for decades, the United states has held considerable power in determining the direction of global health policies and programs. President Donald trump issued three executive orders on his first day in office that may signal the end of that era, health policy experts said.
trump’s order to withdraw from the World health organization means the U.s. will probably not be at the table in february when the Who executive board next convenes. the Who is shaped by its members: 194 countries that set health priorities and make agreements about how to share critical data, treatments, and vaccines during international emergencies. With the U.s. missing, it would cede power to others.
“It’s just stupid,” said Kenneth Bernard, a visiting fellow at the hoover Institution at stanford University who served as a top biodefense official during the George W. Bush
Fil-Am attorney general leads fight against Pres. Trump’s birthright citizenship 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, unAmerican,” the filipino American attorney general said in a statement.
“We are asking a court to immediately block this order from taking effect and ensure that the rights of American-born children
Fil-Am community leaders react to Trump’s return as president
by AJPress
AJPress
administration. Among these was the revocation of executive order 14031, titled Advancing Equity, Justice, and opportunity for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific islanders (AANHPi), originally signed by President Joe Biden on may 28, 2021.
In a written preamble published with trump’s first presidential actions, he alleged that the "previous administration has embedded deeply unpopular, inflationary, illegal, and radical practices within every agency and office of the federal Government. the injection of 'diversity, equity, and inclusion' (DeI) into our institutions has corrupted them by replacing hard work, merit, and equality with a divisive and dangerous preferential hierarchy.”
By signing the executive orders, trump said his administration would move to enact "policies that
Marcos assures Trump on Ph-US alliance
by Melvin Gascon Inquirer.net
mANILA — President ferdinand marcos Jr. expressed optimism that the “strong and lasting” Philippine-American alliance would continue as he greeted U.s. President Donald trump on the latter’s inauguration on tuesday, January 21.
“Congratulations to PotUs (President of the United states) @realdonaldtrump and to the
American people on another peaceful transfer of power in their Nation’s nearly 250-year history,” marcos said in a post on X.
“the strong and lasting PhU.s. alliance will continue to uphold our shared vision of prosperity and security in the region,” the president added.
It was the second time marcos congratulated trump on his second nonconsecutive ascent to the presidency; the first was right after trump won the U.s
elections in November.
Security cooperation
“I look forward to working closely with you and your administration,” said marcos, who in under three years in office had manila pivoting back to Washington after his predecessor, rodrigo Duterte, chose to lean toward Beijing for investments and loans.
It was also under marcos that the Philippines further expanded security cooperation u PAGE A4
mANILA — U.s. President
Donald trump’s decision to withdraw his country from the World health organization (Who) could be something to be bothered about as it would affect the Philippines, according to a former health secretary.
Janette Garin, currently the 1st District representative of Iloilo in Congress, said many programs of the Who in the Philippines are being backed by the United
states Agency for International Development (UsAID), the humanitarian arm of the U.s government. she lamented that the U.s. pullout from the Who would harm those programs.
“Napakaimportante nito sa Pilipinas kasi maraming usaping kalusugan at maraming programa sa kalusugan na kumukuha tayo ng funding support sa Who. And, of course, expected na ‘yung UsAID ay bababa ang mga tinutulong nito sa mga bansa sa movement na
A LABor group in the Philippines on Wednesday, January 22 called for a unified approach to help undocumented filipinos in the United states facing mass deportation under the order of U.s. President Donald trump. the federation of free Workers said it was collaborating with the government to formulate a consolidated response given the urgency of the situation.
It urged the administration of President ferdinand marcos Jr. to prioritize diplomatic engagements with the trump administration concerning the issue and to ensure the proper
reintegration of deported filipinos into Philippine society. on tuesday, January 21, the trade Union Congress of the Philippines (tUCP) also called for a unified response.
"We strongly advocate for a unified, coherent response, ranging from legal assistance to reintegration services, not only to enable the government to effectively oversee these initiatives but also to empower our kababayan (compatriot) with a one-stop shop for accessible and comprehensive services," tUCP Vice President Luis Corral said in a statement.
Department of migrant Workers data showed there are around 370,000 undocumented filipinos in the U.s n
UNIteD states President Donald trump on monday, January 20 entered his second presidency with a renewed mission to “make America
great again,” prompting a range of reactions from filipino American community leaders and members across the country. taking the oath of office at the Capitol rotunda, trump ushered in his return to power and the
“Golden Age of America" by saying, “from this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world." Painting a contrast to the outgoing Biden u PAGE A2
Fil-Am community leaders react...
administration, trump described his ascent back to office as a “mandate” to "give the people back their faith, their wealth, their democracy and indeed their freedom. from this moment on, America's decline is over."
In his nearly 40-minute speech, the 78-year-old former businessman laid down his agenda, ranging from mass deportations of “criminal aliens” by declaring “a national emergency at our southern border” to the ambitious space race.
"We will pursue our manifest destiny into the stars by launching American astronauts to plant the stars and stripes on the planet mars," trump said.
As one of the fastest-growing immigrant groups in the U.s., filipino Americans hold diverse political views and priorities, which were evident in their responses — ranging from both optimism and apprehension — to trump’s return to the White house.
rudy Asercion, an active member of the san francisco republican Party, declared that “American exceptionalism is back!”
"With a focus on rebuilding our economy, improving foreign policy, achieving energy independence, and securing our southern border, I am confident that trump’s administration will yield meaningful outcomes for the American people, and I eagerly anticipate the promising days ahead,” he told the Asian Journal Cristina osmeña, a community leader who previously ran as the republican nominee for California’s 14th Congressional District, said she “took a sigh of relief” after Biden left office.
"In the last four years, the world has seen two war fronts open up and an American ally fallen to terrorists. the United states flirted with an experiment in modern monetary theory, creating a surge in inflation no one could ignore. And our culture has become paralyzed by the epidemic of treating falsehoods as truths. that is all over. Common sense is making a comeback,” she wrote in an
e-mail.
marc Ang, a southern California-based conservative community organizer and entrepreneur, likewise expressed eagerness and support for trump’s second term, sharing that the president is more equipped with the inner workings of the government to push his agenda and follow the “smartest solution” on issues like immigration.
“All the fear that’s coming from the left is overblown. Just watch, he’s going to do what’s best for the people,” Ang told the Asian Journal, echoing trump’s premise to “bring back competence and common sense. that’s the feeling that most Americans have, regardless of ideology.”
“I’m willing to put my ideologies aside just to see practical results come in that help more people than hurt more people,” he said, adding that the 2024 election outcome demonstrated that “a lot of minorities were affected by the downturn of the economy.”
“I have seen an evolution in many of my filipino American community partners, as well as my hispanic American community partners, who were formerly voting against [trump] and came around and expanded that coalition for him this time around because it was about bottomline issues.” Ang, who is also a small business owner, praised trump’s executive order pausing the law banning popular social media platform tiktok for 75 days. Ang asserted that a significant population of the 170 million Americans on tiktok are small business owners, including many filAm-owned ventures ranging from lifestyle brands to food vendors, that use the platform to boost their businesses.
“[trump] understood the impact of that and acted accordingly, while Congress — republicans and Democrats — were willing to let that go dark and including former President Biden so that was one of the exciting things for me,” Ang said.
In his inauguration speech, trump stated that “the entire
nation is rapidly unifying behind our agenda with dramatic increases in support from virtually every element of our society,” including Asian Americans.
on January 15, a new AAPI Data/AP-NorC survey found that 31% of Asian American, Native hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AAPI) adults believe the country is heading in the right direction.
Within the AAPI community, AAPI Data noted trump had greater support among certain demographics, including filipinos, Native hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, men, and those aged 60 and older.
filipino Americans had the highest levels of trump favorability among Asian Americans, with 47% saying they were “very or somewhat favorable” of trump, versus 45% who said “very/somewhat unfavorable.” some issues that fil-Ams surveyed weighed in on included deportation of undocumented immigrants in the U.s., with 43% of fil-Ams saying they strongly/somewhat favor the action.
hon. melissa ramoso, California Democratic Party state Chair emerita for AAPI and filipino American Caucuses, expressed deep concern about trump’s immediate actions on his first day in office. trump signed executive orders reversing several policies from the Biden administration, including measures addressing climate change, supporting local economies, and advocating for inclusivity.
"It was no surprise that President trump started to carry out executive orders on day one to reverse all the hard work that President Biden’s Administration did to protect families, address climate change, advocate for service workers, assist local economies, advance science and health policies, be inclusive of LGBtQ rights, and so much more," ramoso told the Asian Journal she criticized trump’s decision to withdraw from the World health organization (Who) and the Paris Climate Accords, saying these moves as
Trump dissolves White house Initiative on...
will make our Nation united, fair, safe, and prosperous again,” asserting that "it is the policy of the United states to restore common sense to the federal Government and unleash the potential of the American citizen.”
the revocations within this order will be the first of many steps the United states federal Government will take to repair our institutions and our economy,” the statement added. the dissolution of the White house Initiative on Asian Americans, Native hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WhIAANhPI) sparked immediate backlash, particularly from leaders and advocates who have championed federal support for these communities. the WhIAANhPI was a bipartisan institution that had been reestablished and reshaped under successive administrations since its inception by President Bill Clinton in 1999.
the WhIAANhPI was designed to enhance federal engagement with AA & NhPI communities, ensuring they had equitable access to federal resources, policies, and programs. It played a vital role in addressing barriers these communities face in areas such as health, education, and economic opportunity.
rep. Grace meng, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), expressed her disappointment with trump’s decision. In a statement, she said: "I am disappointed that the new Administration decided that it
was an important Day 1 priority to dissolve the White house Initiative on Asian Americans, Native hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. the White house Initiative has been critical to connecting Asian American, Native hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANhPI) communities to the federal government and has been a bipartisan institution across every administration for the last 25 years.”
she said the caucus would work "with any administration, from either party, to ensure AANhPI communities are engaged in the federal policymaking process and are not left behind."
the White house initiative for the AAPI community was first established in 1999 by then-President Bill Clinton through executive order 13125, aiming to improve the quality of life for these communities by increasing their participation in federal programs. With the Initiative, the first President’s Advisory Commission on AAPIs was formed with 15 community members and chaired by former rep. Norman mineta. the initiative was subsequently renewed by Presidents George W. Bush and Barack obama during their respective twoterms in office.
In 2019, trump issued executive order 13872, reestablishing the Initiative during his first term and moving it from the Department of education back to the Department of Commerce, with then secretary of Commerce Wilbur ross and then secretary of transportation elaine
Chao serving as co-chairs of the initiative. this version also established an Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) to help broaden access to more employers and other economic resources for the AAPI community.
Biden later updated the Initiative in 2021 under executive order 14031, renaming it to White house Initiative on Asian Americans, Native hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WhIAANhPI) to include the Native hawaiian community. According to executive order 14031, the Initiative is tasked with advancing "equity, justice, and opportunity for AA and NhPI communities by coordinating federal interagency policymaking and program development efforts to eliminate barriers to equity, justice, and opportunity faced by AA and NhPI communities, including by advancing policies, programs, and initiatives." the same year, Biden signed the CoVID-19 hate Crimes Act, a landmark law that made hate crime reporting more accessible and authorized grants for crimereduction programs. the Act was a response to the alarming 189% surge in anti-Asian hate crimes from 2020 to 2021.
