LOS ANGELES – The widow of Police Col. Pergentino Malabed Jr. – one of the 67 killed when a commercial jet and U.S. Army helicopter collided over Washington, D.C. last Wednesday, January 29 – and other family members have arrived in the U.S., according to the Philippine Embassy.
In a statement, the Embassy said it has been “providing full support to the family of Col. Pergentino N. Malabed, Jr. and assisting with all the necessary arrangements.” Malabed, 51, was one of the passengers of American Eagle Flight 5342 that collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and crashed into the Potomac River
Filipina Assemblymember
Caloza
holds community swearing-in, files disaster-related bills
LOS ANGELES — Assemblymember Jessica Caloza, the very first Filipina to serve in the California state Legislature, has filed her first two bills aimed at providing relief amidst the recent fires in Southern California.
In a speech during her recent community swearing-in ceremony held at Los Angeles River Center & Gardens on Sunday, January 26, Caloza said she introduced Assembly Bill 262, the California Individual Assistance Act, which would provide direct cash assistance to individuals and families to cover essential needs during a disaster like food, housing, and transportation. Another bill she introduced, Assembly Bill 265, the Small Business Recovery Fund Act, would help small businesses and nonprofits receive emergency funding during a disaster.
“Small businesses and non-profits anchor our communities and they too, have been deeply impacted by the
aid freeze suspends at least
Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Department that had yet to wrap up. Of the 39 ongoing projects, 14 were meant to conclude this year, while 25 others were designed to continue until 2026 to as far as 2029, according to publicly available data on U.S. foreign assistance in the Philipu PAGE 2
A TRADE war launched by the United States against Canada, Mexico and China will have consequences for other countries worldwide including the Philippines, analysts said.
The Department of Trade and Industry said the country's exports could also be affected and that the government would be looking to engage with the U.S. on mutually beneficial solutions, including possible preferential agreements.
"The extent of the impact will depend
on a number of factors, including the final tariff rate and the response of other countries," Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday announced duties of 25 percent on imports from Canada and Mexico and 10 percent on imports from China, claiming that the three countries needed to do more to curb the flow of narcotics and illegal immigrants. Canada and Mexico quickly retaliated and China is expected to follow.
Moody's Analytics economist Sarah Tan said that "while these are not
UNITED States and Philippine fighter aircraft staged a joint patrol and training Tuesday, February 4 over a disputed South China Sea shoal where Chinese fighter jets fired flares last year to drive away a Philippine aircraft, Philippine officials said.
“U.S. Pacific Air Force or Pacaf will conduct a bilateral bomber air patrol, air intercept training, and photo exercise over the West
Philippine Sea," Philippine Air Force (PAF) spokesman Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said in a press briefing.
"This exercise is a crucial step in enhancing our interoperability, improving air domain awareness and agile combat employment, and supporting our shared bilateral objectives," she added.
Castillo said that involved in the drill were two Philippine FA-50 fighter aircraft and two American B1-B bombers.
She added that the joint
MANILA — The trust enjoyed by President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte has continued to decline in recent months, according to the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.
Commissioned and released by Stratbase Group on Monday, February 3, the SWS survey showed that the country’s two highest government officials started the year on “equal footing” with Marcos scoring a 50 percent “much trust” rating while Duterte scored a 49 percent “much trust” rating.
The results of the survey conducted from Jan. 17 to Jan. 20 also showed that the trust ratings of the President had been declining since last year. From 64 percent in July 2024, it went down to 57 percent in September 2024, before further sliding to 54 percent in December 2024.
LAWMAKERS on Wednesday, February 5 voted to send articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte to the Senate for trial, a day before the current congressional session was set to end.
"Having been filed by more than one-third of the membership of the House of Representatives, or a total of 215 members... the motion is approved," Speaker Martin Romualdez told lawmakers. Duterte's fate now lies in the hands of 24 senators,
two-thirds of whom must vote for her impeachment to convict her. The Senate, on its last session day, received the article of impeachment against Duterte.
