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, January 20, 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 deportation.
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 – President-elect 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 be to visit areas ravaged by the LA fires after his inauguration late next
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 Braun, florida Gov. and former presidential candidate ron
Marcos slams Duterte ‘lies’ on items in budget law
by Germelina lacorte melvin Gascon Inquirer.net
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 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
Leave impeach raps alone, Marcos urged
by Jeannette i andrade Inquirer.net
mANILA — Deputy minority Leader france Castro urged President ferdinand marcos Jr. not to interfere with the impeachment complaints against Vice President sara Duterte while calling on Congress to heed filipinos’ demand for accountability and justice. this is not about politics. this is about upholding the principles of good governance and ensuring that public officials remain accountable to the filipino people,” Castro said. According to Castro, “Congress has a constitutional
duty to process this case immediately. the people deserve accountability and transparency.”
As of January 19, Duterte faces at least three impeachment complaints in the house of representatives with a fourth one announced, but not yet filed. the first complaint of 24 articles was filed on December 2, 2024, with the charges divided into four main points: graft and corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust, and “other high crimes.” the second complaint was filed by 70 activists, led by the Bagong Alyansang makabayan,
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, sunny outside and bright in our heart.”
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 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
California and 21 other states file a lawsuit seeking to block Trump’s executive order
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, un-American,” the filipino American attorney general said in a statement. “We are asking a court to u PAGE 4
California Attorney General Rob Bonta Photo from Facebook/@RobBonta
Trump’s first trip as president...
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)
Donald Trump sworn in as...
PAGE 1
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 recentlyelected 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 President-elect 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
Marcos hails Trump inauguration, eyes...
PAGE 1
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
Marcos slams Duterte ‘lies’ on items...
PAGE 1
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.
“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
“[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).
Former President Rodrigo Duterte Malacañang file photo
MARKET VISIT. Department of Agriculture spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa (left) and Assistant Secretary Genevieve Guevarra lead the inspection of chicken, meat and vegetables prices at Trabajo Market in Sampaloc, Manila on Tuesday, January 21. They also inspected the designated “Timbangan ng Bayan” (weighing scale) and stalls’ compliance on proper labeling. PNA photo by Yancy Lim
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 Presidentelect 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 California-san 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 CocaCola Co., and Nestle UsA. he developed diabetes and nonalcoholic 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 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 ultraprocessed 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 (I-Vt.), 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 ultraprocessed 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 high-income 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 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
Fil-Am attorney general leads fight against...
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 tie-ins 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 ultra-processed 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 republicanled 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 indepth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.
immediately block this order from taking effect and ensure that the rights of American-born 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 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 francisco-born, 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)
Leave impeach raps alone, Marcos...
on December 4, 2024, and alleged “betrayal of public trust” over the illegal use and mishandling of confidential funds. the vice president is accused of “gross abuse of discretionary powers” over the P612.5 million in confidential funds.
In congressional hearings, the Philippine statistics Authority said that while she was education secretary, the Department of education disbursed Duterte’s confidential funds to hundreds of people with no birth records. similar findings were found in the disbursements of the office of the Vice President’s confidential funds.
the third complaint was filed by a group of religious workers, lawyers, and civil society workers on December 19.
Castro said the three complaints raised very serious and consequential issues that are best threshed out in an impeachment trial, which can commence once the complaints
are endorsed in the house. Castro said that should 103 congressmen endorse any of the impeachment complaints this week, it could be forwarded to the senate. the senate can then promptly tackle this or call for a special session if necessary,” Castro said.
But mr. marcos publicly said that an impeachment trial is very divisive although he agreed with former senate President Juan Ponce enrile that the matter points to serious precedents.
Worsening corruption
But former ACt teachers rep. Antonio tinio said: “Accountability should not be set aside due to any technicality or problem … We cannot allow procedural or election matters to obstruct justice.” he pointed out in filipino, “that kind of mindset worsens corruption in the country and makes the corrupt happier.”
