was the first time for him to see such a thing in his 15 years in the House of Representatives.
A former chair of the House appropriations panel, Ungab claimed that several portions of the bicam report were left blank for subsequent filling out of amounts at their behest.
But since the GAA was already signed by the president on Dec. 30, there was no other recourse but to question it at the Supreme Court, he added.
Discrepancy
Among the items purportedly left blank in the final bicameral report ratified by the Senate and the House on Dec. 11 were intended for the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), agencies under the Department of Agriculture.
Ungab particularly cited line 49 on page SP 11 of the report, where the amount of P74.57 billion next to the acronym NIA was deleted and replaced with a blank.
Another item opposite the acronym PCA also had the P889.06 million deleted and replaced with a blank.
Below these items, the total of P104 billion was also deleted and replaced with a blank.
He also observed that on page SP 11 of the bicameral report, the agriculture and fisheries modernization program was allotted P146.33 billion, but in the GAA, the program was only P125.72 billion, which was a discrepancy.
There were several pages with blank items and he initially found at least 13 of these, Ungab said.
“With all these findings, we can see that the bicam report was defective, why was it signed by members? The House and the Senate ratified the defective bicameral report,” Ungab said.
People’s money
Duterte, who was part of the podcast’s five-member panel, criticized the “incomplete”
bicam report on the national budget, saying leaving blanks was “unacceptable.”
“[If it’s approved with blank items], that is not valid legislation,” Duterte said in a “Basta Dabawenyo” special episode aired live on Facebook on Jan. 18.
“[If something is lacking], that is not a valid budget for implementation,” he said. “It’s not only inaccurate but I think the budget is invalid.”
The former president also compared the blank items to issuing blank checks, where the holder of the check can just write the amount before cashing it.
“[You can’t do that with] people’s money. Everything [in the budget] must be explained; clear, patent, without doubt. [This money has to be spent for this particular item]… you can’t leave anything vacant to be filled up later. That is not allowed by law,” he noted. ” I’d like to remind Congress, that is wrong.”
Duterte said the amount intended for each item in the budget was things that could not be delegated to anybody other than the lawmakers.
“The amount after each item has to be exact; you can’t just correct it after the law is passed,” he said. “Those are substantial items that can’t be classified as typographical or grammatical errors, especially if [those had] nothing to do with what Congress intended in law. Otherwise, that is falsification or forgery; you can go to jail for that.”
Fake news
But the president took exception to his predecessor’s statements.
“[Duterte is] lying because he knows perfectly well that that doesn’t ever happen.
In the entire history of the Philippines, we are not allowed to have a GAA that does not specify the name of the project and how much [funding] is allocated,” he pointed out. “So, it’s a lie.”
He urged skeptics to go over the 2025 GAA, which is available online through the website of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
“They don’t need to comb over every single line of the budget. They can just check online and find items that critics are referring to as ‘blank check,’ and they can prove that what I am saying is true: that that’s a lie,” he said.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said Duterte and his allies were peddling “fake news.”
“The peddling of such fake news is outrightly malicious and should be condemned as criminal. No page of the 2025 national budget was left unturned before the president signed it into law,” he noted.
“The former president and his cohorts should know better that the GAA could not contain blank items,” Bersamin added.
According to the executive secretary, the 4,057-page 2025 GAA, printed in two volumes, was “exhaustively reviewed” by hundreds of personnel from Congress and the DBM.
“This meticulous line-byline scrutiny is a preenactment check performed by dedicated civil servants to ensure that the GAA contained no single discrepancy in the amounts being appropriated,” he said.
“It is impossible for any funding items to be left blank, as alleged by misinformed and malicious sources,” Bersamin added. n
Survey shows drop in Marcos, Sara...
ratings rose, with significant contributions from respondents in the Davao and Northern Mindanao regions, as well as older Filipinos aged over 51.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez chalked up increases in both satisfaction and trust ratings. Romualdez satisfaction rose from 47.9 percent to 49.0 percent, while trust increased from 58.2 percent to 59.0 percent.
Tangere attributed Romualdez's gains to legislative successes, particularly the recent quad comm hearings, government assistance programs, as well as heightened public awareness.
Northern Luzon, Central Luzon and Eastern Visayas showed the strongest support for Romualdez, although dissatisfaction and distrust were higher among respondents
Trump’s
from Davao and Northern Mindanao, as well as older age groups.
Senate President Francis Escudero saw declines in his satisfaction and trust ratings.
Dissatisfaction and distrust levels increased, which Tangere said reflected public concerns over the government's handling of education.
The survey showed that 81 percent of respondents prioritized education as a critical issue, emphasizing a gap in addressing public expectations.
Escudero managed to maintain his position as the highest-rated top government official, suggesting resilience in his overall approval.
Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo had an increase in both satisfaction and trust ratings, bolstered by a rise in public awareness. His dissat-
isfaction and distrust ratings remained the lowest among top government officials. The Tangere survey was conducted from Jan. 13 to 16 using a mobile-based respondent application. A sample size of 2,000 participants was selected through a stratified random sampling method with a ± 2.20 percent margin of error at a 95 percent confidence level. The respondents were geographically distributed, with 12 percent from Metro Manila, 23 percent from Northern Luzon, 22 percent from Southern Luzon, 20 percent from the Visayas and 23 percent from Mindanao.
Tangere is a member of the Marketing and Opinion Research Society of the Philippines, Philippine Association of National Advertisers and the Philippine Marketing Association. n
first trip as president will be...
be to visit areas ravaged by the LA fires after his inauguration late next week.
He was invited to visit the wildfire area last week by Gov. Gavin Newsom and County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, amid a war of words between Trump and Newsom.
Trump criticized Newsom in the early hours of the wildfire crisis for policies that he said hampered the firefighting effort.
“Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way,” Trump wrote on the Truth Social platform.
“He wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt, by giving it less water (it didn’t work!),
but didn’t care about the people of California. Now the ultimate price is being paid. I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to FLOW INTO CALIFORNIA! He is the blame for this. On top of it all, no water for fire hydrants, not firefighting planes. A true disaster!” Trump issued another comment on the fires later.
“The fires are still raging in L.A. The incompetent pols have no idea how to put them out. Thousands of magnificent houses are gone, and many more will soon be lost. There is death all over the place. This is one of the worst catastrophes in the history of our Country. They just can’t put out the fires. What’s wrong with them?” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Newsom blasted Trump’s response on “Meet the Press” last Sunday, January 19.
“Responding to Donald Trump’s insults, we would spend another month,” Newsom told NBC News.
“I’m very familiar with them. Every elected official that he disagrees with is very familiar with them.” Newsom said Trump was “somehow connecting the delta smelt to this fire, which is inexcusable because it’s inaccurate. Also, incomprehensible to anyone that understands water policy in the state.”
The governor said he was concerned that his feud with Trump could delay badly needed federal disaster aid.
“… that’s his style,” Newsom said. “And we take it seriously to the extent that in the past it’s taken a little bit more time [to get federal aid].”
Some officials have said they expect the fires to constitute the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history.
The county and state have issued emergency proclamations, and President Joe Biden approved a Major Disaster declaration for the state. (Inquirer.net with CNS report)
Former President Rodrigo Duterte Malacañang file photo
Junk food turns public villain as power shifts in Washington
by stephanie armour and david hilzenrath KFF Health Newa
THE new Trump administration could be coming for your snacks.
For years, the federal government has steered clear of regulating junk food, fast food, and ultra-processed food.
Now attitudes are changing. Some members of President-elect Donald Trump’s inner circle are gearing up to battle “Big Food,” or the companies that make most of the food and beverages consumed in the United States. Nominees for top health agencies are taking aim at ultra-processed foods that account for an estimated 70% of the nation’s food supply. Based on recent statements, a variety of potential politically charged policy options to regulate ultra-processed food may land on the Trump team menu, including warning labels, changes to agribusiness subsidies, and limits on which products consumers can buy with government food aid.
The push to reform the American diet is being driven largely by conservatives who have taken up the cause that has long been a darling of the left. Trump supporters such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose controversial nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services still faces Senate confirmation, are embracing a concept that champions natural foods and alternative medicine. It’s a movement they’ve dubbed “MAHA,” or Make America Healthy Again. Their interest has created momentum because their goals have fairly broad bipartisan support even amid a bitterly divided Congress in which lawmakers from both sides of the aisle focused on the issue last year.