The members of the Senate act as senatorjudges if it reconvenes as an impeachment court. The last time the Senate reconvened as an impeachment court was in 2012 when it tackled the House move to unseat then-Chief Justice Renato u PAGE 2
Trump’s aid freeze suspends...
PAGE 1
pines. Data shows USAID and the State Department had already committed $69.7 million (P4.06 billion) in fresh funding for these projects last year before the freeze. This amount reflects the obligations in 2024, not the full unspent budget for the programs.
Environmental, health programs on the line
Data from fiscal year 2024 indicates environmental protection programs are hit hardest by the freeze, as they received the largest share of USAID funding among Philippine projects set to continue beyond January 2025. Specifically, there are seven conservation or environmental-related projects last year that were allotted $19.5 million.
Basic education programs received the second-largest funding at $13 million last year spread across four different projects. A significant portion also went to health programs, with a single HIV/ AIDS project receiving $6.7 million. Government and civil society programs were allocated $6.5 million for eight projects.
Philstar.com's analysis focused only on projects with confirmed implementation timelines beyond the freeze and excludes operational expenses like salaries and other administrative costs.
Uncertainty
The suspension of all U.S. foreign aid projects reaches deep into Philippine development work. Programs under review include a fiveyear biodiversity conservation program and initiatives that sought to democratize access to reading materials, health services and early job opportunities, among others.
The environmental program that was allocated the largest USAID funding last year was the Inspire Project by the Gerry Roxas Foundation, which received $7.97
million in obligations (roughly P467.18 million). The five-year initiative aims to enhance natural resource resilience and security in the Philippines by increasing the engagement of civil society organizations and local communities in natural resource governance. It is slated to end in 2026.
The U.S. State Department's largest funding obligation for a project in the Philippines last year was $6.68 million (approximately P391.67 million) for an HIV epidemic control program, according to government records.
The project, implemented by an undisclosed international organization, focuses on providing technical assistance to local Philippine groups working to control the spread of HIV.
Staff of at least two projects funded by USAID who spoke to Philstar.com on the condition of anonymity confirmed they were ordered to halt all activities except administrative work while their programs undergo review.
"We are still receiving our salaries but we are not sure how long this will be sustainable given that there is no word yet if USAID will reimburse contractors who will bear overhead costs in the meantime," said one employee for a USAID contractor.
They described an atmosphere of uncertainty that followed Trump's stop-work order. "We’re not sure how long this will be in effect and what the outcome will be," they added.
'America First'
The aid freeze is one of Trump's first major actions back in office that push his "America First" agenda — triggering leadership shake-ups at USAID where some officials have been accused of resisting the order.
SWS trust ratings for Marcos, Duterte...
"We have to halt our operations connected to the USAID grant all over Mindanao... We have to lay off staff with no separation pay," said Rhadem Musawah, one of the leaders of Mujer, an LGBT rights organization based in Zamboanga City, in Mindanao.
"Our legal and humanitarian assistance to LGBT communities will stop, along with our efforts on local policy lobbying for anti-discrimination ordinances and LGU engagements," Musawah said in Filipino in a message to Philstar.com.
USAID, the U.S.’ lead development agency, and the State Department are the primary channels for delivering U.S. foreign assistance worldwide.
While USAID focuses on implementing development programs and humanitarian aid, the State Department oversees diplomatic relations and contributes to foreign assistance through initiatives like security cooperation and democracy promotion.
‘Things will crumble’
While Trump's order states that the suspension and review of foreign development assistance will only last for 90 days, development workers in the Philippines have immediately grasped its lasting consequences.
"The national government [of the Philippines] pretends that the aid freeze won't affect the Philippines as a whole, but let's see after two to three months how things will crumble after thousands of partner organizations of the government shut down and no longer provide support to the government grassroot programs," Musawah said.