“When we dismiss accountability for technical reasons, we only embolden
corrupt officials and weaken democratic institutions,” tinio stressed. the Congress of the Philippines has in fact handled many impeachment processes in the past.
Impeachment complaints were filed, but rejected, against former Presidents elpidio Quirino (1949), Diosdado macapagal (1964), ferdinand e marcos (1985), Corazon Aquino (1988), Benigno Aquino III (2014), rodrigo Duterte (2017) and Gloria macapagal Arroyo (2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008). the house impeached former President Joseph estrada for bribery, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, and culpable violation of the Constitution in 2000, but the senate trial was aborted by the second eDsA revolution. the only completed impeachment process, beyond indictment by the house, was that of unseated supreme Court Chief Justice renato Corona in 2011. n
Undocumented Filipinos in US advised about...
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 immigrants 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. f ilipino immigrants who need assistance are encouraged to contact the e mbassy’s 24/7 consular hotlines. ( i nquirer.net)
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
WORLD-CLASS. The Senate of the Philippines recognizes “The Voice USA” champion Sofronio Vasquez III (8th from left) on Monday, January 20. Senate Resolution No. 238 congratulated Vasquez for his win which will inspire others to pursue their dreams and showcase Filipino talent on the global stage. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan
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, non-discriminatory 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 culturally-appropriate 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
Senators Imee Marcos and Bong Revilla
Survey shows drop in Marcos, Sara ratings
by Franco Jose c. Baroña ManilaTimes.net
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 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 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 dissatisfaction and distrust ratings remained the lowest among top government officials. the tangere survey was conducted from Jan. 13 to 16 usu PAGE 7
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
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. 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 – 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
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 history and tradition of our great nation, the American people and the promise our country holds for future generations.” traditionally, both the presidentelect 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
cases of teenage pregnancy, which since 2019 has been identified as a “national and social emergency” by the National economic and Development Authority.
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
since both are in agreement on
to discourage teen pregnancies,
The triumphant return of Trump
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 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 but economically as well.” (Philstar. com)
* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
* * * Email: babeseyeview@gmail.com
Philippines, China and America in the SCS
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.”
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 maintaining visibility front against Chinese territorial violations. And manila must be clear on what
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 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.
ManilaTimes.net
this.
the urgent need
this initiative can
to be pursued, with cultural fine-tuning and precise wording to prevent misunderstanding and dispel fears. (Philstar.com)
U.S. President Donald J. Trump Whitehouse.gov photo
Dept of Education urged to amend implementing rules for law vs bullying
by Cristina Chi Philstar.com
mANILA — 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 counselors, 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
‘Filipinos united in supporting gov’t efforts in WPS’
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)
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 mil-
itary 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
Survey shows drop in Marcos, Sara...
ing 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
Below Market Rate (BMR) Rental Apartments Available
Chase SF Apartments at 603 Tennessee Street, San Francisco CA 94107
1 Studio at $1516 a month and 2 Two Bedrooms at $1694 a month.
Two parking spaces available to BMR renters for an additional $100 a month and will be offered to households in lottery rank order.
Must be income eligible and must not own a home.
Households must earn no more than the maximum income levels of 55% AMI as shown below:
One person - $57,700; 2 persons - $65,950; 3 persons - $74,150; 4 persons - $82,400; 5 persons- $89,000
Applications must be received by 5PM on February 6, 2025. Apply online through DAHLIA, the SF Housing Portal -DAHLIA at housing.sfgov.org. Please contact 603TennesseeBMR@gmail.com for building information.
Units available through the San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development and are subject to monitoring and other restrictions. Visi sf.gov/mohcd for program information. SF#3082
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
Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard deliver supplies to troops manning the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal in this photo taken on Sept. 26, 2024. PNA file photo
Jessy Mendiola ready to return to acting
by leah salteRio Philstar.com
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 mid-year,” 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.
After
by deni afinidad-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 halo-halo, 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
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 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 pre-hispanic 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 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.
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!”