Advocates warn that dissolving the WhIAANhPI will leave vulnerable communities without a direct pipeline to federal policymaking. they emphasize the Initiative’s crucial role in combating systemic inequities and addressing anti-Asian discrimination. n
Fil-Am attorney general leads fight against...
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 long-established 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
Los Angeles County launches one-stop funding and relief portal to help residents, businesses and communities recover from wildfires
the recent wildfires have devastated communities, displacing thousands of residents and bringing unimaginable grief, suffering and loss to our friends, families, neighbors and co-workers. At the same time, this tragedy has also spurred an outpouring of incredible generosity and desire to help those in need—along with questions about where best to direct donations.
In response to this
overwhelming show of support, and to help guide people with questions about how to help, Los Angeles County has launched a one-stop portal to connect the public with trusted organizations that are providing crucial relief and support in our communities. the LA County relief: funding & resource Portal hosts a range of funds dedicated to supporting first responders, offering housing assistance,
providing relief for small businesses and workers, and removing barriers for students and communities. People interested in donating are encouraged to scroll through the various organizations to find one—or more—to support as we work together to rebuild lives, strengthen communities and recover stronger and safer than before. Go to lacounty.gov/relief to learn more. n
Covered California hits record enrollment, but key subsidies in jeopardy
by claudia boyd-barrett KFF Health Newa
CoVereD California, the state’s health insurance marketplace, has hit a record 1.8 million enrollees and the number could climb higher ahead of a Jan. 31 open enrollment deadline, due in large part to enhanced subsidies that have made plans more affordable. But the state’s progress in extending health coverage to all residents could come to an abrupt halt as the second trump administration takes power alongside a republican Congress whose leadership has long been hostile to the Affordable Care Act, the 2010 federal law also known as obamacare.
top of mind for Covered California officials is the looming expiration of the additional federal subsidies for health insurance approved by Congress in 2021 as part of a CoVID pandemic relief package. that resulted in lower premiums for people around the country — especially middle-class households — who buy health insurance through the exchanges established by the Affordable Care Act.
“Whether there will be action to extend the enhanced subsidies — that’s a big impact that we are closely tracking,” said Covered California executive Director Jessica Altman, who noted the program had about 1.5 million enrollees prior to enhanced subsidies.
republicans have criticized the cost of the subsidies, and it’s not clear they’ll renew them.
Without an extension, researchers at the University of California-Berkeley Labor Center estimate, Covered California premiums for subsidized enrollees would soar by an average of $967 a year beginning in 2026, and an estimated 69,000 Californians would lose their insurance. California took its own steps last year to make coverage more affordable, eliminating deductibles and reducing other out-of-pocket costs on all mid-tier policies known as “silver” plans. however, the state’s health care spending is likely to face fresh pressure if republicans in Washington follow through on long-standing designs to cut funding for medicaid, the health insurance program for low-income Americans, known in California as medi-Cal. In addition to bolstering Covered California, the state has also aggressively pushed to expand medi-Cal, including to immigrants living in the U.s
without authorization, and now spends $161 billion a year on that program, about half paid by the federal government.
About 144,000 of Covered California’s 1.8 million enrollees as of Dec. 14 are first-time buyers, and nearly 90% of all enrollees qualify for financial help. Covered California has extended the enrollment period to march 8 for residents in Los Angeles and Ventura counties due to wildfires, and has also issued extensions related to the bird flu and an earthquake in Northern California. Low-income residents pay little or nothing for monthly premiums, while for those earning more, premiums are capped at a percentage of household income. With the enhanced federal subsidies, no one is required to spend more than 8.5% of their income on premiums, provided they stick to a silver plan. such plans, however, can have smaller u PAGE A4
Fil-Am community leaders react...
a signal that such global issues are no longer a priority for the U.s ramoso lamented the divisiveness that she believes will continue during trump’s second term.
"It was evident a sense of trust was lost after the election, and we have to do everything in our power to gain that trust back from Americans," she concluded, emphasizing the need for Democrats to reassess and reengage with the American people.
In Las Vegas, civic leader Gloria Caoile focused on the importance of resilience and optimism.
"We need to continue to live and character our principles. Good governance requires positive energy and pragmatism, and so we look forward to the next four years with hope and optimism," Caoile said.
Neil ferrer, the Philippine Consul General in san francisco, struck a more diplomatic tone, focusing on the peaceful transfer of power as a hall-
mark of American democracy.
While acknowledging potential impacts on filipino nationals, he reaffirmed the Consulate’s commitment to supporting the community.
"In his inaugural address, President trump outlined his priorities that may impact filipino citizens in the United states. on changes in U.s. immigration policy, the Philippine Consulate General in san francisco is committed to extending appropriate assistance to filipino nationals across its jurisdiction regardless of immigration status, while respecting U.s laws as well as individual privacy," ferrer stated.
he also expressed hope for strengthened ties between the Philippines and the United states, noting the importance of recent diplomatic engagements, including Philippine Ambassador Jose manuel romualdez’s meeting with President trump and a call between Philippine secretary for foreign Affairs enrique manalo and U.s secretary of state
marco rubio. meanwhile, the Philippine embassy in Washington issued an advisory that “filipinos in the United states have rights, regardless of their immigration status,” including the right to speak to an attorney before answering any questions from immigration or law enforcement. the embassy and Consulates General throughout the country have made their 24/7 hotlines available to ensure that “filipinos are informed, safe and supported” in the event they need help. there are currently over 300,000 undocumented filipinos living in the United states. the Philippine Department of migrant Workers (DmW) said it would be ready to assist should they be deported back to their home country. During trump’s first term in the White house, over 3,500 filipinos were deported between 2017 to 2020, according to the DmW, with the highest being recorded in 2018 with 503. n
Covered California, the state’s health insurance marketplace, has hit a record 1.8 million enrollees and the number could climb higher ahead of a Jan. 31 open enrollment deadline, due in large part to enhanced subsidies that have made plans more affordable. Pexels.com photo by Mikhail Nilov
Long CovId patients are frustrated that federal research hasn’t found new treatments
by SArAh Boden KFF Health News
erICA hayes, 40, has not felt healthy since November 2020 when she first fell ill with CoVID. hayes is too sick to work, so she has spent much of the last four years sitting on her beige couch, often curled up under an electric blanket.
“my blood flow now sucks, so my hands and my feet are freezing. even if I’m sweating, my toes are cold,” said hayes, who lives in Western Pennsylvania. she misses feeling well enough to play with her 9-year-old son or attend her 17-year-old son’s baseball games.
Along with claiming the lives of 1.2 million Americans, the CoVID-19 pandemic has been described as a mass disabling event. hayes is one of millions of Americans who suffer from long CoVID. Depending on the patient, the condition can rob someone of energy, scramble the autonomic nervous system, or fog their memory, among many other symptoms.In addition to the brain fog and chronic fatigue, hayes’ constellation of symptoms includes frequent hives and migraines. Also, her tongue is constantly swollen and dry.
“I’ve had multiple doctors look at it and tell me they don’t know what’s going on,” hayes said about her tongue.
estimates of prevalence range considerably, depending on how researchers define long CoVID in a given study, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention puts it at 17 million adults.
Despite long CoVID’s vast reach, the federal government’s investment in researching the disease — to the tune of $1.15 billion as of December — has so far failed to bring any new treatments to market.
this disappoints and angers the patient community, who say the National Institutes of health should focus on ways to stop their suffering instead of simply trying to understand why they’re suffering.
“It’s unconscionable that more than four years since this began, we still don’t have one fDAapproved drug,” said meighan stone, executive director of the Long CoVID Campaign, a patient-led advocacy organization. stone was among several people with long CoVID who spoke at a workshop hosted by the NIh in september where patients, clinicians, and
researchers discussed their priorities and frustrations around the agency’s approach to long-CoVID research. some doctors and researchers are also critical of the agency’s research initiative, called reCoVer, or researching CoVID to enhance recovery. Without clinical trials, physicians specializing in treating long CoVID must rely on hunches to guide their clinical decisions, said Ziyad Al-Aly, chief of research and development with the VA st Louis healthcare system.
“What [reCoVer] lacks, really, is clarity of vision and clarity of purpose,” said Al-Aly, saying he agrees that the NIh has had enough time and money to produce more meaningful progress.
Now the NIh is starting to determine how to allocate an additional $662 million of funding for long CoVID research, $300 million of which is earmarked for clinical trials. these funds will be allocated over the next four years.At the end of october, reCoVer issued a request for clinical trial ideas that look at potential therapies, including medications, saying its goal is “to work rapidly, collaboratively, and transparently to advance treatments for Long CoVID.” this turn suggests the NIh has begun to respond to patients. this has stirred cautious optimism among those who say that the agency’s approach to long CoVID has lacked urgency in the search for effective treatments.stone calls this $300 million a down payment. she warns it’s going to take a lot more money to help people like hayes regain some degree of health.“there really is a burden to make up this lost time now,” stone said. the NIh told Kff health News and NPr via email that it recognizes the urgency in finding treatments. But to do that, there needs to be an understanding of the biological mechanisms that are making people sick, which is difficult to do with postinfectious conditions.
that’s why it has funded research into how long CoVID affects lung function, or trying to understand why only some people are afflicted with the condition.
Good science takes time
In December 2020, Congress appropriated $1.15 billion for the NIh to launch reCoVer raising hopes in the long-CoVID patient community.
then-NIh Director francis Collins explained that reCoVer’s goal was to better understand long CoVID as a disease and that clinical trials of potential treatments would come later.
According to reCoVer’s website, it has funded eight clinical trials to test the safety and effectiveness of an experimental treatment or intervention. Just one of those trials has published results. on the other hand, reCoVer has supported more than 200 observational studies, such as research on how long CoVID affects pulmonary function and on which symptoms are most common. And the initiative has funded more than 40 pathobiology studies, which focus on the basic cellular and molecular mechanisms of long CoVID.
reCoVer’s website says this research has led to crucial insights on the risk factors for developing long CoVID and on understanding how the disease interacts with preexisting conditions.
It notes that observational studies are important in helping scientists to design and launch evidence-based clinical trials.
Good science takes time, said Leora horwitz, the co-principal investigator for the reCoVerAdult observational Cohort at New York University. And long CoVID is an “exceedingly complicated” illness that appears to affect nearly every organ system, she said. this makes it more difficult to study than many other diseases. Because long CoVID harms the body in so many ways, with widely variable symptoms, it’s harder to identify precise targets for treatment.
“I also will remind you that we’re only three, four years into this pandemic for most people,” horwitz said. “We’ve been spending much more money than this, yearly, for 30, 40 years on other conditions.”