The impact is already
An official from USAID Philippines declined to comment, saying they were not authorized to discuss the matter. For non-government organizations dependent on U.S. funding for their main programs, the impact was immediate and severe.
u PAGE 3
In the latest survey, the trust rating of Marcos was the highest in Luzon outside of Manila (60 percent), followed by Metro Manila (52 percent), Visayas (44 percent), and Mindanao (37 percent).
House impeaches VP...
Corona.
Wednesday's filing comes days before campaigning officially begins for midterm elections, widely expected to set the table for the 2028 presidential race.
Duterte is the first vice president to be impeached by the House of Representatives.
Although three impeachment complaints had been filed by other parties, the fourth complaint was initiated by House members themselves and was signed first by the president's son, Senior Deputy Majority Leader Sandro Marcos.
The fourth complaint accuses Duterte of conspiracy, malversation of confidential funds, betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, bribery, high crimes and acts of destabilization.
"This is about upholding the Constitution and ensuring that no public official, regardless of their position, is above the law," Romualdez said.
The complaint alleges that Duterte claimed that she hired an assassin to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos and Romualdez.
It also noted that Duterte spoke about imagining the decapitation of the president, which, lawmakers argued, poses a direct threat to national stability and makes impeachment necessary.
The complaint accuses the vice president of misusing and illegally disbursing P612.5 million in confidential funds
under the Office of the Vice President, as well as bribery and financial manipulation within the Department of Education.
It alleges that Duterte quadrupled her net worth from 2007 to 2017 and pointed to "suspicious transactions" linked to joint bank accounts shared with her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
The complaint also used the testimony of former policeman Arturo Lascanas, who alleged that Duterte was involved with the Davao Death Squad during her time as Davao City mayor, where he said that Duterte "personally ordered assassinations under Operation Tokhang" and "bodies of victims were secretly buried in mass graves at Laud Quarry." She is also accused of engaging in acts aimed at destabilizing the government, including boycotting the State of the Nation Address (SONA) while declaring herself "designated survivor," leading rallies calling for Marcos' resignation, publicly defending former televangelist Apollo Quiboloy and obstructing congressional investigations by ordering subordinates not to comply with subpoenas.
Iloilo Rep. Lorenz Defensor, one of the House lawmakers assigned as public prosecutor, said the impeachment trial will allow the vice president to present her case to the public.
"This is a good venue for due process in the Philippines to work... It is also a good
The survey had 1,800 respondents nationwide and a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percent. n
Highest in Mindanao Duterte’s trust ratings have also been on a downward slide since last year. From 65 percent in July 2024, it dropped to 55 percent in September 2024, then further down to 52 percent in December 2024. In the latest survey, the trust rating for Duterte was highest in Mindanao (78 percent), followed by Visayas (55 percent), Metro Manila (36 percent), and Luzon outside of Manila (33 percent).
time for the prosecution and defense to lay out their evidence," Defensor said in English and Filipino.
Following the vote, the House elected 11 of its lawmakers to serve as impeachment prosecutors: Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro, Antipolo 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop, 1-Rider Rep. Rodge Gutierrez, Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua, Ako Bicol Rep. Jil Bongalon; General Santos Rep. Loreto Acharon, House Minority Leader and 4Ps Rep. Marcelino Libanan, Oriental Mindoro 1st District Rep. Arnan Panaligan, San Juan Rep. Ysabel Zamora, Iloilo 3rd District Rep. Lorenz Defensor, and Bukidnon 2nd District Jonathan Keith Flores. Rep. Paolo Duterte, the vice president's older brother, slammed what he called "railroaded efforts" to impeach her. He also alleged that Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin "hastily" collected signatures and pushed for the immediate approval and transmittal of what he claimed was a "baseless" impeachment case, calling it a "clear act of political persecution."