“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 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 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. ABs-CBN bosses promised me they will be strict with my hours when I start working again.”
by deni Rose BeRnaRdo Philstar.com
IN his over 30 years of cooking, traveling the world and tasting many dishes in his hit reality series like “masterChef” and “hell’s Kitchen,” what has been the best dish Chef Gordon ramsay has tasted so far?
oh, that’s tough!” he admitted at his fan meet at the Newport Performing Arts theater in Pasay City.
he was instead asked to recall the best dish he has tasted in recent years, to which he said, sisig by melbourne-based restaurant serai by filipino chef ross magnaye.
“there’s a young kid in melbourne, he's blowing up on the internet and he's a filipino chef and all the rest is from his grandma, and the rest (restaurant) is called serai,” Gordon shared.
“We were eating his taco sisig he took all those crispy pig's
ears, the nose, the snout, and put it inside a taco and it was just like, how exciting is that?” the fan meet’s host Issa Litton suggested to ramsay to pair sisig with beer, as filipinos usually do.
ramsay also enjoyed a bone marrow dish from serai. Bone marrow is usually used in filipino soup dish bulalo
“And then we had a bone marrow… where you slice his bone marrow in half, caramelize the bone marrow, and then he doused it, I think it was with vodka, and he torched it… with this live flame melting bone marrow running down the back of your throat,” he described the experience. “Absolutely bang on, it was delicious! And I just swallowed it!”
Last year, serai, magnaye and his team competed at masterChef Australia,” a franchise of the “masterChef” American series that ramsay hosted. filipino dishes reimagined
and cooked over a wood-fired grill, fun cocktails and an allnatural wine list,” serai described itself on Instagram. the restaurant’s playful and Australian takes on traditional filipino food “is where filipino cuisine should be,” said ramsay.
“Growing up using all those intestines and the young chef of serai in melbourne, you know, he grew up in the river, just seeing what he's doing with that evolution of filipino food was sensational and then down to the desserts, you guys have a very sweet tooth and evaporated milk, you use a lot of it.” the best cooking, he said, always brings fond memories, which what restaurants like serai do.
“We grew up with a rice pudding made with evaporated milk and some tarts. I have a very sweet tooth and those kind of little nuances always takes me back to my childhood.”
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
For the cook-off, Judy Ann used Black Sesame Polvoron as key ingredient. Photo from Instagram/@officialjuday
“I can feel it blocking my arteries!” Ramsay later quipped as he tried food influencer Ninong Ry’s “very sweet” halo-halo. Photo from Instagram/@ninongry his family
British culinary icon Chef Gordon Ramsay (left); Serai’s Sisig Tacos by Filipino chef Ross Magnaye Gordon Ramsay; Serai via Instagram
a five-year acting hiatus, Jessy Mendiola will be
with Gerald Anderson. Photo from
A glimpse of the resuscitated Baguio Mansion House
by Rogelio Constantino Medina AJ Press
the weather is awesome and it takes to have a good ambience of the City of Pines in Benguet that has attracted thousands of tourists, foreign and local, each year because of its beautiful, serene, historic spots.
one of the city's tourist attractions is said to be the whitepainted Baguio mansion house, a two-storey arcaded building perched on a windy hill. It is surrounded by some abundant breezy trees, manicured lawns and gardens situated along romulo Drive, just across the Wright Park. the mansion house is considered as the official summer palace of the presidents of the Philippines, from manuel L. Quezon up to the present. every day, almost 500 tourists are taking pictures outside the mansion house. on weekends, it reaches up to 2,000 people.
All this, thanks to first Lady Louise Araneta-marcos for opening its big gate to the public to see what goes on behind the closed doors of the palace. similar to the teus museum in manila, the Presidential
museum in the Baguio mansion house boasts of a vast collection of our history and culture, the priceless memorabilia, including presidential portraits, attire, footwear, flags, photographs, old mailbox, porcelain gifts, busts sculpted in the likeness of the former leaders, portraits of first ladies along the hall, and presidential room and meeting room.