NYU received nearly $470 million of reCoVer funds in 2021, which the institution is using to spearhead the collection of data and biospecimens from up to 40,000 patients. horwitz said nearly 30,000 are enrolled so far. this vast repository, horwitz said, supports ongoing observational research, allowing scientists to understand what is happening biologically to people who don’t recover after an u PAGE A5
Marcos assures Trump on Ph-US...
with the United states in the face of China’s aggressiveness and expansionist claims in the south China sea that have raised regional tensions.
Among the major steps in this direction were the addition of more Philippine camps where American forces can stay on rotation and position equipment, bigger and more frequent war games, enhanced intelligence sharing, and, as announced in June 2024, the U.s. commitment to fresh military aid worth $500 million.
For review in 90 days on his first day back at the White house, however, trump signed an executive order temporarily suspending all U.s foreign assistance programs for 90 days pending reviews to determine whether they are aligned with his policy goals. It was not immediately clear how much assistance would initially be affected by the order,
as funding for many programs has already been appropriated by Congress and is obligated to be spent if not already spent. the order, among many trump, signed on his first day back in office, said the “foreign aid industry and bureaucracy are not aligned with American interests and in many cases antithetical to American values” and “serve to destabilize world peace by promoting ideas in foreign countries that are directly inverse to harmonious and stable relations internal to and among countries.” Consequently, trump declared that “no further United states foreign assistance shall be disbursed in a manner that is not fully aligned with the foreign policy of the President of the United states.”
Up to Rubio secretary of state marco rubio told members of the senate foreign relations committee during his confirmation hearing
last week that “every dollar we spend, every program we fund, and every policy we pursue must be justified with the answer to three simple questions:
“Does it make America safer? Does it make America stronger? Does it make America more prosperous?” he said.
the order signed by trump leaves it up to rubio or his designee to make such determinations in consultation with the office of management and Budget.
the Department of state and the U.s. Agency for International Development are the main agencies that oversee foreign assistance.
trump has long railed against foreign aid, although such assistance typically amounts to roughly 1 percent of the federal budget, except under unusual circumstances such as the billions in weaponry provided to Ukraine. (With a report from the Associated Press)
US exit from Who worries Garin...
ito,” Garin said.
(This issue is so important to the Philippines because many health issues and programs on health are getting funding support from the WHo. And, of course, it is expected that the USAiD’s contributions to different countries will decrease because of this move.)
Just a few hours after formally assuming the presidency on monday, January 20, trump signed an executive order directing the U.s. to exit the Who he’s been arguing that the Us has been giving far more to the United Nations agency than other countries like China. the U.s. is the largest donor to the Who, making its financial support vital to the operation of the global health and safety body. observers believe that trump’s decision can lead to a restructuring of the Who, which could disrupt global health initiatives.
Garin, however, also believed that trump’s move may push other world superpowers to lead, which may give rise to potential
security threat issues.
“Ang kalusugan kapag may pandemya, threat ‘yan sa buong mundo, so sila ang mag initial access, that is what is going to happen,” she said. (Health data during a pandemic can become a source of threat to the entire world because they have the initial access to this information; that is what is going to happen.)
Despite the repercussions, Garin said trump’s decision is understandable, as the U.s might want to allocate funds for their domestic needs. the filipino lawmaker said the Who also has to reform its costs, as unnecessary expenses like frequent travel and wining and dining should be reduced.
“‘Yung sinasabing mishandling nung pandemic, walang perpektong response sa pandemic, kaya sa totoo lang ang pananaw ko dyan, naghahanap lang ng rason ang America. Ang katotohanan dyan, talagang nagtitipid sila because they want to spend more for their internal needs, which is understandable sa panahong ito,” she said.
What a US exit from the W ho means...
administration. “Withdrawing from the Who leaves a gap in global health leadership that will be filled by China,” he said, “which is clearly not in America’s best interests.” executive orders to withdraw from the Who and to reassess America’s approach to international assistance cite the Who’s “mishandling of the CoVID-19 pandemic” and say that U.s. aid serves “to destabilize world peace.” In action, they echo priorities established in Project 2025’s “mandate for Leadership,” a conservative policy blueprint from the heritage foundation. the 922-page report says the U.s. “must be prepared” to withdraw from the Who, citing its “manifest failure,” and advises an overhaul to international aid at the state Department. “the Biden Administration has deformed the agency by treating it as a global platform to pursue overseas a divisive political and cultural agenda that promotes abortion, climate extremism, gender radicalism, and interventions against perceived systemic racism,” it says.
As one of the world’s largest funders of global health — through both international and national agencies, such as the Who and the U.s. Agency for International Development — America’s step back may curtail efforts to provide lifesaving health care and combat deadly outbreaks, especially in lowerincome countries without the means to do so alone.
this not only makes Americans less safe, it makes the citizens of other nations less safe,” said tom Bollyky, director of global health at the Council on foreign relations. the U.s. cannot wall itself off from transnational health threats,” he added, referring to policies that block travelers from countries with disease outbreaks. “most of the evidence around travel bans indicates that they provide a false sense of security and distract nations from taking the actions they need to take domestically to ensure their safety.”
Less Than 1% technically, countries cannot withdraw from the Who until a year after official notice. But trump’s executive order cites his termination notice from 2020. If Congress or the public pushes back, the administration can argue that more than a year has elapsed.
measles, and other diseases, especially in countries that struggle to provide health care domestically. the organization also responds to health emergencies in conflict zones, including places where the U.s government doesn’t operate — in parts of Gaza, sudan, and the Democratic republic of the Congo, among others.
In January 2020, the Who alerted the world to the danger of the covid outbreak by sounding its highest alarm: a public health emergency of international concern. over the next two years, it vetted diagnostic tests and potential drugs for covid, regularly updated the public, and advised countries on steps to keep citizens safe.
experts have cited missteps at the agency, but numerous analyses show that internal problems account for the United states’ having one of the world’s highest rates of death due to covid. “All nations received the Who’s alert of a public health emergency of international concern on Jan. 30,” Bollyky said. “south Korea, taiwan, and others responded aggressively to that — the U.s. did not.”
‘It’s a Red Herring’ Nonetheless, trump’s executive order accuses the Who of “mishandling” the pandemic and failing “to adopt urgently needed reforms.” In fact, the Who has made some changes through bureaucratic processes that involve input from the countries belonging to it. Last year, for example, the organization passed several amendments to its regulations on health emergencies. these include provisions on transparent reporting and coordinated financing.
“If the trump administration tried to push for particular reforms for a year and then they were frustrated, I might find the reform line credible,” moon said.
“But to me, it’s a red herring.”
“I don’t buy the explanations,” Bernard said. “this is not an issue of money,” he added. “there is no rationale to withdraw from the Who that makes sense, including our problems with China.”
trump has accused the Who of being complicit in China’s failure to openly investigate covid’s origin, which he alludes to in the executive order as “inappropriate political influence.”
— for better and for worse — there will be less pressure on certain positions,” moon said. “In the pandemic agreement negotiations, we may see weakening opposition towards more public-health-oriented approaches to intellectual property.” this is a moment of geopolitical shift because the U.s is making itself less relevant,” said Ayoade Alakija, chair of the Africa Union’s Vaccine Delivery Alliance. Alakija said countries in Asia and Africa with emerging economies might now put more money into the Who, change policies, and set agendas that were previously opposed by the U.s. and european countries that are grappling with the war in Ukraine. “Power is shifting hands,” Alakija said. “maybe that will give us a more equitable and fairer world in the long term.”
Echoes of Project 2025 In the near term, however, the Who is unlikely to recoup its losses entirely, moon said. funds from the U.s. typically account for about 15% of its budget. together with trump’s executive order that pauses international aid for 90 days, a lack of money may keep many people from getting lifesaving treatments for hIV, malaria, and other diseases.
Another loss is the scientific collaboration that occurs via the Who and at about 70 centers it hosts at U.s. institutions such as Columbia University and Johns hopkins University. through these networks, scientists share findings despite political feuds between countries.
(What they are saying is mishandling of the pandemic; there is no perfect response to the pandemic. That’s why, honestly, my view of that is that America is just looking for a reason. The true rationale behind that is they are just trying to save funds because they want to spend more for their internal needs, which is understandable during these times.)
trump’s second term as U.s president kicked off with a slew of executive orders addressing issues from border protection to climate change, among others. other directives he signed on his first day as U.s. president again were the U.s. withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord, suspension of U.s foreign assistance for 90 days pending reviews, and ending diversity programs and LGBtQ protections, among others.
trump also started his immigration crackdown and even halted refugee arrivals. he likewise instructed the Pentagon to provide support for border wall construction, detention space, and migrant transportation. n
trump suspended funds to the Who in 2020, a measure that doesn’t require congressional approval. U.s. contributions to the agency hit a low of $163 million during that first year of covid, falling behind Germany and the Gates foundation. former President Joe Biden restored U.s. membership and payments. In 2023, the country gave the Who $481 million.
As for 2024, suerie moon, a co-director of the global health center at the Geneva Graduate Institute, said the Biden administration paid biennium dues for 2024-25 early, which will cover some of this year’s payments.
“Unfairly onerous payments” are cited in the executive order as a reason for Who withdrawal. Countries’ dues are a percentage of their gross domestic product, meaning that as the world’s richest nation, the United states has generally paid more than other countries. funds for the Who represent about 4% of America’s budget for global health, which in turn is less than 0.1% of U.s. federal expenditures each year. At about $3.4 billion, the Who’s entire budget is roughly a third of the budget for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which got $9.3 billion in core funding in 2023.
the Who’s funds support programs to prevent and treat polio, tuberculosis, hIV, malaria,
the World health organization disgracefully covered the tracks of the Chinese Communist Party every single step of the way,” trump said in a video posted to social media in 2023.
on multiple occasions, the Who has called for transparency from China. the agency doesn’t have the legal authority to force China, or any other country, to do what it says. this fact also repudiates trump’s warnings that a pandemic treaty under negotiation at the Who impinges on American sovereignty. rather, the accord aims to lay out how countries can better cooperate in the next pandemic.
trump’s executive order calls for the U.s. to “cease negotiations” on the pandemic agreement. this means the pharmaceutical industry may lose one of its staunchest defenders as discussions move forward.