It’s likely to be a pitched battle because the food industry wields immense political influence and has successfully thwarted previous efforts to regulate its products or marketing. The category of “food processing and sales companies,” which includes Tyson Foods and Nestle SA, tallied $26.7 million in spending on lobbying in 2024, according to OpenSecrets. That’s up from almost $10 million in 1998.
“They have been absolutely instrumental and highly, highly successful at delaying any regulatory effectiveness in America,” said Laura Schmidt, a health policy professor at the University of CaliforniaSan Francisco. “It really does feel like there needs to be a moment of reckoning here where people start asking the question, ‘Why do we have to live like this?’”
“Ultra-processed food” is a widely used term that means different things to different people and is used to describe
items ranging from sodas to many frozen meals. These products often contain added fats, starches, and sugars, among other things. Researchers say consumption of ultra-processed foods is linked — in varying levels of intensity — to chronic conditions like diabetes, cancer, mental health problems, and early death.
Nutrition and health leaders are optimistic that a reckoning is already underway. Kennedy has pledged to remove processed foods from school lunches, restrict certain food additives such as dyes in cereal, and shift federal agricultural subsidies away from commodity crops widely used in ultra-processed foods.
The intensifying focus in Washington has triggered a new level of interest on the legal front as lawyers explore cases to take on major foodmakers for selling products they say result in chronic disease.
Bryce Martinez, now 18, filed a lawsuit in December against almost a dozen foodmakers such as Kraft Heinz, The Coca-Cola Co., and Nestle USA. He developed diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by age 16, and is seeking to hold them accountable for his illnesses. According to the suit, filed in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, the companies knew or should have known ultra-processed foods were harmful and addictive.
The lawsuit noted that Martinez grew up eating heavily advertised, brand-name foods that are staples of the American diet — sugary soft drinks, Cheerios and Lucky Charms, Skittles and Snickers, frozen and packaged dinners, just to name a few.
Nestle, Coca-Cola, and Kraft Heinz didn’t return emails seeking comment for this article. The Consumer Brands Association, a trade association for makers of consumer packaged goods, disputed the allegations.
“Attempting to classify foods as unhealthy simply because they are processed, or demonizing food by ignoring its full nutrient content, misleads consumers and exacerbates health disparities,” said Sarah Gallo, senior vice president of product policy, in a statement.
Other law firms are on the hunt for children or adults who believe they were harmed by consuming ultra-processed foods, increasing the likelihood of lawsuits.
One Indiana personal injury firm says on its website that “we are actively investigating ultra processed food (UPF) cases.” Trial attorneys in Texas also are looking into possible legal action against u PAGE 4
‘Second responders’– concerns mount over abuse of immigrant workers in LA fire recovery
by PilaR MaRReRo Ethnic Media Services
EVEN as the devastating fires in Los Angeles continue to burn, leaving a trail of destruction, stories are emerging about the role immigrants are playing in recovery efforts from what is likely the worst disaster in California history.
Some are calling them, “second responders.”
“The guys (day laborers) are already out helping because there aren’t enough city personnel,” says Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of LA (CHIRLA). “They are going through the streets, helping people cut down their trees and get them off the roads.”
But Salas and others worry about the exploitation many of these workers face.
“It’s something they always go through,” she notes. “They go, clean up, and rebuild, and all of a sudden, it’s no pay, entry into toxic zones with no protection, and contractors hiring subcontractors
and day laborers with no guarantees.”
Donald Trump’s return to the White House on January 20 heightens such fears, with his promise of mass deportations targeting unauthorized migrants increasing their sense of vulnerability.
“I think people might not show up for jobs in Los Angeles for fear of being raided,” said Jennie Murray of the National Immigration Forum, which brings together business owners and law enforcement leaders sympathetic to the need for comprehensive immigration reform.
A majority of essential workers in construction and disaster cleanup, critical to recovery in communities like Pacific Palisades, Altadena, and elsewhere affected by the fires, are immigrants.
Many are undocumented or have temporary permission under programs like TPS and DACA, programs the new administration is threatening to eliminate.
“These are the people who are rebuilding the United States after hurricanes,
floods, and fires; the vast majority are immigrants, and they are highly vulnerable, and they are highly exploited while doing that work,” explained activist Saket Soni of Resilient Workforce in an 2023 interview with NPR. Post-disaster recovery industry
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2025, the George W. Bush administration temporarily suspended sanctions on employers who hired undocumented immigrants in order to facilitate rebuilding efforts in affected areas.
Since then, natural disasters linked to climate change have multiplied, with immigrant workers the backbone of what has become a multi-billiondollar, post-disaster recovery industry financed by both the government and insurance companies.
Experts say fear of detention and deportation contributes to labor abuses, and the overall health and safety of these workers.
Nick Theodore with u PAGE 4
‘Second responders’– concerns mount over...
the Department of Urban Planning and Policy at the University of Illinois Chicago surveyed workers during rebuilding in New Orleans after Hurricane IDA in 2021. He found that 40% of workers came to NOLA after the hurricane from other areas of the U.S., socalled “storm chasers,” a workforce flexibility unique to migrant laborers and vital to recovery efforts.
Yet Theodore’s survey also found numerous instances of labor violations and wage theft. Many workers reported various physical effects following cleanup operations after the disaster, which exposed responders to a range of toxic substances.
‘A perfect storm’
From her home on the Pasadena-Altadena border, Salas worries about what lies ahead.
“Here in California, we have been through many natural and weather disasters and, in every situation, the ones who go in and rebuild are almost always Latino immigrants.”
But they don’t just rebuild. Latinos are also victims of this disaster. Salas and
nearly 300 members of her family live near the fires.
“My niece lost her house, so did my cousin’s husband’s dad, my best friend’s house burned down, and so did my cousin’s house,” Salas recounts. “My mother was evacuated, and several family members were left without work because they either worked as domestic workers or one of my mother’s sisters worked in a place where they took care of old people that also burned down. My sister is a teacher in a school that no longer exists.”
Salas’ parents were the first in her family to arrive from El Salvador in the 1970s. They all settled in northwest Pasadena, “One of the few places where African Americans and Latinos could buy homes.”
Data from the UCLA Institute for Public Policy and Politics estimates that more than 74,000 Latinos live within evacuation and warning zones, with one-in-four displaced or at risk of being displaced in Los Angeles County. Longstanding health and economic disparities further complicate their recovery. Many have no insurance.
“Right now, we are
talking with the California Labor Commissioner about increasing protections for undocumented immigrants and immigrant workers in general,” said Salas. “For an unscrupulous employer, the easiest thing to do is say, ‘I’m going to call immigration; who are you going to complain to?’”
With Los Angeles scheduled to host the 2028 Olympics, on top of the already massive scale of reconstruction needed, concerns are mounting over the rising costs for labor and the potential for abuse.
“These fires are happening at a time when labor availability is low, when there are not enough workers for our industries in general, not just construction,” said Murray of National Immigration Forum.
She also warned of spillover effects on the insurance industry, with higher construction costs driving up the costs of coverage, “because these workers will be unavailable or afraid to move to the places where they are needed.”
“It’s a perfect storm,” she said. n
Junk food turns public villain as...
the federal regulators they say have failed to police ultra-processed foods.
“If you or your child have suffered health problems that your doctor has linked directly to the consumption of ultra-processed foods, we want to hear your story,” they say on their website.
Meanwhile, the FDA on Jan. 14 announced it is proposing to require a front-of-package label to appear on most packaged foods to make information about a food’s saturated fat, sodium, and added sugar content easily visible to consumers
And on Capitol Hill, Sens. Bernie Sanders (IVt.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) are sounding the alarm over ultra-processed food. Sanders introduced legislation in 2024 that could lead to a federal ban on junk food advertising to children, a national education campaign, and labels on ultra-processed foods that say the products aren’t recommended for children. Booker cosigned the legislation along with Sens. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.).
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions held a December hearing examining links between ultra-processed food and chronic disease during which FDA Commissioner Robert Califf called for more funding for research.
Food companies have tapped into “the same neural circuits that are involved in opioid addiction,” Califf said at the hearing.
Sanders, who presided over the hearing, said there’s “growing evidence” that “these foods are deliberately designed to be addictive,” and he asserted that ultra-processed foods have driven epidemics of diabetes and obesity, and hundreds of billions of dollars in medical expenses.
Research on food and addiction “has accumulated to the point where it’s reached a critical mass,” said Kelly Brownell, an emeritus professor at Stanford who is one of the editors of a scholarly handbook on the subject.