Built 117 years ago as the summer residence of American governors-general (until 1935), the Baguio mansion house was constructed at the instance of William Cameron forbes following the design of William e Parsons as part of the Burnham Plan for Baguio in 1908, inspired by the city's beautiful movement. In 1910, it became the site of the special session of the second Philippine Legislature. though the mansion house was destroyed in 1945 during the battle for the liberation of the Philippines, it was reconstructed and improved after two years. It was the seat of the second session of the United Nations’ economic Commission of Asia and the far east (eCAfe) in 1947. the following year, the second session of food and
Agriculture organization (fAo) was held in Baguio mansion. In 1950, it was the venue of the first meeting of the south east Asia Union (seAU), popularly known as the Baguio Conference of 1950, conceived and convened by Pres. elpidio Quirino. for years, the mansion house was not open to the public and it was exclusive only for the use of the first family since it is the summer residence of a Philippine president. At that time, you could just take some photo-ops outside to view the arcaded building from its elegant gate. through the initiative of first Lady Louise Araneta-marcos, it was opened to the public for the first time as a museum starting september 2024. It is the selfless commitment of the first lady to revive heritage houses through the malacanang heritage tours office.
At night, the Baguio mansion house is so magical, enchanting and alluring to the eyes as if you were in James hilton's Lost horizon, so peaceful and tranquilly mesmerizing, as you witness the spectacular dancing waters from a long pool park just across the road.
Citizen Pinoy explores Trump’s 2025 immigration policies in a special episode
thIs week, Donald trump was officially inaugurated as 47th President of the United states, proclaiming in his address, the Golden Age of America begins right now.” With this statement, he signaled his intent to enforce sweeping changes in immigration policy. from his bold push to end birthright citizenship to the unveiling of his 2025 immigration strategies for the undocumented, his tough stance has sparked widespread concern and uncertainty, especially among immigrant communities. on this sunday’s special episode of Citizen Pinoy, leading U.s. Immigration Attorney michael J. Gurfinkel tackles these pressing issues head-on. What is birthright citizenship? Who could be affected by its potential elimination? Are these proposed changes even constitutional?
Atty. Gurfinkel breaks down trump’s policies, offering critical insights into their legal implications and what they could mean for filipinos and other immigrant families in the United states.
As many Kapamilyas voice their fears about family reunification, deportation, and legal rights, Atty. Gurfinkel provides clarity and a
guidance, viewers will better understand their options during this uncertain time and how to prepare for potential changes. Be sure to catch this timely and vital episode of
Baguio Mansion House at night.
Philippine president’s office inside the Baguio Mansion House.
Citizen Pinoy
sAN frANCIsCo – Directed by Charles Gray, “hard 90 to home” is a powerful new documentary that captures the inspiring journey of a father and son dedicated to fostering the growth of baseball in filipino communities. the film follows the Picketts family, as they lead the Philippines Baseball Group in its mission to develop young filipino baseball players and strengthen the sport’s presence among filipino youth.
In “hard 90 to home,” audiences are taken behind the scenes of the Philippines Baseball Group, an organization formed to scout, train, and support talented players in filipino communities in Northern California and abroad. With the Picketts at the helm, the documentary highlights their unwavering commitment to their athletes, their cultural heritage, and their deep-rooted belief in the power of baseball to change lives.
the story unfolds during the 2024 filipino World series Baseball tournament held in Los Angeles, California, where the players and coaches battle for the high stakes of victory and the pride of winning, facing off against teams across the United states and Canada. With personal moments of triumph, “hard 90 to home” reveals the human side of the game, offering viewers a glimpse of the dedication and passion needed to elevate the sport and the young athletes who pursue it.
the film highlights the enduring bond between father and son, their deep connection to filipino culture and family, and their shared dream of helping talented young athletes find success, both on and off the field. through the Philippines Baseball Group, the Picketts hope to inspire future generations and elevate filipino baseball on the world stage.
“hard 90 to home” is set to premiere on saturday, January 25, 2025, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., at st. Ignatius College Preparatory in san francisco. for more information, press inquiries, or to request a screening, please contact matt Lopez at mattLopez@ philippinesbaseballgroup.com.