In the negotiations so far, the U.s. and the european Union have sided with lobbying from the pharmaceutical industry to uphold strict patent rights on drugs and vaccines. they have opposed efforts from middleincome countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America to include licensing agreements that would allow more companies to produce drugs and vaccines when supplies are short in a crisis. A study published in Nature medicine estimated that more than a million lives would have been saved had covid vaccines been available around the world in 2021. once the U.s. is absent
A third executive order commands the secretary of state to ensure the department’s programs are “in line with an America first foreign policy.” It follows on the order to pause international aid while reviewing it for “consistency with United states foreign policy.” that order says that U.s. aid has served “to destabilize world peace by promoting ideas in foreign countries that are directly inverse to harmonious and stable relations.” these and executive orders on climate policies track with policy agendas expressed by Project 2025. Although trump and his new administration have distanced themselves from the heritage foundation playbook, CBs News reviewed the work histories of the 38 named primary authors of Project 2025 and found that at least 28 of them worked in trump’s first administration. one of Project 2025’s chief architects was russell Vought, who served as director of the office of management and Budget during trump’s first term and has been nominated for it again. multiple contributors to Project 2025 are from the America first Legal foundation, a group headed by trump adviser stephen miller that’s filed complaints against “woke corporations.” Project 2025 recommends cutting international aid for programs and organizations focused on climate change and reproductive health care, and steering resources toward “strengthening the fundamentals of free markets,” lowering taxes, and deregulating businesses as a path to economic stability. several experts said the executive orders appear to be about ideological rather than strategic positioning. the White house did not respond to questions about its executive orders on global health. regarding the executive order saying U.s. aid serves “to destabilize world peace,” a spokesperson at UsAID wrote in an email: “We refer you to the
PAGE A1
CHECKPOINT. Manila Police District officers check the documents presented by motorcycle riders at the Commission on Elections checkpoint in Ayala Boulevard on Friday, January 24. The Philippine National Police said 75 persons in Metro Manila have been arrested since the implementation of the gun ban on Jan. 12. PNA
photo by Yancy Lim
Long CovId patients are frustrated that...
initial infection — and that will help determine which clinical trials for treatments are worth undertaking.
“simply trying treatments because they are available without any evidence about whether or why they may be effective reduces the likelihood of successful trials and may put patients at risk of harm,” she said. Delayed hopes or incremental progress?
the NIh told Kff health News and NPr that patients and caregivers have been central to reCoVer from the beginning, “playing critical roles in designing studies and clinical trials, responding to surveys, serving on governance and publication groups, and guiding the initiative.”But the consensus from patient advocacy groups is that reCoVer should have done more to prioritize clinical trials from the outset. Patients also say reCoVer leadership ignored their priorities and experiences when determining which studies to fund.
reCoVer has scored some gains, said JD Davids, co-director of Long CoVID Justice. this includes findings on differences in long CoVID between adults and kids.But Davids said the NIh shouldn’t have named the initiative “reCoVer,” since it wasn’t designed as a streamlined effort to develop treatments.
the name’s a little cruel and misleading,” he said.
reCoVer’s initial allocation of $1.15 billion probably wasn’t enough to develop a new medication to treat long CoVID, said ezekiel J. emanuel, co-director of the University of Pennsylvania’s healthcare transformation Institute.
But, he said, the results of preliminary clinical trials could have spurred pharmaceutical companies to fund more studies on drug development and test how existing drugs influence a patient’s immune response.
emanuel is one of the authors of a march 2022 CoVID roadmap report. he notes that reCoVer’s lack of focus on new treatments was a problem. “only 15% of the budget is for clinical studies. that is a failure in itself — a failure of having the right priorities,” he told Kff health News and NPr via email.
And though the NYU biobank has been impactful, emanuel
said there needs to be more focus on how existing drugs influence immune response. he said some clinical trials that reCoVer has funded are “ridiculous,” because they’ve focused on symptom amelioration, for example to study the benefits of overthe-counter medication to improve sleep. other studies looked at non-pharmacological interventions, such as exercise and “brain training” to help with cognitive fog.
People with long CoVID say this type of clinical research contributes to what many describe as the “gaslighting” they experience from doctors, who sometimes blame a patient’s symptoms on anxiety or depression, rather than acknowledging long CoVID as a real illness with a physiological basis.
“I’m just disgusted,” said long-CoVID patient hayes. “You wouldn’t tell somebody with diabetes to breathe through it.”
Chimére L. sweeney, director and founder of the Black Long CoVID experience, said she’s even taken breaks from seeking treatment after getting fed up with being told that her symptoms were due to her diet or mental health.
“You’re at the whim of somebody who may not even understand the spectrum of long CoVID,” sweeney said. Insurance battles over experimental treatments since there are still no longCoVID treatments approved by the food and Drug Administration, anything a physician prescribes is classified as either experimental — for unproven treatments — or an off-label use of a drug approved for other conditions. this means patients can struggle to get insurance to cover prescriptions.
michael Brode, medical director for Ut health Austin’s Post-CoVID-19 Program — said he writes many appeal letters. And some people pay for their own treatment.
for example, intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, lowdose naltrexone, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy are all promising treatments, he said. for hyperbaric oxygen, two small, randomized controlled studies show improvements for the chronic fatigue and brain fog that often plague long-CoVID patients. the theory is that
higher oxygen concentration and increased air pressure can help heal tissues that were damaged during a CoVID infection.
however, the out-of-pocket cost for a series of sessions in a hyperbaric chamber can run as much as $8,000, Brode said.
“Am I going to look a patient in the eye and say, ‘You need to spend that money for an unproven treatment’?” he said. “I don’t want to hype up a treatment that is still experimental. But I also don’t want to hide it.”
there’s a host of pharmaceuticals that have promising off-label uses for long CoVID, said microbiologist Amy Proal, president and chief scientific officer at the massachusetts-based PolyBio research foundation. for instance, she’s collaborating on a clinical study that repurposes two hIV drugs to treat long CoVID.
Proal said research on treatments can move forward based on what’s already understood about the disease. for instance, she said that scientists have evidence — partly due to reCoVer research — that some patients continue to harbor small amounts of viral material after a CoVID infection. she has not received reCoVer funds but is researching antivirals.
But to vet a range of possible treatments for the millions suffering now — and to develop new drugs specifically targeting long CoVID — clinical trials are needed. And that requires money.
hayes said she would definitely volunteer for an experimental drug trial. for now, though, “in order to not be absolutely miserable,” she said she focuses on what she can do, like having dinner with her family.At the same time, hayes doesn’t want to spend the rest of her life on a beige couch.
reCoVer’s deadline to submit research proposals for potential long-CoVID treatments is feb. 1.
This article is from a partnership that includes NPr and KFF Health News. 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.
Covered California hits record enrollment...
provider networks and significant out-of-pocket costs. According to Covered California, the average monthly premium is $136 for those who receive subsidies, two-thirds of whom pay $10 or less a month. But people with higher incomes can end up paying significantly more. for example, a family of four making $200,000 in the Los Angeles area would pay well over $1,000 a month for a silver plan, according to a calculator for estimating costs.
While federal and state subsidies have significantly boosted the amount of assistance available, the underlying cost of insurance has continued to go up. Covered California premiums are up by 7.9% on average for 2025, but the extra subsidies shield most enrollees from the increase.
“You end up with people’s out-of-pocket spending probably being lower than we’ve seen,” said Dylan roby, a professor of health, society, and behavior at the University of California-Irvine. that doesn’t necessarily mean that premiums are going down. It just means that the state or federal government is paying a larger share of premiums on behalf of enrollees than before.”
Neither trump nor incoming congressional leaders have given clear signals about how they view the future of the subsidies, but both have a history of seeking to repeal and weaken the Affordable Care Act. house speaker mike Johnson has vowed “massive reform” of the health care law, though without offering specifics.
experts including roby say republicans could extend the subsidies to avoid an outcry from consumers, health insurers, hospitals, and others who have benefited from them. enrollment in marketplace plans is especially high in republican-controlled states that have not expanded medicaid, because it offers lowincome people a way to access affordable health insurance.
“I don’t think republican house members are that inclined to make all of their constituents’ health insurance premiums go up,” roby said. “I’m kind of optimistic that [the subsidies] will be renewed.”
But uncertainty over the future of the subsidies, even if they eventually get renewed, could affect the cost of marketplace plans, said rachel Linn Gish, communications director for health Access California, a consumer advocacy coalition. that’s because insurers are already starting to plan their rates for next year and will likely price in the risk of nonrenewal, she said.
“We are going to be fighting for the next year to try to save those enhanced subsidies and subsequently all of the other frameworks and financing of the Affordable Care Act,” Linn Gish said. “Because if any of that gets rolled back, people will lose health care coverage.”
This article was produced by KFF Health News, which publishes california Healthline, an editorially independent service of the california Health care Foundation. KFF Health News is a national
OPiniOn FeAtures
Costly ‘abuse of discretion’
When Vice President Sara Duterte refused to account for her office’s P125million confidential funds that she had used up in 11 days, people rightfully expressed outrage at this sheer display of arrogance and entitlement over taxpayer money. Calls for the official’s impeachment swiftly followed, with her approval ratings plummeting in what can be considered public censure.
Was it too much to expect the same expression of scorn, disgust, and calls for accountability directed at the Commission on elections (Comelec) for the P132 million in public funds wasted, when the supreme Court overturned the poll body’s “arbitrary” decision to declare several individuals “nuisance candidates” in the coming may elections?
Editorial
As Inquirer columnist and retired Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban noted in his Jan. 20, 2025 column, the poll body “repeatedly committed grave abuse of discretion” on the matter, for which it was called out several times by the courts. (see “Comelec must stop acting abusively, whimsically,” With Due respect, 1/20/25)
With the high court recently issuing a temporary restraining order (tro) on the Comelec and ordering it to reinstate the names of five petitioners on the ballot, the Comelec was compelled to discard the six million ballots already printed at a cost of P132 million, as it prepared another print run of the revised ballots.
“Back to zero,” Comelec chair George erwin Garcia acknowledged, adding however that with the government printing office mobilized, the poll body would still be able to ship out the new ballots before the may 2025 elections.
Expression of regret that’s small comfort for taxpayers already struggling with unstoppable inflation at a time described by social Weather stations surveys as having the highest levels of poverty and hunger. the millions flushed down the drain by the Comelec’s “abuse of discretion” could easily have gone to farm subsidies that would have ensured stable food prices amid recent calamities.
A feW days before the inauguration of the second trump presidency, around 200 Afghan nationals quietly left the Philippines for the United states. those Afghans, who had been in manila for only less than two weeks, had to be spirited out of the country after completing the processing of their special immigrant visa (sIV) applications.
manila was their penultimate stop on an arduous journey that took them from their impoverished homeland in Afghanistan, located at the crossroads of Central Asia and south Asia, to the land of freedom, security, and opportunity on the other side of the Pacific.
the U.s sIV processing program in manila was planned to last for 100 days, with all sIV applicants leaving the Philippines
As Donald trump begins his second four-year term, the world braces itself for what many fear will be a turbulent chapter in global politics. the United states, and indeed the rest of the world, are preparing for potential upheavals in areas such as the economy, international alliances, technology, social media, and geopolitics. most countries have put real analysis into what the new trump presidency might mean for their countries. the Philippines, it seems, is on a bahala na” posture, failing to divine the signals that a new trump presidency might augur for the Philippines. from a macro perspective, the trump presidency could give this warning to the Philippines—it could happen
Worse, where’s the expression of regret or remorse, and the Comelec’s sincere resolve to reexamine its role, reassess its rules, and review previous decisions that the courts have now questioned?