"This administration is treading on dangerous ground. If they were unfazed by the over 1 million rallying supporters of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, then they are blindly marching toward an even greater storm — one that could shake the very foundation of their rule, " the congressman from Davao u PAGE 4
Programs to help rising costs
by NatioNal asiaN
IN recent years, rising inflation has made it harder for many seniors to pay their expenses. This month, we’ll look at programs that can help with the cost of groceries and health care. If your income and resources are limited, you may qualify for assistance from federal and/or state programs.
Did you know that only about half of eligible elders benefit from cash assistance for grocery shopping?
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the largest Federal nutrition assistance program. This program gives you a special debit card to help you buy food if you have a limited income and a few assets.
A household must meet both the gross and net income limits. For instance, a two-person household’s gross monthly income must not exceed about $2,215, and net income must not exceed $1,704. Additionally, their assets must be $2,750 or less. However, if there’s a member in the household aged 60 or older, they don’t need to meet the gross income test, and the asset limit increases to $4,250. These limits are updated each year.
While SNAP is a federal program, you must apply in the state where you currently live and meet the state’s requirements, as each state manages its own application process, eligibility criteria, and benefit distribution.
Some states, such as California, New York, and Washington, have income limits higher than the federal ones, so it is worth applying to see if you qualify. Currently, only less than half of eligible older adults are participating, meaning over half may be missing out on this valuable support. Please consider applying to see if you are eligible.
Can I have both Medicare and Medicaid?
Yes, you can have both Medicare and Medicaid. Federal law requires states to provide Medicaid to certain groups, which includes many
older adults and people with disabilities. If you receive SSI (Supplemental Security Income), you are automatically eligible for Medicaid. For those who don’t get SSI but want Medicaid as a senior, you need to meet limited income and asset requirements, which vary by state and change year to year. For example, in California, a married couple can qualify with a monthly income of $2,432, and CA does not count assets in determining Medicaid eligibility. On the other side, in Washington, the monthly income and asset limits are the same as SSI’s --- $1,450 in monthly income and less than $3,000 assets for a couple --- so only SSI recipients qualify for full Medicaid as seniors.
If you are approved for FULL Medicaid as a senior, your state Medicaid will pay your Medicare Part B premium for Medicare Part B (and if applicable, Parts B and A). Medicaid can help with additional Medicare costs such as deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. You’ll also automatically qualify for Extra Help with Medicarecovered prescription drug costs. Beyond this, Medicaid can offer more services than Medicare alone, including long-term care, eyeglasses, and hearing aids.
I was determined I was not qualified for full Medicaid when I turned 65 and enrolled in Medicare. Is there any way to get help if I am not eligible for Medicaid for the elderly?
If you are not eligible for Medicaid and can’t afford the costs of Medicare, you may still qualify for partial Medicaid through Medicare Savings Program (MSP). MSPs are a subset of Medicaid benefits sponsored by state Medicaid. They help people with limited income and few assets pay for Medicare costs such as premium or both premium and out-of-pocket expenses. You'll also get Extra Help with MSP approval.
There are three types of MSPs based on an individual’s income level, and each type provides a different level of coverage. Under federal guidelines, a single individual may qualify if their monthly income is up to $1,780 and assets are below $9,430, while couples may qualify if their monthly income is up to $2,399 and assets are under $14,130.
However, some states, such as New York, have more flexible MSP eligibility criteria. In the state of New York, single individuals with income up to $2,445 or couples with income up to $3,298 per month can qualify, and NY does not apply as asset test.
Please note. While MSPs provide substantial financial assistance, they do not include additional coverage such as dental, vision, or hearing aids. Please call us if you have any questions or need assistance.
Note: The primary residence (the house the person lives in) and one car that is used for transportation are typically not counted as assets for Senior Medicaid, Medicare Savings Program (MSP), and SNAP.
If you have questions about public benefits, there are 3 ways you can reach us today:
• Mail: NAPCA Senior Assistance Center, 1511 3rd Avenue, Suite 914, Seattle, WA 98101
National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of AANHPI older adults and their families. We operate a NAPCA Senior Assistance Center for Older Adults and Caregivers and is available in 5 different languages.