Attacks from three sides — lawyers, Congress, and the incoming Trump administration, all seemingly interested in taking up the fight — could lead to enough pressure to challenge Big Food and possibly spur better health outcomes in the U.S., which has the lowest life expectancy among highincome countries.
“Maybe getting rid of highly processed foods in some things could actually flip the switch pretty quickly in changing the percentage of the American public that are obese,” said Robert
Filipino Town Las Vegas announces new board of directors
Prominent community leaders to historic milestone designation
FILIPINO Town Las Vegas, Inc., announced its new officers and board of directors. This leadership team will guide the nonprofit organization in its efforts to attain a cultural designation aimed at celebrating the vibrant Filipino culture in Las Vegas as well as businesses in its proposed area along Maryland Parkway, from Flamingo to Desert Inn Road.
Redfield, a virologist who led the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during the previous Trump administration, in remarks at a December event hosted by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.
Claims that Big Food knowingly manufactured and sold addictive and harmful products resemble the claims leveled against Big Tobacco before the landmark $206 billion settlement was reached in 1998.
“These companies allegedly use the tobacco industry’s playbook to target children, especially Black and Hispanic children, with integrated marketing tieins with cartoons, toys, and games, along with social media advertising,” Rene Rocha, one of the lawyers at Morgan & Morgan representing Martinez, told KFF Health News.
The 148-page Martinez lawsuit against foodmakers draws from documents made public in litigation against tobacco companies that owned some of the biggest brands in the food industry.
Similar allegations were made against opioid manufacturers, distributors, and retailers before they agreed to pay tens of billions of dollars in a 2021 settlement with states.
The FDA ultimately put restrictions on the labeling and marketing of tobacco, and the opioid epidemic led to legislation that increased access to lifesaving medications to treat addiction.
But the Trump administration’s zeal in taking on Big Food may face unique challenges.
The ability of the FDA to impose regulation is hampered in part by funding. While the agency’s drug division collects industry user fees, its division of food relies on a more limited budget determined by Congress.
Change can take time because the agency moves at what some critics call a
glacial pace. Last year, the FDA revoked a regulation allowing brominated vegetable oil in food products. The agency determined in 1970 that the additive was not generally recognized as safe.
Efforts to curtail the marketing of ultraprocessed food could spur lawsuits alleging that any restrictions violate commercial speech protected by the First Amendment. And Kennedy — if he is confirmed as HHS secretary — may struggle to get support from a Republican-led Congress that champions less federal regulation and a president-elect who during his previous term served fast food in the White House.
“The question is, will RFK be able to make a difference?” said David L. Katz, a doctor who founded True Health Initiative, a nonprofit group that combats public health misinformation. “No prior administration has done much in this space, and RFK is linked to a particularly anti-regulatory administration.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. population is recognized as among the most obese in the world and has the highest rate of people with multiple chronic conditions among high-income countries.
“There is a big grassroots effort out there because of how sick we are,” said Jerold Mande, who served as deputy undersecretary for food safety at the Department of Agriculture from 2009 to 2011. “A big part of it is people shouldn’t be this sick this young in their lives. You’re lucky if you get to 18 without a chronic disease. It’s remarkable.”
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at
• Sam Buban - Treasurer
• Jocelyn Borromeo - Assistant Treasurer
• Virgilio (Bing) Longakit - Auditor
• Carl Magno - Board Director
• Connie Benito - Board Director
• Dr. Philip Paleracio - Board Director
• Engr. Ernie Buo - Board Director
• Ron Sumbang - Board Director
“We are thrilled to welcome these dedicated and accomplished community leaders to our Board of Directors,” said Rozita Lee, President of Filipino Town Las Vegas (FTLV). “Their diverse experiences and shared commitment to our mission will be instrumental in helping us create a meaningful impact for all Filipino Americans and all of Las Vegas.
“I have lived in Las Vegas since 1979, and I have witnessed the growth and
development of our Filipino American community as the largest Asian ethnic group in southern Nevada,” Lee added. “The time has come to mark our place and celebrate our contributions to the community with this cultural designation.”
Bernie Benito, VP of FIlipino Town Las Vegas, adds, “I am proud to be the VP of this board who is working diligently for the approval of our cultural designation.”
Filipino Town Cultural District is a cultural designation which highlights the historic influence of Filipinos on the social, economic, and cultural aspects of that area. Filipino Town Cultural District is known to host flagship events in the Filipino community. The proposed area for the cultural designation is along Maryland Parkway between Flamingo Road and Desert Inn Road. The area is home to some of the most recognized Filipino retail, restaurant and medical and professional brands.
Timeline of county Hearings on cultural designation:
• On November 5, 2024, the Clark County Commissioners approved next steps for Filipino Town.
• February 2025 - Town Board Meeting (TBD)
• March 18, 2025 - 2nd Clark County Commissioners Meeting
• April 15, 2025 - Final Clark County Commissioners Meeting. n
Marcos hails Trump inauguration, eyes...
PAGE 1
deepen its ties with the U.S.
“It was a very good call, it was a very friendly call, very productive. And I’m glad I was able to do it. I think President-elect Trump was
happy to hear from the Philippines,” Marcos said in an ambush interview in Virac, Catanduanes.
“We continued to talk about the relationship between…the alliance between the U.S. and the
Philippines, and I expressed to him our continuing desire to strengthen that relationship between our two countries, which is a relationship that is as deep as it could possibly be,” Marcos also said. n
Undocumented Filipinos in US advised...
tation.
The executive orders will follow Trump’s promises on the campaign trail to implement mass deportation immediately after taking office.
In his inaugural address, Trump said he would declare a national emergency at the southern border.
“Illegal entry will immediately be halted, and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they
came,” he said.
There are more than 300,000 undocumented Filipinos who live in the United States, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Migration Policy Institute. However, immigrant rights advocates believe the actual number is much higher as many undocumented immigrants do not participate in government data collection, fearing possible deportation.
The Embassy’s advisory reminds undocumented im-
migrants that they have the right to remain silent in an encounter with law enforcement and to refuse consent to do a search on them, their car or their home. They also have the right to speak to an attorney before answering any questions and to contact the Philippine Embassy or Consulate General in their area. Filipino immigrants who need assistance are encouraged to contact the Embassy’s 24/7 consular hotlines. (Inquirer.net)
Seated front, from left: Bernie Benito and Rozita V. Lee. Standing from left: Sam Buban, Connie Benito, Ernie Buo, Jocelyn Borromeo, Philip Paleracio, Corin Ramos, Virgilio (Bing) Longakit, Ron Sumbang. (not pictured: Carl Magno) Contributed photo
KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.
Some members of President-elect Donald Trump’s inner circle are gearing up to battle “Big Food,” or the companies that make most of the food and beverages consumed in the United States. Nominees for top health agencies are taking aim at ultra-processed foods that account for an estimated 70% of the nation’s food supply. Pexels.com photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich
Bong Revilla, Imee Marcos clarify stance on anti-teen pregnancy bill
by maila aGer Inquirer.net
MANILA — Two senators have distanced themselves from the controversial provisions of a bill that seeks to prevent adolescent pregnancies in the country.
Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Imee Marcos were listed as authors of Senate Bill No. 1979 (SBN 1979) known as the “Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act of 2023.”
It was a substitute measure for several bills, including SBN 1209 filed by Revilla, and SBN 651 filed by Marcos.
But Revilla clarified that his bill “primarily aims to protect children and provide support to adolescent parents.”
“SBN 1979 contains provisions that were not in my bill,” he pointed out in a statement on Tuesday, January 21.
“Kung totoong itutulak ‘yung mga pinangambahan ng ilan sa ating mga kababayan, ako mismo, I will vote against it at haharangin ko na maipasa,” Revilla added.
(If it’s true that what some of our countrymen feared will be pushed, I myself will vote against it and I will
block its passage.)
Marcos, meanwhile, explained that the substitute bill was “significantly different” from her measure.
“My version of the bill tackled the overwhelming problem of teenage pregnancy in the Philippines, which with 1 out of 10 teenage girls pregnant or with a child, has been cited by the World Bank as not only a moral problem but an economic loss for these girls’ education and future job prospects,” she said in a statement.
“While the present bill is significantly different from mine, in no way does it intend to deprive parents of their primordial authority and guidance,” she said.
Instead, she said, the Department of Education (DepEd), the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Health, and the entire community are “enjoined to assist parents with medically accurate, culturally sensitive, nondiscriminatory information.”