Charles Gray is a filipino American writer and director from West Covina, CA. his dad is film director frank Gray Jr., and his grand uncle is Dolphy Quizon who is highly regarded as the King of Comedy in the
Philippines. Growing up in a film industry family motivated Charles to continue the deeprooted family legacy, which eventually led him to film school at the Art Institute of orange County where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Digital filmmaking. since then, he has worked in media companies in the entertainment industry and eventually opened up his own production company called Weird Creatures Productions where he plans to curate and release original content that shines a light on diversity, the filipino-American experience, as well as stories that have never been told or seen before.”
(Information from ImDb mini
Biography by Charles J Gray) the Philippines Baseball Group (PBG) is an organization dedicated to identifying, nurturing, and developing baseball talent from the Philippines and filipino communities around Northern America and abroad. through grassroots efforts, coaching, and partnerships with the Philippines National team, PBG aims to build a legacy for filipino baseball players. for additional information on PBG, contact matt Lopez email: mattLopez@ philippinesbaseball.org, or view on Instagram: PhilippinesBaseball, Philippinesbaseball_norcal, PhilippinesBaseballGroup h awaii, PhilippinesBaseball_youthgroup.
Treasurer Ma announces $9.9M for energy efficient heat pump loans for low-income households
$15M in grants also announced to support small business development programs throughout California SF wins $15M grant to meet growing demand for EV charging throughout city
to install up to 300 new electric vehicle chargers in key neighborhoods
sAN frANCIsCo – the City and County of san francisco has been awarded $15 million from the U.s. Department of transportation’s highly competitive Charging and fueling Infrastructure Grant Program to boost the city’s publicly accessible electric vehicle (eV) charging. the san francisco environment Department (sfe), in partnership with the san francisco municipal transportation Agency (sfmtA), the Port of san francisco, and the san francisco Public Utilities Commission (sfPUC), developed the winning proposal, which will dramatically expand the city’s current number of total charging ports by 30% in garages, in lots, and at curbside locations. this is only the latest of several grants that sfe has secured for eVs and electric micromobility devices (e.g., e-bikes) to advance electrification and charging infrastructure in the city.
“I am proud of the efforts our departments are making together to bring critical funds into the city,” said san francisco mayor Daniel Lurie. “these are the kinds of proactive collaborations the city will continue to undertake to provide efficient and effective transportation, leverage infrastructure projects to boost economic growth, and keep the city on track to meet our robust climate goals.” the project will add 270 Level 2 chargers and 30 DC fast chargers in neighborhoods such as Civic Center, Western Addition, Chinatown, mission, treasure Island, Bayview hunters Point, richmond, sunset, and others. the addition of 30 DC fast chargers will be a welcome increase to the growing eV driver community in san francisco who need convenient fast rapid charging stations throughout
the city. most of the new Level 2 chargers will be installed with a “dig once” approach to prepare the locations for future charging expansion as needed, which could include charging for eVs, e-bikes, e-scooters, and other e-micromobility residents commonly used to navigate our hilly city. the grant award marks a pivotal step forward for the adoption of electric vehicles in san francisco,” said environment Department Director tyrone Jue. the collaboration is a testament to our shared climate vision of becoming net-zero emissions by 2040. By focusing on becoming the all-electric city of the future, we create an environment where everyone can enjoy cleaner air, economic growth, and green job opportunities.”