Trump’s aid freeze suspends...
being felt across communities that, for years, have been systemically excluded from the Philippine government's traditional health programs.
For instance, Transmasculine Philippines, a community-based organization for Filipino trans men and transmasculine non-binary people, was forced to close its community center for transgender Filipinos on January 28 after all USAID funding was paused.
"With several of our local LGBTQIA+ organizations dependent on awarded USAID funding, we believe the suspension endangers efforts to provide accessible services to community members, as well as individuals relying on such projects for their well-being," the group said.
Some government agencies are also feeling the impact of the aid freeze. For instance, the Department of Education, which partners with USAID on multiple projects, is also now facing uncertainty about ongoing programs.
Education Secretary Angara told Philstar.com: "We're not quite sure yet about the long-term impact of the order but we are hoping that the new administration will see the value of the projects
undertaken by USAID with the Philippines as a strategic partner."
Angara said these are the ongoing USAID projects in partnership with DepEd:
• ABC+: Advancing Basic Education in the Philippines - a $47.5 million initiative aimed at improving the quality of basic education in the country, specifically the provision of early grade reading materials to Bangsamoro learners
• GABAY: Strengthening Inclusive Education for Blind and Deaf Children - a $3.4 million project focused on enhancing educational opportunities for children with visual and hearing impairments.
• ILO-PH: Improving Learning Outcomes for the Philippines - a $5 million program designed to boost learning outcomes for Filipino students.
The uncertainty is also believed to extend beyond the immediate project suspensions.
A development worker who spoke to Philstar. com on the condition of anonymity believes Trump’s order will have “serious consequences in future grants, especially those that won't align with the Executive Order of the White House."
They noted that anti-corrup-
tion and diversity initiatives may be particularly vulnerable to restructuring.
Aid dependency?
While organizations are scrambling to keep their programs, some believe the aid freeze has largely exposed deeper vulnerabilities in Philippine development work.
"The Trump presidency has revealed the darkest part of developmental work in the Philippines — that we are not sustainable and that we are too dependent on their aid and indirectly has been taken hostage by these foreign policy aids," Musawah said.
LoveYourself — an organization that provides free HIV testing — said it had to suspend newer initiatives like free PrEP distribution and self-testing campaigns due to the aid freeze.
In turn, the group called on the Philippine government to “step up” and fund programs that have been paused.
"To the Philippine government, this is your moment to step up and partner with civil society organizations. By working together, we can scale up programs, foster innovation, and fill the gaps left by international funding uncertainties," it said in a statement. n
PH to be affected by fallout from Trump’s...
direct tariff hikes on the Philippines, the country will not be completely isolated from the ongoing trade tensions."
She said that softer global demand, particularly from the U.S. and China — two of the Philippines' major trading partners — could dampen the country's export performance.
Tan also warned that the "tariff hikes could cause global interest rate nominalization to slow," potentially affecting the strength of the peso and hinder borrowings.
"Should demand for
Philippine merchandise exports slow, it will hit industrial production and potentially prompt firms to pare back investment plans," she added.
Still, Tan said that the Philippines, given its strong domestic economy, would still be one of the better performers in the region.
"As for new tariffs, we don't expect the Philippines to be high up on President Trump's hit list for two reasons," she continued.
"First, the Philippines' trade deficit with the U.S. is small. Second, the country has an increasingly close defense partnership with the
U.S. as the Philippine fishing fleet faces harassment from China in the South China Sea."
Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort, meanwhile, also said that strong local demand could support economic growth amid global uncertainties. Prolonged trade tensions, however, could lead to reduced foreign direct investments and overseas remittances, he added.
Ricafort was skeptical about a push for a PhilippinesU.S. free trade deal, saying this may not align with Trump's policies. n
All
House impeaches VP...