Panganiban noted that under section 69 of the omnibus election Code, nuisance candidates have “no bona fide intention to run for the office” they seek and merely put the election process in mockery or disrepute or cause confusion among the voters. the Comelec, however, declared one petitioner a “nuisance candidate,” due to his failure to show that he had the financial capacity to “sustain a decent and viable campaign on his own,” a condition spurned by the high court, “as it imposes a property qualification barred by the Constitution.” moreover, the court said, “the Comelec failed to show proof that petitioner lacked the capacity to wage a nationwide campaign.”
Right to due process
Certainly, there are truly nuisance candidates in our midst. But with its insistence on a property qualification, was the Comelec condoning, even enabling, a political system dominated by the rich and powerful who do not share the survival concerns of majority of filipinos?
Unfortunately, many more similar petitions against disqualification are awaiting court action — 25 petitions, according to latest reports — what with Garcia earlier saying that only 66 of 183 individuals running for a senate seat may be included in the official ballot. With the court ruling possibly encouraging more petitioners to plead their case, how many more ballot revisions — and reprinting and wasted millions — are we bound to
by march this year.
“Just under 200 Afghan nationals arrived in the Philippines on Jan. 6 for final processing of their sIV applications at the U.s embassy in manila. All departed the Philippines for immigration to the United states aboard commercial flights between Jan. 15 and 17,” the U.s. embassy said in a statement on sunday. since 2009, the sIV program has been aiding in the resettlement of Afghan nationals who had worked with the U.s. government or its contractors during the U.s.’ 20-year-long war in Afghanistan. After the U.s. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, these American Afghan allies were left behind.
“Deep appreciation” Whatever the reason for their hasty departure from manila, it must have been compelling. still, the U.s. embassy “extends deep appreciation to the government of the Philippines for their cooperation and support for U.s efforts to assist Afghan special Immigrants.”
to you too. the next Philippine presidential election is on may 2028, more than three years from now. the may 2025 midterm election is the critical runway toward that critical fork in the road. one might say, the Philippines is in its “Biden moment.” It is the uneasy calm before the storm. the storm can be anything from the return of the Dutertes through sara or a more pugnacious and licentious sibling presidency of the tulfo brothers. If there was a conjugal dictatorship during the marcos martial law period, we could be entering a new pinnacle dynastic form—a sibling dictatorship. over the past week, two “monster” intimidating forces have been unleashed against the marcos administration. the first one was the “monster” coast guard ship of the Chinese Communist Party near Zambales. the other one was the “monster” rally of the Iglesia ni Cristo at Luneta. these two forces may
hear about in the next couple of weeks? for sure, some people might blame the high court for its belated and costly ruling, especially given that it had been fully informed of the Comelec’s election preparation timeline. But why begrudge the court its duty to undo — even at the last minute — what would otherwise be an injustice, a denial of someone’s right to due process?
Tricky passage
It should also be noted that the 1993 Comelec rules of Procedure state that its decision in special cases becomes final and executory after five days from its promulgation “unless restrained by the supreme Court.” the rules do not impose a time limit on the high court to act on petitions it has received.
After citing the many times when the poll body had
been rebuked by the courts for its “failure to observe the very basic constitutional rights to due process and equal protection of the law,” Panganiban noted that these instances have brought “shame and ruin (to) the vaunted competence and independence of the Comelec especially of its chair who, heretofore, had enjoyed an enviable reputation for integrity and trustworthiness.”
Caught between more possible adverse court rulings and the fast-approaching deadline for election preparations, the Comelec would have to negotiate a tricky passage to exercise its mandate to be “fair, objective, and judicious in exercising its quasi-judicial functions.” there are tough lessons to be learned here, and may they serve as a crucible of credibility for the beleaguered poll body. (inquirer.net)
‘Hello, Afghans, goodbye’
on Jan. 20, the trump administration suspended the U.s refugee Admissions Program “until such time as the further entry into the United states of refugees aligns with the interests of the United states.” It was later revealed to the public (Jan. 22) that sIV holders are exempted from the indefinite refugee ban, but the uncertainty in the days leading up to the inauguration might have caused sleepless nights for our Afghan “visitors.”
Sights and sounds
But we would have liked our transiting Afghan guests to have had time to soak up the sights and sounds of our country. having lived in a landlocked country, they would be curious enough to explore our archipelago. our guests, 60 percent of whom are minors, could have built sandcastles on the white sand of el Nido, Coron, Panglao, and Boracay, and enjoyed the natural wonders of our country. Did they have ample servings of our famous mangoes
and bananas while here? If they had stayed longer, they could have tried our lanzones, rambutan, jackfruit, star apple, and durian.
Afghans, or any foreign refugees, deserve the best of our hospitality, even if only to soothe their despair after experiencing a brutal war not of their own choosing for more than two decades.
had they come at a better time, they could have dropped by Puerto Princesa, Palawan, once home to around 1,500 Vietnamese who found refuge there after the fall of saigon, the capital south Vietnam, in 1975. to this day, Viet Ville remains a symbol of filipino hospitality and tolerance. the Chao Long, banh mi sandwich, and fresh baguettes at Viet Ville’s restaurant are must-haves.
While in metro manila, they could have visited Quezon City (formerly part of marikina), where the Commonwealth government under former president manuel Quezon housed Jewish refugees
fleeing the holocaust from 1935 to 1941. (see “Wartime haven for Jews in marikina remembered,” News, 4/17/15) Moral victory But since we can’t turn back the hands of time, perhaps we can extend this hospitality to the other 100 Afghans whose sIV applications have not yet been processed in manila. the U.s. embassy, under the leadership of Ambassador maryKay Carlson, had the foresight to obtain clearance from the Philippines earlier to allow up to 300 Afghans into the country. these refugees belong to between 40,000 and 60,000 Afghans who cannot return to their homeland, where their lives or freedom may be threatened under taliban rule due to their association with the U.s including as military interpreters. our sense of humanity calls on us to treat Afghans, or any persecuted people group, with compassion, dignity, and respect that they deserve. Providing
The Philippines’ ‘Biden moment’
seem unrelated, but they are actions that could aid the future presidency of sara Duterte.
What’s in it for the Communist Party of China? If there is anything that can soften the marcos hardline against China’s continuing and escalating aggression against the Philippines in its own exclusive economic zone, it is the return of the Dutertes, who would welcome the CCP’s embrace.
What’s in it for the Iglesia ni Cristo? this political force is akin to elon musk betting big on a change in administration and thus reaping the rewards of shifting politics toward sara Duterte’s side. this could translate into the installation of a couple of dozens of marcoletas in various political and appointive sensitive positions in government. the rally was a sophisticated pitch, talking peace while deviously disarming the constitutional impeachment process against sara Duterte.
the despair of the filipino masses that catapulted rodrigo Duterte as the “punishment” for this aberrant political system has not dissipated, even though, in his folksy way, Duterte pushed the limits of impunity almost to the point of tearing the fabric of filipino society. Under the marcos administration, almost two of three filipinos perceive themselves to be poor. the mass frustration against political dynasties, profligacy with the people’s money, and callous disregard for the flimsiness of the ordinary people’s survival trajectories continues. the masses are still in this inchoate mode of revenge against the political order that, in a knee-jerk fashion, makes them unabashedly voice their preferences for the Lito Lapids, Bong revillas, robinhood Padillas, and Bato dela rosas, who vaguely represent the society’s vigilante wrath against crime and poverty.
If Biden was too old for reelection, President marcos is barred by the Constitution from running for reelection, and no successors are in view. his sister Imee marcos is sleeping with the enemy while his son sandro is far from ready. Cousin martin romualdez will not grow the kind of charisma that catapults mere speakers of the house of representatives to the presidency. No amount of political machinery will make that happen.
Part of the Biden moment for the Philippines is the frivolous expectation that there will be a Kamala harris who will emerge as an alternative unifying figure in the run-up to the may 2028 elections. But harris’ quest was an echo of Leni robredo‘s campaign, with similar dampening consequences. this emergence of a rallying figure can happen like when P-Noy Aquino quickly became the people’s choice as president when Cory Aquino passed away.
succor to anyone seeking refuge, albeit temporarily, is the least that we can do as members of the human race.
former Israeli ambassador to the Philippines ephraim Ben matityau once said that by welcoming persecuted people, “the Philippines in many ways earned a moral victory which could be the highlight of your national pride.” the Israeli embassy also noted in 2015 that the Jews during the holocaust were looking “for a beacon of hope to escape certain death, but shelter was hard to be found and hearts, like doors, were shut. In all that darkness, a ray of hope came unexpectedly from a remote place of the world—the Philippines.” Amen to that. (inquirer.net)
* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
* * * For comments: mubac@inquirer.com.ph
But these lighting-in-a-bottle situations are rare. the closest possibility is an unsettling one—if rodrigo Duterte were to pass away right before the may 2028 elections, that could instantaneously catapult sara Duterte to the presidency. filipinos might end up all praying that rodrigo Duterte lives as long as Juan Ponce enrile in aid of national salvation. As trump’s second term reshapes the world, the Philippines must heed the lessons from U.s. politics with urgency. We have little time to create a surge of vigilance, political reform, and true leadership to navigate our own Biden moment. (inquirer.net)
* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
* * * doyromero@gmail.com
On The Move
Alfonso lone Filipino in Forbes ’50 over 50 list Marcos to study teen pregnancy bill
by CAtherine s. VAlente , JAVier Joe isMAel , red MendozA And AriC John sy CuA ManilaTimes.net
PresIDeNt ferdinand marcos Jr. on thursday, January 23 said he has to read first the substitute measure to the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act of 2023 before he reconsiders his stand on the issue.
sen. risa hontiveros filed the substitute bill to senate Bill (sB) 1979, striking out the provision on international standards for comprehensive sex education.
"I need to read the substitute bill first," marcos said.
hontiveros removed the provision on Comprehensive sexual education (Cse) “guided by international standards” after a backlash from critics, including the president.
she said the substitute bill would also limit mandatory sex education to adolescents ages 10 years old and above, and include a provision guaranteeing academic and religious freedom. marcos earlier vowed to veto the measure, which he said would lead to children ages 0 to 4 years old getting taught how to masturbate, and children having the right to try different sexualities.
“I’m a parent, and I’m a grandparent. so, I feel very strongly about this,” the president said. schools also need to teach the youth matters like the consequences of early pregnancy and the prevalence of hIV, he said.
“But to include the so-called ‘woke’ absurdities are abhorrent to me — and I’m already guaranteeing, this would not be passed into a law if this bill is passed in that form,” he said.
sB 1979 would make the Comprehensive sexuality Program “a compulsory part of education, integrated at all levels with the end goal of normalizing discussions about adolescent sexuality and reproductive health and to remove stigma at all levels.”
seven out of the 18 senators which signed the committee report on the measure have withdrawn their signatures.
senate President Chiz escudero said the senators would discuss whether or not to return the substitute bill to the committee or push through with the period of amendments on the floor.
sen. Bong Go, who did not sign the committee report, reiterated the importance of respecting the role of religious institutions and the family in shaping children’s values, health, and education.
“As a legislator, I always value every filipino’s beliefs, religion, and culture. this must be respected in every policy that is promoted. I am not in favor of any proposals that undermine the family’s value or go against our countrymen’s faith,” Go said.
he said that policies should consider filipinos’ family values and common beliefs for the greater good.