“Given the plethora of false sex data in the media, the growing incidence of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and STDs (sexually transmitted diseases), in addition to rising teenage
pregnancy, I think truthful and age- as well as culturallyappropriate sex education in schools, together with parental guidance, is ever more important today,” Marcos stressed.
SBN 1979 caught the public’s attention after an online petition was initiated by the National Coalition for the Family and the Constitution’s Project Dalisay, opposing some of the bill’s provisions.
In the petition, the group particularly cited a provision mandating the implementation of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) in all public and private education institutions.
“It (CSE) shall be integrated in the school curriculum, guided by DepEd and international standards,” Section 6 of the bill read.
For Project Dalisay, however, the mention of “international standards” implied that the country is open to the concepts of CSE, “including childhood masturbation.”
“Yun ang impact ng pagincorporate ng ‘international standards.’ The bill imported an entire sexuality worldview and approach,” the group stressed. n
US, PH hold first joint naval drills this year
by Francisco Tuyay ManilaTimes.net
THE navies of the United States and the Philippines held a joint maritime exercise in the West Philippine Sea on Friday, January 17 amid growing concerns over the persistent presence of the China Coast Guard's (CCG) biggest ship close to the Philippine coastline.
The two-day Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) was held a day after U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the State Department, warned Beijing of aggressive actions in the South China Sea.
"The actions they are taking now are deeply destabilizing; they are forcing us to take counteractions because we have commitments to the Philippines and we have commitments to Taiwan that we intend to keep," said Rubio during his confirmation hearing at the Senate.
He warned China to "stop messing around" with the
Philippines and Taiwan, saying its "deeply destabilizing" actions compel the U.S. to "counteract."
The CCG 5901, dubbed as the "monster ship," has been sailing close to the coast of Zambales for nearly two weeks.
The vessel is being shadowed by the Philippine Coast Guard's Teresa Magbanua and Melchora Aquino.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has filed another diplomatic protest against China over the illegal presence of CCG 5901.
Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Col. Xerxes Trinidad did not reveal the exact areas where the exercise took place. It was the first joint naval drill for the two allies this year, and the fifth since China launched aggressive and dangerous maneuvers against Philippine vessels on resupply missions to the derelict BRP Sierra Madre, which had been deliberately beached at Ayungin Shoal
and converted into a remote military outpost.
Joining the latest MCA were the Philippine Navy ships Antonio Luna and Andres Bonifacio, two FA50 fighter planes, and Philippine Air Force Search and Rescue aircraft.
Making up the U.S. contingent were the USS Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, USS Princeton, USS Sterett, an MH-60 Seahawk helicopter, a V-22 Osprey helicopter and two F-18 Hornet fighter jets.
The participants conducted a Communications Check Exercise, Division Tactics/ Officer of the Watch maneuver, a photo exercise and dissimilar aircraft combat training.
"This MCA is a crucial element of our continued efforts to strengthen defense cooperation. With each exercise, we become increasingly prepared and effective in addressing the challenges ahead," Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said in a statement. n
Senators Imee Marcos and Bong Revilla
Senate file photos
INTEGRATING EDUCATION. Master Teacher 1 Ferdinand Ryan Taguba integrates sex education into Science and Health lessons at Quezon City High School on Monday, January 20. Taguba discussed basic reproductive system with his Grade 10 students even as a Senate bill on expanded sexuality education is being contested. PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler
OPiniOn Features
Fine-tuning
PERHAPS President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Senate Deputy Minority Leader Sen. Risa Hontiveros should compare notes on Senate Bill 1979, to see if they are talking about the same measure, or if someone is spreading disinformation about the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Bill.
After stressing that sex education in school is “very, very, very important” to prevent teenage pregnancy, the president on Monday, January 20 vowed to veto Senate Bill 1979. He announced this after reading the measure, saying he was “shocked and appalled” by “ridiculous… abhorrent… woke… absurdities” that he found in SB 1979.
Editorial
– a “woke absurdity” condemned by President Marcos. She stressed that the measure is not based on liberal sexual standards in Western Europe. Instead, she said it is a response to the rising cases of teenage pregnancy, which since 2019 has been identified as a “national and social emergency” by the National Economic and Development Authority.
Someone may have to clarify what the president read exactly, since there seem to be dramatically divergent perceptions of the bill amid reports that there is a fake version being circulated apparently to incite opposition to the measure. Senate President Chiz Escudero stressed that SB 1979 is still undergoing “the rigors of legislation.”
Hontiveros, principal author of the bill, urged Marcos to give the measure a closer look even as she welcomed amendments and debates based “on facts, not fabricated fears.”
Hontiveros denied that the bill promotes teaching masturbation to four-year-olds, or that young children would be taught that they have the right to try different sexualities
ON January 20, 2025, at exactly noon, Donald John Trump made history with his triumphant return as the 47th president of the United States of America.
Presidential inaugurations happen every four years, and this one would have been very different because of the level of security that was originally planned for such a historic and much anticipated event with an estimated 250,000 ticketed guests going to Washington, D.C., and thousands more flocking to the National Mall to watch history unfold.
As Trump Inaugural Committee co-chairs Steve Witkoff and Kelly Loeffler had described it, “The 60th Inauguration will herald President Trump’s triumphant return to the White House and the start of the great American comeback. These special events will honor the rich
THE latest news from the South China Sea (SCS) was that the Philippine Navy was holding exercises around Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal. This area has become a hotly-contested area between the Philippines and China. In “America and the Philippines Should Call China’s Bluff,” an article last year by Marites Danguilan Vitug in Foreign Affairs, she said: “…Manila, with the support of the United States, must look beyond temporary negotiations with China and craft a longer-term approach for mitigating risks in the SCS. Marcos must calibrate his policy of transparency on Chinese provocations to spotlight Beijing’s bullying tactics while also
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed 3,343 cases of pregnancy among girls under age 15 in 2023 – up from the 3,135 recorded in 2022. Angelo Tapales of the Council for the Welfare of Children said 72 percent of adolescent pregnancies involved older men, which often indicated child abuse. Juan Antonio Perez III, former executive director of the Commission on Population and Development, said pregnancies among girls aged 10 to 14 had increased by 50 percent since 2018.
Hontiveros has given assurance that the bill will conform with Filipino values and culture, and will not be a copycat of liberal international standards of the World Health Organization and the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Marcos, in his statement, reiterated his belief that sex education, “in terms of teaching kids the anatomy of the reproductive systems of male and female, is extremely important.” School children must be taught “the consequences of early pregnancy, the
prevalence of HIV,” he said. Hontiveros said they are on the same page in this. Since both are in agreement on the urgent need to discourage teen pregnancies, this initiative can continue to be pursued, with cultural fine-tuning and precise wording to prevent misunderstanding and dispel fears.
(Philstar.com)
The triumphant return of Trump
history and tradition of our great nation, the American people and the promise our country holds for future generations.”
Traditionally, both the president-elect and his vice president would be sworn in at the West Front of the U.S. Capitol, followed shortly by the traditional Presidential Parade along Pennsylvania Avenue down to the White House.
But the dangers posed by the bitingly cold weather has compelled president-elect Trump (who described the weather as an “Arctic blast”) to announce via his Truth Social platform that he has “ordered the Inauguration Address, in addition to prayers and other speeches, to be delivered in the United States Capitol Rotunda, as was used by Ronald Reagan in 1985, also because of very cold weather.”
The Presidential Parade is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated events during inaugurations, and a lot of planning had gone into this event that would
have originally featured about 7,500 participants representing various groups that include the U.S. Army, the Marines and the Air Force, veterans, marching bands, equestrians as well as the first responders (police and pre-hospital emergency teams) during the assassination attempt on President Trump at a campaign rally in Butler County in Pennsylvania.
“I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way. It is dangerous conditions for the tens of thousands of Law Enforcement, First Responders, Police K9s and even horses, and hundreds of thousands of supporters that will be outside for many hours on the 20th,” President Trump emphasized in his post, adding that people should dress warmly should they still decide to go out.
According to President Trump, Capital One Arena – the multipurpose indoor entertainment venue in Washington, D.C. that also serves as home to the NBA’s Washington Wizards and can
accommodate over 20,000 spectators – will be opened on Monday for Americans to view the inauguration ceremony. Supporters of President Trump had also planned a big “victory rally” on the eve of the inauguration at the Capitol One Arena. Security preparations had been planned for several months with the U.S. Secret Service as the lead agency supported by the DC Metropolitan Police, the U.S. Capitol Police as well as the Joint Task Force with over 25,000 military and law enforcement personnel tasked to deal with potential threats.