While all potential locations will expand eV charging access to neighborhoods that have yet to secure enough convenient and affordable charging to meet demand, the majority of DC fast and L2 chargers will be installed in downtown city-owned garages and lots. Depending on the type of vehicle, DC fast (also known as Level 3) can charge a car in less than an hour, while L2 can charge a vehicle in 2-6 hours. Providing drivers with both charging options in the city’s economic core will support downtown revitalization efforts, enabling residents and visitors to shop, eat, run errands, or tour these neighborhoods while their vehicles charge. expanding eV charging access is one of the fastest ways we can reduce emissions from the transportation sector,” said sfmtA Acting Director of transportation Julie Kirschbaum. “Clean, electric transportation provides better air to all communities, especially benefiting vulnerable groups. the sfmtA is
sACrAmeNto – state treasurer fiona ma on tuesday, January 21 announced changes to California’s GoGreen home program that will provide $9.9 million for loans to low-income households in disadvantaged and low-income communities for the installation of energy efficient heat pump hVAC or water heater systems, and other energy efficiency upgrades. the California Alternative energy and Advanced transportation financing Authority (CAeAtfA), which ma chairs as treasurer, administers GoGreen home. making energy efficient upgrades easier and more affordable is key to reaching California’s sustainable energy goals,” said treasurer ma. “GoGreen is a critical part of our upgrade infrastructure and creates equity by targeting disadvantaged communities.”
the $9.9 million is part of $30 million in funding from the California energy Commission’s equitable Building Decarbonization Program to expand Californians’ access to efficient electric measures. of the $9.9 million, $9.4 million is set aside for heat pump loans up to $30,000, while $500,000 is set aside for microloans under $5,000 for appliance upgrades that do not require a heat pump. the $9.9 million will buy down interest rates to 0% on loans with a financing term up to 10 years and 2% on loans with longer terms. About 2,600 households are estimated to be served by this program.
"Go Green is a successful program with a proven track record that the California energy Commission is thrilled to support in partnership with the great team at CAeAtfA,” said California energy Commissioner Andrew mcAllister. “All Californians should benefit from the transition to clean energy; these funds will help that happen.”
GoGreen financing supports clean energy upgrades for Californians by creating a credit enhancement in the form of
a loan loss reserve, through which participating lenders are provided coverage should the borrower default. the loss reserve mitigates the risk of default, which enables lenders to offer lower rates, lengthier payback terms, and to approve a broader base of borrowers for energy upgrade loans. As loans are repaid, the credit enhancement dollars cycle back into the system and are made available for future loan financings.
GoGreen home participants may borrow for upgrades to a single-family home, townhome, condo, duplex, triplex, fourplex, or manufactured home. Nine credit unions and financial institutions are offering loans to GoGreen home customers, with additional lenders anticipated to join this year.
Interested individuals are invited to plan their home projects, find contractors, and learn about low-cost financing options at www. gogreenfinancing.com.
In another development, ma on tuesday also announced $15 million in grants to support small business development programs throughout California. the grants were made through the California Investment & Innovation Program (Cal IIP) run by the California Pollution Control financing Authority (CPCfA), which ma chairs as state treasurer.
“small businesses power the California economy,” said treasurer ma. “By distributing these funds in local communities, they allow our partners to tailor programs that meet the unique needs of those communities and help small businesses thrive.”
Cal IIP grants are awarded to Community Development financial Institutions (CDfIs) –credit unions, banks, non-profit organizations, and other entities – which address the needs of communities underserved by traditional banking institutions.
CDfIs can use the grant funds for services and operations that contribute to their community
committed to ensuring that charging infrastructure for eVs is available and convenient for all san francisco residents, businesses and visitors.”
“We applaud the U.s Department of transportation’s support for this critical infrastructure,” said Port of san francisco executive Director elaine forbes. “these funds help advance the Port’s ongoing environmental stewardship to limit climate change and protect the Bay.”
the City and County of san francisco’s Climate Action Plan outlines a goal to electrify 100% of vehicles in the city by 2040. In 2023, 37% of all vehicle sales in san francisco were zero emission, and according to the California energy Commission, the city will likely reach or exceed this level in 2024. the funding the city will receive from Dot is critical to ensuring that its infrastructure can both keep up with current charging demands as well as encourage continued growth of eV adoption. two vendors, eVgo and Connected Kerb, were competitively selected to participate in the proposal and will install the DC fast and Level 2 chargers, respectively. these vendors are committed to convenient and affordable pricing and payment models, charging safety and reliability, and reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in and near disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. since 2024, sfe has secured eight state and federal grants totaling nearly $50 million for vehicle charging, community engagement and education, resident electrification support and incentive programs, large residential and commercial building decarbonization, and more. (SF Mayor’s office release)
sAN frANCIsCo – two accomplished young filipino Americans from Northern California recently participated in the annual immersion to the Philippines of the filipino Young Leaders Program (fYLPro).