2
said.
The relationship between Duterte and President Marcos is at a nadir, their former alliance giving way to a months-long public battle that has seen the trading of wild accusations, including an alleged death threat that remains under investigation.
But Marcos had previously urged Congress not to pursue Duterte's impeachment, calling it a "storm in a teacup" that would distract the legislature from its primary responsibilities.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, however, said on Monday, February 3 that the Office of the President would "not interfere" with the impeachment complaints.
House member Percival Cendaña, who had backed one of the three impeachment complaints, urged his colleagues to take quick action at a rally on Friday, January 31 that drew thousands calling for Duterte's impeachment.
Every day of inaction "condones the impunity, the abuse of power and the harassment that Duterte is doing to our country's leaders," he told reporters.
Duterte was widely tipped to succeed her father Rodrigo as president in the 2022 elections but stepped aside to back Marcos and later ran for vice president
on his ticket. But the alliance has since imploded. In November, she delivered an expletiveladen speech saying she had ordered someone to kill Marcos if she herself was assassinated.
She later denied that her comments constituted a death threat, saying she had only been expressing "consternation" with the administration's failures.
The alleged assassination threat was among the allegations included in the last of the three complaints filed against Duterte, lodged on December 19 by seven Manila-based Catholic priests.
"Impeachment is the necessary, ultimate line of defense against corruption at the highest rungs of officialdom," it said. "She cannot be vice president a minute longer."
Previous impeachment trial
Then-senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was among the senator-judges during the impeachment of Corona. The Senate president at that time, Juan Ponce Enrile, was the presiding officer and is now Marcos' chief presidential legal counsel.
Aside from Senate President Francis Escudero and Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III, incumbent senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia
Cayetano, Jinggoy Estrada, Lito Lapid, Loren Legarda and Bong Revilla participated in Corona's impeachment.
Sen. Joel Villanueva said as a member of the Senate, he would be ready to perform his duties and responsibilities as senator-judge should the Senate reconvene as an impeachment court.
Asked whether Escudero had already discussed any possible preparation for the trial with them, Villanueva said, "No. Zero."
Before the Senate received the articles of impeachment, Escudero said the Senate was not gearing up for an impeachment trial, saying it would do so only when the formal complaint has been submitted.
Villanueva declined to provide specifics on what the senators would do, saying any discussion on the impeachment trial needs "plenary action."
But he said the rules adopted during the impeachment of then chief justice Corona in 2012 could serve as a "guide" in crafting the new rules on the impeachment trial.
Villanueva said he was unsure whether the Senate would proceed with the impeachment trial even if it was in recess. (With reports from Javier Joe Ismael, Reina Tolentino and Agence France-Presse)
US, PH fighter planes conduct joint...
air patrol was a regular training and had nothing to do with the recent tension in the area.
"This cooperative effort falls under the framework of the Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board activities between the Philippines and the United States specifically addressing bilateral air activities and joint air patrols," Castillo said.
The joint patrol and airintercept drills over the hotly disputed Scarborough Shoal off the northwestern Philippines were the first by the longtime treaty allies since U.S. President Donald Trump took office again.
Trump's "America First" foreign policy thrust has sparked concerns among Washington's allies in Asia about the scale and depth of U.S. commitment to the region in his new term. His predecessor, Joe Biden, had moved to strengthen an arc of security alliances in the region to counter China's increasingly assertive actions.
In August last year, two Chinese Air Force aircraft flew close and then fired flares in the path of a Philippine Air Force plane on routine patrol over the Scarborough Shoal in actions that were strongly condemned and protested by
the Philippine government, military officials said.
All those aboard the Philippine Air Force NC212i turboprop transport plane were unharmed, the Philippine military said.
The Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army said then that a Philippine Air Force aircraft "illegally" entered the airspace above the shoal and disrupted training activities by Chinese forces. It warned the Philippines to "stop its infringement, provocation, distortion and hyping-up."