The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies said it will “honor the request of the President-elect and his Presidential Inaugural Committee to move the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies inside the U.S. Capitol to the Rotunda.”
As advised earlier by the State Department, no foreign dignitaries are invited except members of the diplomatic
corps serving in Washington, D.C. and the heads of state that were verbally invited by the president-elect himself.
I, of course, will be attending the inauguration of President Trump and Vice President Vance as the representative of our country and President Marcos.
The inaugural balls will still take place. President Trump said he would be attending all three – the Commander-in-Chief Ball, the Liberty Inaugural Ball and the Starlight Ball – where he will also deliver remarks.
I have received invitations for two of the inaugural balls and I’m looking forward to attending because it will be an opportunity to interact with the members of the new administration.
The last time I attended a Washington inaugural ball was in 1989 when President George Bush Sr. was sworn into office. It was the late Republican party strategist and presidential adviser Lee Atwater who invited me, and I had the opportunity to engage with Bush Sr.’s
White House chief of staff John Sununu and former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnel during the inaugural balls that lasted until three in the morning.
The triumphant return of Donald J. Trump to the White House has been dubbed as a governing “trifecta,” with the president having control of the Executive branch, and the Republican party gaining majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The Republicans have certainly returned and have gained the upper hand, but political analysts say the very narrow margins in the Senate and the House of Representatives (which the Pew Research Center described as the “smallest margin of control in modern history”) will pose a challenge to the Trump administration in passing legislation and pushing their agenda forward.
Speaker Mike Johnson initially faced difficulty from some Republican partymates
Philippines, China and America in the SCS
maintaining visibility front against Chinese territorial violations. And Manila must be clear on what it expects from Washington, namely, U.S. support in routine Philippine naval activities such as supply missions in areas that fall within the country’s exclusive economic zone.”
Vitug also issues a warning in the same article: “If the United States fails to provide its ally with the necessary support, Washington and Manila may both be thrown into the kind of escalatory spiral with China that they desperately want to avoid.”
This article was written when Biden was still president. However, the issues that Vitug raised here have become even more relevant with the new Trump administration coming into power this week. The big question for the Philippines is what the policy of the
incoming administration will be towards China and the Philippines.
While president-elect Trump has not said anything regarding his policy, he did say during the campaign period that China is the main adversary of the United States. During the Cabinet confirmation hearings, the testimonies of the incoming Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the incoming National Security Council adviser Mike Waltz can give us indications of what the policies will be regarding this part of the world. Rubio said that opposing the Chinese Communist Party should be the focus of the new administration. As Secretary of State, he would likely try to strengthen U.S. alliances in Asia to try to deter China from aggressive military action.
He specifically mentioned that the United States should
maintain its commitments to two vital allies, namely Taiwan and the Philippines.
Secretary Rubio, however, may have to contend with President Trump’s skepticism of old allies, believing that American allies in both Europe and Asia are “free riders” who rely too much on American military protection.
The confirmation hearing for the designated Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was both comical and distressing because of his ignorance. He was asked how many nations are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). His reply was that the United States has allies in Japan, South Korea and Australia. He was told by the senators that these countries were not in Southeast Asia.
Vitug in her article said that the Philippines must have a long-term strategy
in dealing with China. Any long-term strategy, however, must wait until we are clear what the long-term strategy of the U.S. under its new administration will be. One possible problem is that Trump is known to be a transactional leader and has no long-term strategy. This is the same characteristic that will make him an unpredictable president. It may be advisable for the Philippine government to try and formulate a long-term independent foreign policy that will remain constant without depending on any alliance.
The main strength of the Marcos administration is that according to a Pulse Asia survey, 76 percent of respondents agreed that the Philippines should continue asserting the country’s rights in the West Philippine Sea. In the same survey, 74 percent wanted the Philippines to
work with the United States. Only 5 percent of Filipinos favored working with China. The one thing that the Philippines can undertake on a long-term basis is to consolidate alliances with other countries, especially with Australia and Japan who have similar fears regarding China. Another area for developing alliances is with the other ASEAN countries, although Vitug’s article sounds as if she is not confident that this can be done. According to her, some member-countries such as Cambodia and Laos are “dependent on China for investments and aid” and are therefore “uninterested in speaking out against Beijing.”
Indonesia, the largest ASEAN country, is not a claimant country and has borrowed heavily from China. The Philippines’ best
Dept of Education urged to amend implementing rules for law vs bullying
MANILA
—
by Cristina Chi Philstar.com
The Department of Education should amend the implementing rules and regulations of the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 to address significant shortfalls in its implementation, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) said Tuesday, January 21.
EDCOM 2 — a three-year congressional body tasked with solving the country's education crisis — submitted its proposed revised IRR for Republic Act 10627 to DepEd on Tuesday, January 21 in which schools will be compelled to take a more proactive approach to incidents of bullying.
Specifically, the proposed revisions aim to formalize the functions of DepEd's Learner Rights and Protection Office in overseeing anti-bullying efforts. It also requires schools to develop localized policies and submit detailed annual reports on bullying incidents.
The Anti-Bullying Act, signed in September 2013, requires all schools to adopt anti-bullying policies and establish clear procedures for reporting acts of bullying. It also requires victims to be given counseling services, while perpetrators are to undergo rehabilitation.
In practice, however, the shortage of guidance counselors has contributed to the uneven implementation of the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013, according to EDCOM 2.
Even as some schools maintain child protection committees (CPCs), which are mandated to act as anti-bullying committees, these "often struggle to fulfill their functions effectively due to limited personnel and lack of resources."
EDCOM 2 has also found a "clear underreporting" of bullying incidents due to a system that rewards schools for reporting zero cases. This ends up discouraging "accurate reporting and hampering effective interventions," the commission said.
"DepEd has also noted that not all schools have clear student handbooks for discipline, and there is a lack of clarity and consistency in definitions and reportorial systems around bullying," it added.
EDCOM 2 Executive Director Karol Yee noted the urgency of amending the law. "We want to ensure that every school or classroom is a safe space where every student can thrive without the fear of bullying and harassment," he said.
The revised IRR will help the government set "clear, actionable steps for schools in combating bullying," said Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, EDCOM 2 co-chairperson and Senate basic education panel chair.
"It's imperative that our schools not only adopt these updated anti-bullying policies but also make sure that they are properly implemented and monitored," he added.
To address the shortage of guidance coun-
selors, EDCOM 2 proposed integrating guidance designates and school counselor associates, particularly in leading anti-bullying initiatives. Schools will also be required to designate discipline officers to handle reporting, investigations, and interventions.
"Ensuring the effectiveness of our anti-bullying policies requires more than just drafting rules. It also demands diligent enforcement and active involvement from every school staff member," said Rep. Roman Romulo, EDCOM 2 co-chairperson. He chairs the House basic education panel.
Half of male students bullied monthly
Data shows the severity of bullying in Philippine schools, with PISA 2022 results showing 43% of Filipino girls and 53% of boys experience bullying at least a few times monthly — far exceeding OECD averages of 20% and 21%.
The Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics also reported that 63.2% of Grade 5 students face bullying at least once a month.
DepEd data shown before the Senate basic education committee in 2023 showed that bullying incidents have increased almost every year since 2014 despite the passage of the Anti-Bullying Act in September 2013.
In particular, SY 2018-2019 tallied 21,500 incidents – the highest in a single school year since 2014. Cases dropped to 11,000 in SY 2019-2020 after the pandemic disrupted the last quarter of the school year.
DepEd Assistant Secretary Dexter Galban said then that the true number of bullying cases could be much higher than reported due to schools' difficulty monitoring incidents without a guidance counselor.
While bullying affects students in mainstream schools, data also shows children with disabilities are two to four times more likely to be bullied at school than their non-disabled peers, according to a 2021 UNESCO report that studied school violence in different countries.
A DepEd order in 2021 noted learners with disabilities were "more vulnerable to bullying, child abuse and other forms of violence against children." n
THE National Security Council welcomed the results of a recent survey showing a vast majority of Filipinos support efforts to assert the country's rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
A recent OCTA Research survey showed that 84 percent of Filipinos support the national government's efforts to defend and assert maritime rights in the WPS.
In a statement over the weekend, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said the result showed widespread backing for the country's stance in the ongoing territorial dispute, and signals a broad public engagement and understanding of the sea row.
"This affirmation from the people reflects a shared commitment to protect our national sovereignty and territorial integrity," Año said.