“When it comes to shaping the youth, the role of the family should be prioritized. We should not dictate what is taught to children,” he said.
Misconceptions A nongovernment organization has urged President marcos and lawmakers to reconsider their stand on the Cse provision of the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act, while slamming the “false information” spreading against the provision. roots of health, a Palawan-based nongovernmental organization that provides free, rights-based, high-quality sexual and reproductive health education and services, said the information that Cse “hypersexualizes” children or that it diminishes parental involvement undermines its true purpose to protect young people from harm by enabling them to make informed decisions. the current disinformation campaign attacking Cse, as well as the misconceptions and misunderstandings it deliberately generates, detracts and distracts from the urgent need to address pressing health issues that affect young people such as increasing cases of teenage pregnancy, hIV infection, and sexual abuse,” the organization said.
It stressed that the Cse provision does not teach or encourage children to engage in sexual activity; rather, it would provide young people with credible knowledge to make informed decisions instead of learning through risky experimentation or unreliable sources.
It also said that education on topics such as body anatomy and recognizing inappropriate behavior equips children with essential life skills.
“By starting these conversations early, children learn to set personal boundaries, build a foundation of respect for others, and know what to do in case they experience abuse or predatory behavior. these lessons are age-appropriate, ensuring that children have the right knowledge at the right time,” the group said.
It reiterated that Cse reduces teenage pregnancies, reduced maternal and child mortality, improves school retention, and helps young people plan for a better future.
roots of health said that when it taught 100,000 students and trained 6,500 teachers in Cse in 15 years, the teen pregnancy rate in Puerto Princesa City dropped by 60 percent.
“Let’s not allow disinformation to stall progress. Let’s give our youth the education they deserve and our families the support they need,” the group said.
Another group, the Child rights Network (CrN) Philippines called on senators Joel Villanueva and migz Zubiri to show the questionable provisions of sB 1979.
show us what is inappropriate in this bill, and for once, be fair to those who have worked hard to support a legislation that protects children, especially girls, from the dire consequences of abuse and teenage pregnancy,” CrN said.
“It is unfair to the bill’s authors as well as children’s and women’s rights advocates who have held consultations, helped refine, and participated in the legislative process fair and square since the bill was first filed in the 17th Congress. this bill has been almost a decade in the making!” it said.
CrN pointed out that sB 1979 was unanimously passed by the house of representatives in 2023 and has stalled in the senate since last August.
“What’s the point of plenary deliberations if we can’t use this time to thresh out differences, propose amendments, or improve the current language of the bill?” it said. n
by Meg J. Adonis Inquirer.net
mANILA — megaworld Corp. president Lourdes Gutierrez-Alfonso is the sole filipino recognized among forbes magazine’s 50 over 50 Global list for leading the company amid a challenging environment for the real estate sector. the 61-year-old megaworld official was appointed president in June 2024 and succeeded billionaire and company founder Andrew tan.
Alfonso is at the helm of the developer’s mammoth $6.1-billion expansion plan over the next five years.
“Gutierrez-Alfonso’s new role will be a challenge: borrowing costs remain high while rivals are aggressively constructing hotels in anticipation of a tourism rally,” forbes said.
Last November, forbes also included Alfonso among the 20 outstanding women leaders in Asia for steering megaworld at a time of global economic uncertainties. n
Megaworld Corp. president Lourdes Gutierrez—Alfonso Contributed photo PAMPUBLIKoNG PAUNAWA AWToRIdAd SA PABAhAY NG CoUNTY NG SAN dIEGo PLANo NG AhENSYA NG PAMPUBLIKoNG PABAhAY TAUNANG PLANo PARA SA TAoN NG PANANALAPI 2025-26 5-TAoNG PLANo PARA SA TAoN NG PANANALAPI 2025-29
Ang paunawa ay ibinibigay dito na ang Lupon ng mga Komisyoner ng Awtoridad sa Pabahay ng County ng san Diego (hACsD) ay magsasagawa ng pampublikong pagdinig sa marso 12, 2025, sa 9:00 a.m. sa room 310 ng County Administration Center, 1600 Pacific highway, san Diego, CA.
Ang patotoo ng publiko ay maaaring marinig sa iminungkahing taunang Plano para sa taon ng Pananalapi (fY) 2025-26, 5-taon na Plano para sa fY 2025-29, Pampublikong Pagtanggap sa Pabahay at Patakaran sa Patuloy na Pagsaklaw, at housing Choice Voucher section 8 Administrative Plan. sa enero 24, 2025, ang mga naisangguni na Plano ay ilalabas para sa isang 45-araw na pampublikong pagsusuri at panahon ng komento.
Ang patotoo ng publiko ay maaaring maririnig sa Iminungkahing taunang Plano para sa fY 2025-26, 5-taon na Plano para sa fY 2025-29, Pagpasok sa Pampublikong Pabahay at Patuloy na Patakaran sa Pagsaklaw, at housing Choice Voucher section 8 Administrative Plan. Ang Plano ng Ahensya ng Pampublikong Pabahay (PhA) ay isang komprehensibong gabay sa mga patakaran, programa, at operasyon ng PhA, at mga estratehiya para matugunan ang mga pangangailangan at layunin ng lokal na pabahay. Ang Pagpasok sa Pampublikong Pabahay at Patuloy na Patakaran sa Pagsaklaw at section 8 Administrative Plan ay ang mga namamahala na dokumento para sa pangangasiwa ng PhA ng programang pampublikong pabahay nito at seksyon 8 na programa.
sa halip na personal na pagdalo, ang mga miyembro ng publiko ay mahigpit na hinihikayat na magsumite ng kanilang mga komento sa iminungkahing taunang Plano ng Ahensya ng Pampublikong Pabahay para sa fY 2025-26, 5-Year Plan para sa fY 2025-29, Pagpasok sa Pampublikong Pabahay at Patuloy na Patakaran sa Pagsaklaw, at housing Choice Voucher section 8 Administrative Plan sa pamamagitan ng e-mail sa hACsDBoArDs hhsA@sDCoUNtY. CA.GoV
Ang lahat ng mga komentong isinumite ay ipinapadala sa mga miyembro ng Lupon ng mga Komisyoner at ang Punong opisyal ng Administratibo para sa kanilang pagkonsidera. Ang mga komento ay tatanggapin hanggang sa katapusan ng pulong. simula sa enero 24, 2025, ang mga naisangguni na dokumento at mga sumusuportang dokumento ay maa-access kaagad sa www.sdhcd.org at magiging available para sa pagsusuri sa mga sumusunod na lokasyon: County of san Diego housing and Community Development services 3989 ruffin road san Diego, CA 92123 melrose manor Apartments 1678 melrose Ave., Apt.13 Chula Vista, CA 91911 towncentre manor Apartments 434 f st., Apt. 101 Chula Vista, CA 91911 L st. manor Apartments 584 L st., Apt. f Chula Vista, CA 91911
Dorothy st. manor Apartments 778 Dorothy st., Apt. A Chula Vista, CA 91911 mga serbisyo sa Pagpapaunlad ng Pabahay at Komunidad Website: www.sdhcd.org maaaring isumite ang mga nakasulat na komento bago ang pampublikong pagdinig at sa loob ng 45-araw na panahon ng komento na magtatapos sa marso 12, 2025, sa: County ng san Diego mga serbisyo sa Pagpapaunlad ng Pabahay at Komunidad
Attn: Vana Nguyen 3989 ruffin road, san Diego, CA 92123 1/25/25 CNs-3888308# AsIAN JoUrNAL (L.A.)
LOS ANGELES
Gordon Ramsay hails Sisig by Filipino chef as ‘best dish’ he’s tasted in recent years
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.”
Pacific Jazz Orchestra
with Eva Noblezada
San Diego’s Eva Noblezada has taken Broadway by storm, with lead roles in Hadestown and The Great Gatsby, securing this young and multi-talented Filipina two Tony Award nominations. Her Los Angeles debut features a rousing mix of Broadway, pop, and jazz tunes that showcase her versatility and elegance. After a sold-out Soraya performance last May, heralded as LA’s “Best Jazz Performance” of the season, Pacific Jazz Orchestra returns with new big band arrangements made by Christopher Walden just for the occasion. The new generation’s Broadway diva will be crowned in this much-anticipated tour de force.
“Noblezada is utterly mesmerizing to
It feels like she’s every bit herself
Citizen Pinoy
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
British culinary icon Chef Gordon Ramsay (left); Serai’s Sisig Tacos by Filipino chef Ross Magnaye Gordon Ramsay; Serai via Instagram
Neurosurgery Outreach Foundation receives one of the highest recognitions from PH government
JACKSONVILLE – The Neurosurgery Outreach Foundation (NOF), a Floridabased non-profit organization, was conferred the 2024 Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas (PAFIOO) by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in formal ceremonies at the Malacañan Palace last December 2024. The PAFIOO is one of the highest recognitions conferred by the president of the Republic of the Philippines upon outstanding overseas Filipinos and foreign individuals and organizations. NOF was one of the awardees in the “Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino” (Service to the Fellow Filipino) category. It honors NOF’s significant impact to their host country and to the Philippines’ development and progress, in particular its dedication and contribution to delivering, advancing the quality and accessibility of neurosurgical treatment.
The Neurosurgery Outreach Foundation is a Floridabased 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to advance neurosurgical care in underserved communities around the world through service, education, and support. For more information about NOF and to support its programs, visit http:// www.neurosurgeryoutreach. org/.
PAFIOO celebrates exceptional achievements and meaningful contributions that have advanced the welfare of overseas Filipinos, supported national development efforts, or raised the international profile of the Filipino diaspora.
NOF is one among thirteen (13) distinguished and outstanding overseas Filipinos and foreignbased organizations from nine (9) different countries who received this biennial award.
Gordon Ramsay recreates ‘MasterChef’ with halo-halo cook-off among Judy Ann Santos, Ninong Ry, Filipina chefs
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
halo-halo. Photo from
Ry’s “very
series. According to Ramsay, he and his family watched Judy Ann and the Filipino editions. For the cook-off, Judy Ann used Black Sesame Polvoron as key ingredient. Ninong Ry, on the other hand, was jokingly reminded 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 halohalo 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!”
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
During the fan meet, in true "MasterChef" style, actress and celebrity chef Judy Ann Santos and food influencer Ninong Ry went head-tohead 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
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. confers the Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas (PAFIOO) to NOF at the Malacañan Palace, Philippines on December 11, 2024. Photo above shows (from left) Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) Chair Dante Francis Ang II, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, President Marcos, Jr., and NOF Founders Carmina Montesa Aldana and Dr. Philipp Aldana.
937-9981
Pechanga Resort Casino wishes
everyone a prosperous Year of the Snake with drawings, festivities and concert by Sarah G & Bamboo in celebration of the Lunar New Year holiday
$5,000 Lucky Red Envelope
Giveaway
Pechanga lets players get even luckier with the “Lucky Red Envelope” promotion this Lunar New Year. Pechanga Club members can just simply visit the Promotional Area every Tuesday & Friday in February from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. for a chance to win up to $5,000 in EasyPlay!