Consul General Neil ferrer welcomed the Northern California delegates to the 2024 fYLPro Immersion Program during the latter’s call at the Philippine Consulate General in san francisco on January 7, 2025. the Philippine Consul General received the following members of the 2024 fYLPro cohort from Northern California: Jessica De Leon of Burlingame, behavioral neurologist and Assistant Professor at University of California san francisco (UCsf); and Dyanna Volek of san francisco, Government Affairs manager at san francisco International Airport (sfo).
During the call, the
development mission, including affordable housing, capital access for small businesses and individuals, and education and healthcare facilities. the board approved Cal IIP grant awards to 63 CDfIs, for a total of $14,999,999.92. Cal IIP highlights include:
• $9.1 million for small business support
• $5.9 million to fund community development projects and services
• $5.0 million for affordable housing programs • $4.3 million for engaging the underbanked.
A full list of Cal IIP awardees, grant amounts, and uses can be found at https://emma-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/ j1lgb/0f0e7b3738ab7263a7352f2a7e589018/2025_Cal_ IIP_Awards_List.pdf. the California Legislature established the Cal IIP fund in 2022 with senate Bill 193, which committed $50 million over several years toward grant funding. Cal IIP grants are required to be awarded by february 1. the program distributed $14.2 million in 2024. for more information about the program, visit www.treasurer. ca.gov/cpcfa/caliip/index.asp. (collated from cA Treasurer’s office releases)
aforementioned delegates shared their experience during their immersion in metro manila and Iloilo. they also presented their fYLPro legacy projects, which cover the topics of brain health, and traditional healing practices.
Consul General ferrer congratulated the Northern California delegates for completing the fYLPro immersion program, and extended the Consulate’s offer of assistance for their legacy project proposals.
“I congratulate Dr. De Leon and manager Volek for being chosen to be part of an elite group of young filipino American leaders for the 2024 fYLPro Immersion Program. their accomplishments show the positive impact of filipino Americans not only on their own community, but also on the American society at large,” Consul General ferrer said.
“With their newfound connection with the homeland
through the immersion program and their leadership roles in the filipino American Community, I am certain that the special ties between the Philippines and the U.s. will remain strong in the years to come,” Consul General ferrer also said. In addition to De Leon and Volek, Christian Aniciete of Beaverton, or and michael Baliton of Denver, Co also took part in the 2024 fYLPro Immersion Program. oregon and Colorado, which are under the Consulate’s jurisdiction, were among the states that were represented for the very first time at the Immersion Program. Launched in 2012, the fYLPro immersion program provides a group of young filipino American leaders with invaluable government, business and community insights, and access to distinguished network captains of government and industry in the Philippines. (PcGSF release)
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 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.
Bongbong Marcos misses his dad
* * * 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 Common 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 h ansel Philyang, book author and broadcast journalist: (1) “ m y 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, s econd Life s onata, on Valentine’s Day. It explores profound themes of life, death, and the afterlife, weaving lessons from classical texts like t he Bhagavad Gita, t he t ibetan Book of the Dead, and t he 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 s econd Life s onata 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.
t he tight schedules and demanding projects taught me to embrace discipline and adapt quickly, especially after earning my h arvard t eaching Certificate amidst all this. m ost 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 pa-
* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
* * * rogeliocmedina@yahoo.com
Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at work inside Bahay Pangulo.
The president’s family with the relatives at the Presidential Residence during New Year. Photos courtesy of Rogelio C. Medina
Animator Jess Espanola
Senate President Francis Escudero
Musician Rhap-Rhap Daigdigan
Marissa Valdez Jupiter (right) during her oathtaking
Chino Hansel Philyang, book author and broadcast journalist