"With 91 percent of Filipinos aware of the ongoing territorial disputes, it is evident that the public is not only informed but also united in supporting the country's efforts to defend its rights
and interests in the West Philippine Sea," he added.
Año emphasized the country's adherence to the Philippine Maritime Zones Law, Archipelagic Sea Lanes Law, and 2016 arbitral ruling, which affirmed the Philippines' rights over the waters and resources of the West Philippine Sea under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
"This ruling is binding under international law and remains a cornerstone of our position," he said, referring to the 2016 arbitral ruling.
He added that the
Philippines will continue to act within the bounds of international law.
The government also emphasized its focus on sustainable practices in the region, particularly for Filipino fisherfolk, and pledged continued efforts in marine conservation and the protection of economic activities within Philippine waters.
Año thanked the Filipino people for their trust and unity, underscoring that such support strengthens the nation's resolve to secure its maritime rights. (PNA)
The triumphant return of...
who refused to vote for him –but eventually relented when President Donald Trump talked to them – showcasing his power and influence.
But perhaps for the Philippines, one of the positive developments was my conversation with
President Trump himself last Dec. 31 in West Palm Beach, where he expressed support for the Philippines and additionally from his incoming Secretary of State Marco Rubio who said, “We will continue to build on our strong relationship with the Philippines not only on defense
Philippines, China and America in...
hopes for possible alliances are Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei who also have maritime disputes with China.
So far, President BBM has said that the Philippine red line is if a Filipino service member is killed in the WPS. This will trigger the Philippines to invoke the
Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States. The Philippines and China have so far avoided a major conflict by reaching several short-term deals with each other. But recent events show that China is not backing down and the Philippines under President BBM has also no intention of backing down. It is therefore necessary for the Philippines to clarify what it can expect from the United States in the event that tensions escalate in the SCS. (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.
The Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics also reported that 63.2% of Grade 5 students face bullying at least once a month. Philstar.com file photo
Gordon Ramsay recreates ‘MasterChef’ with halo-halo cook-off among Judy Ann Santos, Ninong Ry, Filipina chefs
by deni Rose BeRnaRdo Philstar.com
KNICKERBOXER Glory,
a layered ice cream sundae popular in his native Great Britain and Ireland, is among the most favorite comfort food and signature dishes of British superstar chef Gordon Ramsay.
Since Ramsay was in the Philippines for the first time, at his fan meet in Pasay City on Monday, January 20, celebrity chefs had a cook-off featuring halohalo, the Filipino equivalent of Knickerboxer Glory but with candied fruits, ice and milk instead of ice cream as ingredients.
During the fan meet, in true "MasterChef" style, actress and celebrity chef Judy Ann Santos and food influencer Ninong Ry went head-to-head with culinary student Danica Lucero and Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill Philippines Head Chef Bea Therese Qua in coming up with their own twists on the halo-halo in 10 minutes.
“Congratulations on ‘MasterChef’,” Ramsay told Judy Ann, who hosted the Filipino editions of Ramsay’s “MasterChef” and “Junior MasterChef” American series. According to Ramsay, he and his family watched Judy Ann and the Filipino editions.
For the cook-off, Judy Ann used Black Sesame Polvoron as key ingredient. Ninong Ry, on the other hand, was jokingly reminded
My P.E.P. (People, Events,Places)
rogElio ConStantino
mEdina
I REMEMBER I interviewed in 1992 then Cong. (now Pres.) Bongbong Marcos in Baguio City as part of my article for the “New Year Forum: Their Wish for 1993” (published by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, January 3, 1993).
Here are excerpts: Bongbong Romualdez Marcos... remembers the Yuletide season as a time for family to be reunited, a celebration in the Christian faith and in the Filipino culture.
“As a child, Christmas was a happy time for us. Then I studied in London... When I was about to go home, to see my family, I always looked forward for Christmas and New Year, Santa Claus and the Three Kings. The same as anybody.
Then came the time they first spent their Christmas and New Year outside the Philippines... “In Hawaii, we happily spent Christmas together. We attended an evening mass. The next day, we opened our presents,” he says. “We tried to make the same Christmas as we spent it before. Christmas without my father was of course sad, but Iife must go on. During the 12 months after his death, we were not able to celebrate Christmas and New Year at all because he was always there, the center or head of the family. It was somehow something different... We’re happy now that at last we’re at home, except that my father’s body is still in Hawaii. But Christmas at home without my father is still the same. It’s not something complicated.”
He reiterates that as to his father’s remains coming home. “I don’t know. You have to ask my mother... There is much to be done aside from his body. There are still problems to be confronted, to be cleared back... The elections are already over. When President Ramos visited Laoag...we
the rice harvest. Coconut husks are soaked for three months in saltwater pools near mangroves. The husks are then burnt in controlled temperatures. Ashes are then put into large filters, then more seawater is poured into the ashes until the salt rock forms, then many more meticulous processes follow before the salt pot can be used to be cracked and grated for use. It has been highly prized in Bohol for its slightly sweet and smoky taste.
by Gordon to tie his long hair before proceeding to create a “fruitless” halo-halo that he later asked Ramsay to taste using a straw. “Just one request - that hair out, of course,” Ramsay told Ninong Ry. “I can feel it blocking my arteries!” Ramsay later quipped as he tried Ninong Ry’s “very sweet” halo-halo To his Manila restaurant’s head chef, he jokingly whispered: “Hello, you girl, you cannot lose this. If we lose this, we're screwed. You and I have a job.” Chef Qua used Bohol’s
Asin Tibuok as key ingredient to balance the halo-halo’s sweetness, and she even educated Ramsay about the salt’s history and heritage. “This is one of the rare salt in the Philippines and the flavor is like pretty smooth,” she said. Dating back to preHispanic times, Asin Tibook, Asin Tibuok or “Dinosaur Egg” because of its look, is the unique Bohol art of preserving salt in pots. The salt pots are made by salt makers using a very labor-intensive method traditionally coinciding
During the cook-off, the winner of the prize at stake, Ramsay’s signed shirt, is Lucero, who wowed the culinary legend with the “perfect balance” in her halo-halo featuring the sweet and sour caramelized kamias (bilimbi), which is traditionally used by Filipinos in sinigang
“It's crunchy, it's juicy and it's sour, so it gives that nice balance to the (those) I have here,” she said of her choice of kamias as weapon of choice. “I think it goes very well with all the other amazing ingredients.”
Ramsay agreed with Lucero, saying that her halo-halo had “the edge that separated just in terms of the contrast of the balance.”
“That's an extraordinary 10 minutes,” Ramsay said of the challenge. “There's no lows, it's all highs, let me tell you, and I'm high in the carbohydrates now and all that sugar. Oh my goodness me!”
AFTER five years of not appearing on TV, actress Jessy Mendiola is slated to return to acting as she recently accepted the offer of ABS-CBN for a teleserye. She recently met with her Star Magic family, who offered her a new series, “Nobody,” that will mark her TV reunion with Gerald Anderson, whom she previously worked with in “Budoy” (2011), a series about a mentallychallenged boy.
“That should start midyear,” Jessy said about “Nobody.” “I told my bosses hindi ko kayang pagsabayin because I really value my time with my family. My bosses will give me fair scheduling. I will also be working with RK Bagatsing and JC De Vera.” Jessy last worked together in the primetime
series, “Sandugo” (2019), even before the pandemic.
“I really took a break,” Jessy said. “I think sabi talaga ni Lord, ‘Unahin mo muna ang personal life mo.’ I really needed that. I healed a lot. I’ve grown so much.”
Before that drama starts, Jessy has apparently prepared herself to go on a rigorous campaign trail as she committed herself “one million percent” to support her husband, Luis Manzano, who is running for vice governor in Batangas.
“We are very excited and at the same time, we are very nervous,” Jessy said. “Of course, this is a new world for Luis and I. I know how hard it is. I know how challenging it is. He’s a celebrity. But he’s very generous, very smart. He’s willing to give his heart to
Bongbong Marcos misses his dad
accorded him the honor that befitted the president as we hope that he would accord my father, a former president of the Philippines, due respect. Forgiveness? On New Year’s, maybe, because it’s a new start.”
For Bongbong Marcos, it is high time for the Filipinos to reconcile and unite as a nation to rebuild the country’s glaring economy.
* * *
On January 29, 2025, it will be Chinese New Year!