Lunar New Year Lucky Lion
Dancers
In celebration of the festival, Pechanga Resort Casino presents a splendid Lucky Lion Dancer performance on Saturday, February 1. Starting at 3 p.m., the Lion Dancer team, which symbolizes auspiciousness and good luck, will begin their performance at the Pechanga North Entrance and wind their way into the casino and through the casino floor. Guests will be given Red Packets to give to the Lion Dancers to wish for good luck and prosperity for the new year.
Lunar New Year property
décor
The Lunar New Year festival symbolizes the fresh start of a new year, a renewal of everything. In celebration of the Year of the Snake, starting from mid-January for a month, Pechanga will decorate the entire property with traditional new year elements and designs for the Year of the Snake. Utilizing a wide array of bright lanterns, refined orientalstyle garden bridge, beautifully bloomed peach blossoms, and much more to boost the festive atmosphere. Throughout the floor, you will be able to find countless photo-op spots for your selfies or family portraits, while capturing the stunningly displayed of the decorations.
Exclusive Lunar New Year dining specials
Pechanga Resort Casino also welcomes guests to reserve tables for Family Dinner or Business Lunch to enjoy exclusive Lunar New Year Dining Specials the chefs of Bamboo, Blazing Noodles and Umi Sushi & Oyster Bar have meticulously prepared. The dining specialties at these
Asian eateries will be available from Jan. 27 through Feb. 9. Reservations are recommended at Umi Sushi & Oyster Bar and can be made by visiting www. Pechanga.com/eat or calling (951) 770-8504. Filipino music icons Sarah Geronimo and Bamboo in concert
Pechanga Resort Casino presents an unforgettable evening of Filipino musical excellence with multi-platinum artists Sarah Geronimo and Bamboo taking the stage at the
Pechanga Summit, Sunday, March 2, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. Sarah Geronimo, known as the Philippines’ “Popstar Royalty,” has dominated the entertainment industry for more than two decades. Since winning a television singing competition at age 14, Geronimo has released multiple platinum albums, starred in blockbuster films, and served as a coach on The Voice Philippines. Her powerful vocals and dynamic performances have earned her numerous awards,
Apl.de.ap hopes to collaborate with BINI: ‘They are world-class’
by HannaH MalloRca Inquirer.net
APL.DE.AP, also known as Allan Pineda Lindo, is hoping to collaborate with P-pop powerhouse BINI in the future, calling them world-class artists.
After receiving his KDR Icon of Music and Philanthropy award at the 10th Wish Music Awards earlier this month, Filipino-American rapper Apl. de.ap gave a brief shoutout to BINI, expressing his desire to work with the female octet someday.
“I got an album coming out this year called ‘Sagittarius.’ I’d like to collaborate more. I’m doing afro-beats and I want to introduce that to the Philippines. And maybe BINI would like to get on with that, or Flow G,” he told select reporters on the sidelines of the awards ceremony.
Apl said he was proud of BINI’s success, noting that it serves as a reminder to Filipino artists that they don’t need to achieve milestones “outside the country.”
“I’m just really proud that this is happening in our country. We’re not just thinking that we have to make it outside the country. I’m
really proud of the growth of our music industry and supporting each other. And they’re world-class,” he said.
The rapper also voiced his support for “The Voice USA” season 26 winner Sofronio Vasquez, telling the singer he was open to collaborating in the future.
“Congratulations! I’ve been meaning to call him and sorry, I’ve been busy. Good luck with his future and if he needs some music, let me know,” he said. “It’s another countryman who’s making noise worldwide.”
Future plans
Apl said he was happy with the current state of Original Pilipino Music (OPM) as it makes waves in several parts of the world, adding that he was open to working with other Filipino artists.
“Filipino music is being heard around the world now.
It’s not just in our country. It’s always a special moment when I collaborate with Filipino artists. I got to do that with SB19 and I’m looking forward to more collaborations,” he said.
Speaking about his KDR Icon of Music and Philanthropy award, the rapper called it a “meaningful” milestone, one
that represents his Filipino roots.
“This is one of the most meaningful awards I ever received because it’s from my kababayans and the country where I came from. Beyond every accolade I ever received, this is an important one. It represents our culture and my fellow artists in the Philippines, and OPM,” he said.
“In addition to his upcoming album, Apl hinted at plans to produce a P-pop group, though he’s still finalizing the concept and other details. He also shared that he hopes to contribute to improving the education of Filipino youth.
“I’m producing a P-pop group, and I recently collaborated with The Sisters of Mary School choir, and the proceeds and streams go back to the school. I think education is a way out of property, and we need to teach our kababayans because we’re more than capable. We just need the chance,” he said.
“This is why I got a place in Manila because I’m going to be living in Manila more. I’ll be living here in the Philippines more after my Black Eyed Peas engagements, I’ll be coming here every month,” he further added. n
Pechanga will decorate the entire property with
(From left) Apl.de.ap said he’s hoping to collaborate with BINI in the future.
Photo from X/@wish1075, @bini_ph
Pastor’s Notes
ReveRend Rodel G.
BalaGtas
DEAR Parish Family,
“Your words, O Lord, are Spirit and Life.
The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul; the decree of the LORD is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the command of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eye.”
These are beautiful and profound words from our Psalm reading on this Third Sunday of Ordinary Time. They encapsulate the theme and message of our Scripture readings from the Book of Nehemiah (8:2-4, 5-6, 8-10), the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians (12:12-30), and the beginning of the Gospel of Luke (1:1-4; 4:14-21), which highlight the power and impact of the Word of God in our lives. As Dianne Bergant and Richard Fragomeni elegantly describe in Preaching the New Lectionary, the Word of God (the Law) imbues the soul with new vitality, grants wisdom to those who would not ordinarily possess it, delights the heart, and enables the eyes to see dimensions of truth otherwise obscured. It establishes an enduring attitude of
The power of God’s word
awe; it is a path to righteousness. It is life-giving and not restrictive, ennobling and not demeaning. It promises the best life has to offer.
The Book of Nehemiah illustrates the value of listening to the Word of God as a community on our journey of faith. We must all listen attentively to it, Sunday after Sunday, discovering its beauty, depth, and transformative power for our lives and the world. Everyone—men, women, and children—must understand the utmost importance of the proclamation of God’s Word at every Mass. Just as the people who assembled before Ezra to hear the proclamation of God from the scroll responded with the words “Amen, amen,” meaning “so be it,” we too must boldly express the same response. The Word of God is perfect and complete; it is trustworthy, upright, and clean; it is pure and true. This truth becomes even more evident when the reader powerfully proclaims it and when the priest or deacon beautifully explains it. Its effect is palpable when our hearts are filled with wonder, awe, and gratitude after hearing it proclaimed and preached. Then we can enter more deeply and joyfully into the second part of the Mass, the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
The Word of God also unites us as a people of diverse backgrounds, ages, nationalities, and gifts. It fosters unity within diversity, eliminates competition among members, and emphasizes
interdependence within the community. Our Second Reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians illustrates this unity in diversity through its reference to the different parts of the body: “As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also is Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.”
The beginning of the Gospel of Luke emphasizes the transformative power of the proclamation of the Word of God. It brings liberty to the captives, healing to the sick, and freedom to the oppressed. Each proclamation of the Gospel symbolizes the dawn of a new era—a time of deliverance for the marginalized. As a community of faith, empowered and inspired by the Word of God, let us bring it to life through our commitment to holiness and charity. May we wholeheartedly affirm our faith with the words, “Amen, amen. So be it!”
In Christ’s love, Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas
* * *
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
* * * Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California.
Can my children’s derivative social
security benefits
be offset against my monthly child support obligation?
Barrister’s Corner
atty. Kenneth URsUa Reyes
CALIFORNIA Family
Code section 4504 allows a noncustodial parent to be credited towards their child support obligation for the amount of federal government payments they are receiving on behalf of the child. The payments that qualify for this credit include:
• Social Security retirement or disability benefits
• Railroad Retirement benefits
• Department of Veterans Affairs benefits.
To be eligible for the credit, the child must be potentially eligible for the benefits. This means that the child must meet the requirements for the benefits, such as being the child of a deceased or disabled worker.
The custodial parent or other child support obligee is responsible for applying for the benefits on behalf of the child. The noncustodial parent must cooperate with the custodial parent in making the application and providing any necessary information.
If the custodial parent refuses
to apply for the benefits or fails to cooperate with the appropriate federal agency, the noncustodial parent may be credited towards their child support obligation for the amount of benefits that the child would have received.
The noncustodial parent must provide evidence to the local child support agency indicating the amount of benefits the child would have received.
This credit is intended to help ensure that children receive the financial support they need from both parents, even if one parent is deceased or disabled. It can also help to reduce the financial burden on the custodial parent.
If you are a noncustodial parent who is receiving federal government payments on behalf of your child, you may be eligible for a credit towards your child support obligation. You should speak with an experienced family law attorney to discuss your specific case.
Here are some additional things to keep in mind about California Family Code section 4504:
• The credit is not available for all types of federal government payments.
• The credit may not be available if the noncustodial parent is already receiving a credit for child support payments from another source.
• The amount of the credit
Notice To The Public In compliance with Section 5 of RA. Act No.9048, a notice is hereby served to the Public that Alfonso Martin Tiano Garcia has filed a petition to change the first name from Alfonso to Alfonso Martin. Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his/her written opposition with the Philippine Consulate General, Los Angeles, California within the two weeks period of this publication.
US Vice President JD Vance’s memoir ‘Hillbilly
My P.E.P. (People, Events,Places)
THANKS to the nice and courteous service from Japan Airlines, I was well taken care of during my flight from Manila to Narita, Japan to San Francisco, California.
I met kind couple Viniel and Ren Diaz of Boston, Massachusetts as well as writer Hollis Cambodia and retired American military service officer Ambrosio Siaotong, both from California.
While on the plane I memorized by heart the 47 presidents of the United States from George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, James Knox Polk, Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan Jr., Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Chester Alan Arthur, Stephen Grover Cleveland, Benjamin Harrison, Stephen Grover Cleveland, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Thomas Woodrow Wilson, Warren G. Harding, John Calvin Coolidge Jr., Herbert Hoover, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, James Earl Carter, Ronald Reagan, George Herbert Walter Bush, William J. Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Joseph R. Biden Jr. to Donald Trump.
* * * I was grateful to Justin Wilson, director of U.S. Senate Periodical Press Gallery, who assists bona fide correspondents working for a magazine, newsletter, non-daily newspaper or online publication and serves Members of Congress and Congressional staff with any periodical press related questions or issues, as well as from the Executive Committee of Periodical Correspondents (that decides which publications
qualify for press credentials) and the Congressional Periodical Press Galleries (in charge of administering credentials). I was supposed to be assigned in the West Front seat of The Capitol for U.S. President Donald Trump’s inauguration, but due to extreme weather conditions the venue was changed. The oathtakings of President Trump and U.S. Vice President JD Vance were held inside the Capital Rotunda.