I randomly asked three persons (third batch) to answer two questions: (1) What are your plans/projects this year? (2) Any insights/ learnings on the past year? Here are their honest replies:
Jess Espanola, the first Filipino to win an Emmy award which he won for working on “Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind”: (1) “For the meantime I have no plan for anything this year 2025. I stopped teaching at Holy Angel University in Angeles City, Pampanga last year starting August due to the distance where I live from the school. I live in Marikina now. I have a prospect with Rafael Rivera Benitez, the president and founder of EREHWON Center for the Arts about producing local animation featuring Filipino character and culture, anything to promote Filipino culture with all Filipino animators. But due to lack of resources, it remains a plan.” (2) “I have nothing to share about any insight. When I stopped teaching, I stopped everything. I have a plan to go back to studio arts – painting and sculpture, and photography – but I haven’t started it yet. I am still waiting for the right time to make it happen.”
Senator Chiz Escudero, a politician and lawyer from Sorsogon and holder of Master of Laws degree from Georgetown University: (1) “As Senate President, my primary focus for 2025 is to ensure that we address as many bills under the Com-
mon Legislative Agenda as possible within the limited time remaining for the 19th Congress, which will conclude in June this year. This reflects our commitment to the welfare and progress of our nation. We will work tirelessly to ensure that priority administration measures are acted upon for the benefit of all Filipinos... As we approach the May 2025 mid-term elections, I urge all Filipinos to exercise their right to vote wisely. Let us take this occasion to elect leaders who are truly committed to genuine change and progress. Addressing the pressing issue of poverty requires leaders who prioritize poverty alleviation and social reforms. By choosing leaders who champion equity and prosperity for all, we can build a brighter future for our nation.” (2) “As we reflect on the challenges we faced in 2024, including the numerous natural calamities that battered our nation, we also celebrate the resilience and unity of the Filipino people. We give thanks to God, for it is only through His grace and mercy that we were able to overcome these challenges. Throughout it all, the resilience and deep faith of the Filipino people shone brightly.”
Chino Hansel Philyang, book author and broadcast journalist: (1) “My primary focus this year is to bring meaningful narratives to life through various mediums. As an author, I am thrilled to launch my latest book, Second Life Sonata, on Valentine’s Day. It explores profound themes of life, death, and the afterlife, weaving lessons from classical texts like The Bhagavad Gita, The Tibetan Book of the Dead, and The Bible. Beyond writing, I aim to continue hosting programs that inspires dialogue and change. As a journalist, I plan to amplify stories that matter, showcasing the resilience and triumphs of individuals across communities. Lastly, I’m diving into
more collaborations, fostering impactful connections in both media and publishing.” (2) “2024 was a transformative year filled with challenges that reaffirmed my belief in perseverance and purpose. Writing Second Life Sonata reminded me of the impermanence of life and the importance of cherishing every moment. As a journalist, I’ve seen how stories shape people, inspire hope, and drive action. The tight schedules and demanding projects taught me to embrace discipline and adapt quickly, especially after earning my Harvard Teaching Certifi-
cate amidst all this. Most importantly, 2024 reinforced that success isn’t measured by accolades but by the lives we touch and the authenticity we bring to our work. Looking ahead, I’m inspired to approach 2025 with a renewed sense of purpose, creativity, and commitment to both storytelling and service.”
* * * Congrats to my friend Marissa Valdez Jupiter of Colorado who recently obtained her U.S. citizenship. Years ago, I foresaw in a dream that I would visit her in a big house in the U.S. She told me that my prediction came true and I will see her soon.
* * * Rhap-Rhap Daigdigan, a very promising musician, has been patient earning income for his family through musical gigs as a bassist and drummer. He, together with his group “X-People” Band, has been performing in various entertainment places at night.
by leah salteRio Philstar.com
Animator Jess Espanola
Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at work inside Bahay Pangulo.
Senate President Francis Escudero Musician Rhap-Rhap Daigdigan
Marissa Valdez Jupiter (right) during her oathtaking
The president’s family with the relatives at the Presidential Residence during New Year. Photos courtesy of Rogelio C. Medina
Chino Hansel Philyang, book author and broadcast journalist
During the fan meet, in true "MasterChef" style, actress and celebrity chef Judy Ann Santos and food influencer Ninong Ry went head-to-head with culinary student Danica Lucero and Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill Philippines Head Chef Bea Therese Qua in coming up with their own twists on the halo-halo in 10 minutes.
Photo from Instagram/@officialjuday
Photo from Instagram/@officialjuday
Photo from Instagram/@ninongry
Golden age of America
THE historic massive landslide victory of Donald J. Trump in all sectors of the American electorate last November gave the 47th president of the United States a clear resounding mandate, which, according to him, is the end of the nation’s decline and the beginning of the Golden Age of America.
Inspiring and electric with jubilant people power, Trump’s inauguration, hopefully, will genuinely usher in more religion, kindness, and compassion, and less bigotry and animosity among people, more security at the border and at home, energy independence, and prosperity and justice for all, and his words not only political rhetoric and empty promises.
As a nation and a people, leaving behind the “bitterness and horrors” of partisanship in the past election, let us all now join hands and pray for our new leaders as we face tomorrow’s challenges, here and abroad, and build our and our children’s secure future together in this beautiful and blessed nation under God, in the Philippines, and in all other nations on earth.
Reminder warning: XEC virus
The latest subvariant of COVID-10 Omicron strain is XEC, a more contagious strain that is responsible for a lot of infections today, expected by experts to lead to massive increase in COVID-19 cases. XEC has spread to at least 40 countries, and reported in various states today.
The percentage of death due to COVID-19 for the week ending December 14, 2024, was 1.1 percent. The pandemic is still with us. We must be vigilant and careful. Employ mitigating measures when in public, especially for seniors and other more vulnerable individuals.
The CDC recommends everyone, including those who had been infected before or had booster shots more than 6 months ago, to get the new booster shot. Let us have the booster and play it safe. COVID-19 is still scary. Vaccines reduce hospitalizations and deaths, and have, so far, saved billions of lives around the world.
Of course, we must not forget the Flu and the RVS (Respiratory Syncytial Virus).
The little-known HMPV (human metapneumonia virus) which was discovered by a Danish virologist in 2001 is spreading in China, and there are now cases in the United States. It is not feared to have a pandemic
potential. Symptoms are similar to RSV. There is still no vaccine for HMPV.
Reversing aging
Hopefully, the future comes sooner for all of us, who, like Spanish explorer, Juan Ponce de Leon, have been anxiously searching for the elusive “Fountain of Youth,” especially women. Scientists have recently discovered that by “injecting old mice with an RNA molecule called miR-302b seems to reverse some signs of aging – helping them to live longer, regrow hair and maintain their physical and mental abilities.”
Optimistically looking forward, this finding “could one day lead to development of anti-ageing drugs.”
In the meantime, let us use food as medicine today, since diet is vital to health and longevity, otherwise we shall eat medicine as food as we get older. This strategy, of course, includes daily exercise (even simple walking or tai chi, tai-boh) and abstinence from harmful behaviors and agents like cigarettes, alcohol, and illicit drugs, and basically living a healthy lifestyle.
EMF dangers
Electromagnetic force is omnipresent in our environment, acting between charged particles everywhere in the universe. So, EMF is all around us. But some people are concerned if dangerous “dosage” of EMF is produced by cellphone towers, microwave ovens, cellphones, electric or battery-operated devices common in our homes to affect our health, cause cancers.
Currently, there is no conclusive clinical evidence that EMF causes cancer. Studies have found no link between EMF exposure and cancer in adults, and while a few studies suggest a possible weak association with childhood leukemia, the evidence remains inconclusive and no causal association has been established. Nonetheless, let us be careful anyway. Staying 5 feet or more away from microwave oven that is running, using the handsfree cellphone feature, etc. are a prudent precaution to lessen exposure.
Keto diet
A ketogenic diet (lowcarbohydrate, high-fat eating plan) which forces the body to burn fat for energy instead of glucose (carbohydrates) leads to faster weight loss. This diet is around 70 percent fat, 20 percent protein, and 10 percent carbohydrates. The protein is from fish, meats, avocado, seeds, nuts, fullfat dairy, olive oil, and nonstarchy veggies. Foods excluded from keto diet are sugary and starchy foods, most fruits and legumes. While keto diet appears to be faster in weight reduction, better than the popular Mediterranean diet, when it comes to
metabolic health metrics, it has been found that the side-effects called keto flu includes fatigue, headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation among some, muscle cramps, insomnia and bad breath. The beneficial effects of keto diet in weight and blood sugar control have been found to be short lived (about 6 months) because compliance is difficult and people revert back to high carb diet. Mediterranean Diet appears to be more satisfying and has longer-lasting benefits.
Personally, I eat a modified, moderated, keto diet, with controlled red meat, a lot of fish, some veggies, nuts, some fruits (controlled carbohydrate intake), and within my set total daily caloric intake of about 1800. Taking a teaspoon of cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil twice a day is an extra health boost. Since each individual and circumstances are different, be sure to consult your dietician/physician before embarking on a new diet regimen.
SGLT-2 inhibitors
People with type 2 diabetes mellitus have a 52 percent higher risk for vascular dementia and 39 percent Alzheimer’s. There are about 6.8 million Americans with Alzheimer’s and about 55 million around the world. New studies found that SGLT-2 drugs may help prevent dementia among them. These are sodiumglucose cotrabnsporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors, which greatly lowers dementia risk by 35 percent compared to other diabetic medications. This large-scale study was published in The British Medical Journal.
* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
*
* * The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people to live a healthier lifestyle, to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation, or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable to or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health.
*
* * Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, health advocate, medical missionary, newspaper columnist, and chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He is a recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995, presented by then Indiana Governor, U.S. senator, and later a presidential candidate, Evan Bayh. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry S. Truman, President George HW Bush, pugilist Muhammad Ali, David Letterman, Astronaut Gus Grissom, educators, scientists, etc. (Wikipedia). Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com; on Amazon. com, “Where bis My America?”; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com.
Jessy Mendiola ready to return to...
everyone. I hope he’ll be given a chance to serve.” Jessy knows her husband really has the potential to become a public servant even before. “There had been a number of people convincing Luis to run even before,” Jessy granted. “But it was only recently that he got convinced to really run.” Meanwhile, was Jessy was recently renewed as the brand ambassador of Manila Diamond Studio.
Her relationship with the company started when she purchased her wedding bands in 2021 for their marital date in Lipa, Batangas.
She also bought her diamond earrings in the same store. “I love jewelry,” Jessy said. “More than bags and shoes, I invest on jewelry. But I go for earrings more.”
She refuses to disclose the cost of her recent purchase, her diamond earrings. “I really worked hard for these,” she said. “This is really my dream since I started working and saving for this.” Her engagement ring
from Luis is admittedly her most expensive jewelry..
“I removed all my jewelry before coming here because I had to change the nappy of the bagets,” she said. “I told her I had to leave after and she gave me her smirk. Marunong na siya.” Even before she started working, Jessy received her first piece of jewelry from her mom. “It was a bracelet,” she shared. “I cherished it. I wore that every day at school. But that got lost through the years. I bought something like that when I started working.”
She buys responsibly and not just on a whim. While she considers diamonds as investment, the jewelry has more of a sentimental value for Jessy. “All my purchase of diamonds, I really value them,” said Jessy.
“I know I will turn them over to Rosie later on. She has a bracelet and a stud (earrings). For me, I consider that as investment but more importantly, it’s the sentimental value.
“Luis is not really into jewelry, but more into watches. He buys jewelry because he gives them to me. Jewelry appreciates
Esteemed guitarist, Raphaël Feuillâtre, performs at UNLV Performing Arts Center, Jan. 31
LAS VEGAS – The UNLV Performing Arts Center (UNLV PAC) welcomes guitarist Raphaël Feuillâtre, “one of the most exciting classical guitarists of his generation” according to Guitar Salon International. Feuillâtre performs on Jan. 31 at 7:30 p.m. in the Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall lobby, cabaret-style, with an expanded concessions menu and table seating.
Winner of the prestigious Guitar Foundation of America competition in 2018 and ADAMI’s "Classical Revelation 2021,” Deutsche Grammophon chose Raphaël as an exclusive artist by the label Deutsche Grammophon in 2022. He is, to date, one of the very few guitarists to have signed with this legendary label.
Raphaël Feuillâtre was born in 1996 in Djibouti and was raised in the small city of Cholet in western France. Although his parents were not musicians, they recognized and encouraged the boy’s gift for music after he was given a plastic guitar at the age of seven. Raphaël was introduced to the guitar by his first teacher, Hacène
Addadi, before joining Michel Grizard's class at the Conservatoire de Nantes in 2012. Three years later, he entered the Conservatoire National de Musique et de Danse de Paris in the classes of Roland Dyens and Tristan Manoukian. During this period, he was mentored by Judicaël Perroy, who played an essential role in his artistic development. Driven by a desire to pass on his passion for music and the guitar, Raphaël teaches at the Pôle Supérieur de Bretagne and is co-founder of the Lille Guitar Academy, a summer academy for guitarists. Students from all over the world receive his guidance at masterclasses given at the San Francisco Conservatory, the Manhattan School in New York and the Haute École de Musique in Geneva. His debut album released in March 2023, “Visages Baroques,” presents music by J.S. Bach and his French contemporaries Forqueray, Rameau, Royer and Duphly.
The carefully curated selection translates works mostly conceived for solo harpsichord into the colorful sound provided by the guitar.
Single tickets are priced at $35 (discounts available), are on sale now, and may be purchased by telephone at 702-895-ARTS (2787), online at pac.unlv.edu or at the UNLV PAC box office from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.
About UNLV Performing Arts Center The UNLV Performing Arts Center is the original home for the arts in Southern Nevada; it opened in 1976 and is celebrating its 48th season in 2024/25. A self-sustaining unit of UNLV, the PAC operates like many other arts organizations: costs for shows we produce, some facilities improvements, and other projects we undertake come from ticket sales, rentals, and donations. It hosts a variety of performances and events and is home to self-produced events plus productions of the Nevada Conservatory Theatre, UNLV School of Music, UNLV Dance, the Las Vegas Men’s Chorus, among many other community arts presenters, and various Clark County School District fine arts festivals and concerts. For further information, visit pac. unlv.edu.
Las Vegas celebrates Santo Niño: A vibrant tribute to Filipino heritage at Palm Northwest Mortuary
by gloRia t. Caoile
THIS past Sunday, January 19, 2025, over 200 attendees gathered at Palm Northwest Mortuary in Las Vegas with their Santo Niño images to celebrate the annual Santo Niño event, a tradition inspired by the renowned Sinulog Festival in Cebu, Philippines. Spearheaded and organized by Ed Balecha, sales manager, the event commenced with a solemn mass led by Fr. Frank Yncierto, setting a reverent tone for the day's festivities. The program's highlight was the captivating retelling of the Sinulog story by Dorothy Domingo, a longtime community member and dedicated activist, Her narration brought the rich history and significance of Sinulog to life for all present.
in value. Diamonds have symbolism.”
Jessy spent the Christmas holidays with her family.
“From Christmas celebration to New Year’s Eve until the birthday of Tito Ralph Recto (last Jan. 11), we were all together,” she granted. “Now, it’s back to work for all of us.”
She plans to get the elections over and done with before getting pregnant again with her second baby. “As of now, it’s not the right time yet,” Jessy said. “But I really want lots of kids.”
She plans to have three children, hopefully a boy next and another girl. “If the Lord gives us that, that’s great,” Jessy said. “If not, that’s okay, too.”
This early, she can tell that her daughter is a “drama queen,” perhaps taking after the grandma, Vilma.
“Rosie is such a happy baby,” Jessy said of her daughter. “Easy and very malambing. She just turned two last month. ABSCBN bosses promised me they will be strict with my hours when I start working again.”
Adding to the cultural vibrancy of the event were dance presentations by Robert Ramiro and Star Caliboso, who performed the traditional Carinosa followed by Sally Balecha and Ian Balido, who showcased the elegant Dance of Paseo Iloilo. These performances infused the celebration with energy and grace to the audience's delight.
Additionally, a certificate of appreciation was presented by Councilwoman Victoria Seaman to Ed
and
Balecha
Shannon Nordyke, Palm Northwest Mortuary General Manager, recognizing the efforts and dedication of
Palm Mortuary to service and honor the community.
The much-awaited highlight of the day was the procession to the Santo Niño Garden where attendees brought their personal Santo Niño images to be blessed on-site by Fr. Yncierto. This heartfelt tradition fostered a sense of community and devotion among participants.
The mistress of ceremony, Gloria T. Caoile, a long time community advocate and the multi talented DJ/Singer extraordinaire, Marlon Multo contributed significantly to the success of the event, ensuring everything ran smoothly, joyously and engagingly.
The event concluded with inspiring remarks by Ed Balecha, the founder of this much-awaited celebration. He announced next year's celebration would be Sunday, January 11, 2026!