Speaking of VP Vance, I was mesmerized by how caring he is toward his children. I could sense he might be the next president after Trump in the near future.
VP Vance’s memoir “Hillbilly Elegy” (a 2016 memoir about the Appalachian values of his family from Kentucky and the socioeconomic problems of his hometown of Middletown, Ohio where his mother’s parents moved when they were young) was adapted into the 2020 film directed by Ron Howard and starring Glenn Close and Amy Adams. It is a story of rural sociology, poverty and family drama.
James David Vance (born James Donald Bowman, August 2, 1984) is an American author, attorney and Marine Corps veteran. A member of the Republican Party, he represented Ohio in the U.S. Senate.
* * * Former U.S. Pres. Joe Biden spoke recently with His Holiness Pope Francis and named him as a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction. For decades, Pope Francis served the voiceless and vulnerable across Argentina. As a loving pastor, he joyfully answers children’s questions about God. And as a welcoming leader, he reaches out to “different faiths and commands us all to fight for peace and protect the planet.”
This is the only time that former President Biden has awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction.
*
* * On January 29, 2025, it will be Chinese New Year! I randomly asked three couples (the last 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:
Dr. Mark and Leane Bunag, a medical doctor and a nurse,
respectively: (1) “Build our savings, have more travel, invest in properties, and have more quality time with the family.”; (2) “We prioritized our time and our health.”
Patrick and Maricar Saburit of Kylledmed Philippines: (1) “In 2025, our focus is on growth and meaningful connections. We’re looking forward to pursuing projects that align with our passions and exploring ways to contribute to the community. This year, we’re also excited to create more memorable experiences with our children as we travel and work on new ventures together. Balance and progress are our key priorities for the year ahead.”; (2) “2024 was a year of lessons. It taught us the importance of patience and adaptability when navigating life’s challenges. We’ve also come to value the power of being present — celebrating small victories, cherishing time with loved ones, and embracing every moment as a chance to grow and connect. These insights are shaping our perspective as we step into 2025.”
Chris and Adelle Lim, Philstagers Foundation thespians: (1) “For 2025, we will still continue to perform in PSF as actors and marketing officers. We’ll save, invest and travel. We are planning to buy a retirement property outside Manila and we will be focusing in improving our fitness and health, to be young looking this year.”; (2) “The opportunities and experiences given were eye-opening. It taught us how contentment can bring a whole new scale of happiness. It taught us how invaluable people are – our conversations, their insight, their experiences, and so much more. Looking forward to the new things I am about to encounter and the new version of ourselves who we ought to become – a healthier, braver, tougher and wiser version of ourselves!”
* * * The movie Mark Wahlberg’s “Flight Risk” is now showing in cinemas worldwide, including the Philippines.
*
* * 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
Rogelio Constantino Medina
Dr. Mark and Leane Bunag with their kids
Mark Wahlberg’s “Flight Risk” is now showing worldwide.
The text of the Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded recently to Pope Francis.
AJ columnist Rogelio Medina on the way to Narita, Japan onboard Japan Airlines.
Patrick and Maricar Saburit with their kids Chris and Adelle Lim
Former U.S. President Joe Biden (2nd from left) recently awarded Pope Francis with the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction.
U.S. 50th and current Vice President JD Vance, is also author of the memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” which was adapted to a film with the same name directed by Ron Howard. Photos courtesy of Rogelio C. Medina
From left: Rogelio Medina, and couple Ren and Viniel of Boston, Massachusetts
including multiple Awit Awards, the Philippines’ equivalent of the Grammy Awards.
Joining her is rock icon
Bamboo Mañalac, former frontman of Rivermaya. Bamboo has since established himself as one of the Philippines’ most influential musicians. Known for his distinctive voice and electrifying stage presence, Bamboo has crafted numerous hits including “Noypi,” “Hallelujah,” and “Much Has Been Said.” His role as a coach on The Voice Philippines has further cemented his status as a mentor to the next generation of Filipino artists.
Together, these powerhouse performers promise an evening that spans genres from pop to rock, showcasing the best of Filipino musical talent. The concert features their individual hits as well as special collaborative performances that highlight their unique artistic chemistry.
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by anne Pasajol Inquirer.net
JENNYLYN Mercado has sealed her Kapuso ties anew as she renewed her talent contract with GMA network.
The actress’ renewal of contract was held on Tuesday, Jan. 21, as seen in the photos and videos shared on the network’s Instagram page.
Among those who were present at the event were GMA President and CEO Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr., Executive Vice President and CFO Felipe S. Yalong, Senior Vice President for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable, and Aguila Entertainment CEO Katrina Aguila.
During the contract signing, Mercado expressed her gratitude to the network, its executives and production staff who have been with her for the last two decades.
Alam ko po medyo nagtagal dahil sabi nga ni Sir Duavit, may mga ni -prioritize pa ako ,” she said of her contract renewal.
Maraming speculations, may mga nagalit, maraming haka-haka, may mga natuwa, may mga nainis, may mga bashers, pero wala naman akong ibang pupuntahan ,” she said, referring to the earlier rumors of her supposed network transfer.
Mercado then stressed that her “destination is always clear”: “ Palaging sa GMA.”
She further said that she never left GMA and that she
only had a break. Mercado also turned emotional as she admitted that she was uncertain if GMA would renew her contract, considering that a lot of younger artists have now emerged in show business.
“I am here, I am back, I am home. Kapuso pa rin tayo ,” she underscored. “To be here
by anne Pasajol Inquirer.net
A PHOTO of KC Concepcion taken by celebrity photographer Mark Nicdao was exported to the United States as it is now part of the Getty Museum collection. Concepcion shared Nicdao’s feat as well as her photo through her Instagram page on Monday, Jan. 20.
“I’ve always known Mark Nicdao was destined for greatness, but where he is now is all him: raw talent, vision, relentless hard work, and the mind (and heart!) of a genius,” she began.
“I’m beyond honored to share that a photograph of mine from 2008, captured by my dear friend and creative visionary Mark Nicdao—and wearing Puey Quiñones—has been acquired (along with his other incredible works) by none other than the iconic Getty,” she stated.
Concepcion then looked back on her friendship with Nicdao, gushing over being a part of the latter’s recent milestone.
“Mark and I have been through so many creative adventures, and seeing his extraordinary talent celebrated at this level is so inspiring,” she said.
Addressing Nicdao, she
KC Concepcion Photo from Instagram/@kristinaconcepcion continued, “I’m so proud of you and so grateful to be part of YOUR moment. Here’s to timeless art, enduring friendships, and the magic that comes from chasing dreams. Marky, here’s to many more pursuits together. Always your biggest fan.” Nicdao, for his part, showed a certificate from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts allowing him to export his printed photographs to the U.S. The Getty Museum, located in Los Angeles, features art pieces “from ancient Greece and Italy, Europe from the Middle Ages to the early 1900s, and global photography from its invention to now,” as per its website. n
Jennylyn Mercado
Photo from Instagram/@gmanetwork
Multi-platinum artists Sarah Geronimo and Bamboo take centerstage at Pechanga Summit on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.
wala po akong ibang nararamdaman kundi gratitude.”
Fun and camaraderie at media group’s holiday party
CERRITOS
– Members of the Philippine Global Media Group and their guests spent five hours of pure fun and camaraderie during their first Christmas party and New Year’s celebration at Pia Legaspi’s Mi Amore office hall in this city on December 29.
The PGMG members dedicated their first holiday get-together to their late founder-chairman Manny Ilagan, a tourism beat writer, who passed away on July 1 last year, just seven months after the inaugural meeting at his residence in Stanton, California and less than five months since the group’s induction at Double Tree by Hilton in Norwalk in February. Ilagan’s family -- his widow Meg Ilagan, daughters Nicole (with her husband) and Raphelle – was there to share in the festivities as the media practitioners celebrated the holidays and at the same time, also the life of Ilagan, whose 70th birthday fell on December 24, 2024.
Val Abelgas, PGMG ’s founding president, and Dan E. Niño, who replaced Ilagan as chairman, announced that a golf tournament will be held in April or early May to raise funds for the group’s Manny Ilagan Memorial Education Fund. It was all fun and camaraderie as media colleagues and their guests spent the evening karaoke singing, dancing, playing games, dining and conversing or catching up with one another (kainan, kantahan, at kwentuhan).
Board Chairman Niño in his brief opening remarks told the attendees that the Fourth Estate’s holiday get-together is not only to celebrate Christmas but also to welcome the New Year.
No speeches and elaborate ceremonies, although officers, members and guests briefly introduced themselves at the start of the event. In a show of media solidarity, some officers from the other media club in Southern California – the Filipino American Press Club of California – attended the event, including treasurer Lydia Soriano, who came with Victoria Johnson, and former presidents Benny Uy and Isidric Panganiban.
To enliven the gathering of media peers and their guests, Niño initiated several games like “charade” that divided the attendees into two groups in which players guess several symbols of Christmas with pantomimed clues and descriptions. This mind game ignited challenges and elicited laughter.
Photographers Noel Ty and Philip Ner, and freelance journalist Fe Koons were also present. ABSCBN News US Bureau chief TJ Manotoc came later. The PGMG officers and members who were there, aside from Abelgas and Nino, were Lydia Solis, vice president; Donna Gatdula-Arevalo, secretary; Rick Gavino, treasurer; board
members Marc Pijuan, Bobby Crisostomo, Joe Cobilla, and Vics Magsaysay; and new members Louinn Lota, Cristina Arrieta, Nemen Cabatuando, Randy Ordonez and Rosanna Castelo, who came all the way from San Diego.
The holiday event also revealed the hidden musical talents of the media practitioners and their guests when several of them like Val, Dan, Louinn, Bobby Crisostomo, Joe Cobilla, Cristina, Victoria, and Meg Ilagan, among others, dished out their favorite songs. What brought the house down was the pre-recorded video wherein Lydia V. Solis mimicked Julie Andrews’ “The Hills Are Alive” from The Sound of Music movie fame with the Austrian Alps as the backdrop. Prizes donated by Donnabelle Arevalo and Lydia V. Solis herself brought smiles to the karaoke singers.
Other games like bringing proofs of their mother-in-Laws photo in their wallets or smart phones, Philippine peso bills and the like, brought pandemonium to the adults like they were kids once again. When the party was over, everyone was begging, “we should have more of this.”
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.
by Dan niño
Philippine Global Media Group members and guests during its recent Winter Interlude event. Photos by Bobby Crisostomo
Media practitioners don’t only write but can sing too. From left: Val Abelgas, Cristina Arrieta, Louinn Lota, Victoria Johnson, Meghan Ilagan, Joe Cobilla, Dan E. Niño and Donabelle Arevalo.
Baguio Mansion House at night.
The Philippine president’s office inside the Baguio Mansion House.
A plaque describes the history of the Baguio Mansion House in one of its manicured lawns and driveways leading to the house.