The Philippine military chief, Gen. Romeo Brawner, said at the time that the incident "posed a threat to Philippine Air Force aircraft and its crew, interfered with lawful flight operations in airspace within Philippine sovereignty and jurisdiction and contravened international law and regulations governing safety of aviation."
China and the Philippines have had increasingly alarming faceoffs in the shoal, called Bajo de Masinloc by the Philippines and Huangyan Island by China.
"We are always prepared for any contingency; it's part of the training," Castillo said when asked if the allied forces had prepared to address any challenge by Chinese aircraft.
"It already happened
Filipina Assemblymember Caloza holds...
PAGE 1
wildfires. Now is our time to help them,” Caloza said.
In an interview with the Asian Journal, Caloza said she would want to urge the Filipino American community to remain vigilant and always work together for the common good.
“For the Filipino American community, I hope you know that you are powerful,” the assemblymember said. “Your voice is represented in Sacramento, she assured.
She said all those Filipino Americans affected by the recent wildfires could count on her for help. “We are here to help you. Please reach out to me and my team, we are here at your service," she said.
While emphasizing the importance of being able to provide fast and efficient public service, especially during difficult times, Caloza likewise expressed great appreciation to all those who dedicated time and effort during the crisis.
to give the shirt off our backs to our neighbors and perfect strangers.”
She said, “I’ve dedicated my life to this work and to public service because simply put, I believe in the power of government and how it can transform lives when it works. That’s what it did for my family. I believe it works best when our government is grounded with everyday people, with the community. That’s what my parents, Gigi and, taught me—to care deeply, to fight hard to protect your values, and work even harder to pay it forward to others because it’s the right thing to do. This is the spirit I witnessed during the wildfires.”
talked to wants us to treat homelessness like the crisis it is and we want our unhoused neighbors to get the help they desperately need.”
Among the issues she aims to focus on are those concerning the youth, the seniors, and the working class.
“Young people want more open space, more parks, and clean air and clean water. Our seniors and Veterans want safe streets and better access to government services.
Working class people just want to be able to live off of one paycheck, have a safe workplace, and go to sleep at night knowing their job is safe,” she said, noting that
before and, as I have said, whatever the coercive, aggressive actions of any foreign party, the Philippine Air Force will not be deterred from performing its mandate," Castillo said.
The U.S. military has reported encountering such dangerous maneuvers by Chinese air force planes in the past over the disputed waters, where it has deployed fighter jets and navy ships to promote freedom of navigation and overflight.
China has bristled at U.S. military deployments in the disputed region, saying these have endangered regional security.
Aside from China and the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan have overlapping territorial claims in the busy sea passage, a key global trade and security route, but hostilities have particularly flared in the past two years between Chinese and Philippine coast guard and navy forces in the Scarborough Shoal and another fiercely contested atoll, the Second Thomas Shoal.
Washington has repeatedly warned that it's obligated to defend the Philippines, its oldest treaty ally in Asia, if Philippine forces, ships and aircraft come under an armed attack, including in the South China Sea. (With reports from the Associated Press)
Family of PH police officer killed in DC plane...
Wednesday night.
In a statement, the PNP has identified Malabed, chief of the Supply Management Division and member of the Philippine National Police Academy Class of 1998, as one of the fatalities.
Malabed flew to the United States to inspect a batch of armored vests procured by the PNP. He was on his way to Washington, D.C., to pay a courtesy call to Police
Attaché Colonel Moises Villaceran Jr. He was on official travel, “fulfilling his duty, committed to the service of protecting and securing both the PNP
and the nation,” the PNP said.
In a Facebook post, Malabed’s widow, Rio Alanis Taganas-Malabed, wrote that she is spending time with loved ones and honoring her husband. “On behalf of the other members of the Malabed family, I extend my gratitude to all for coming our way during this difficult time,” Taganas-Malabed wrote. “I further ask for your understanding in quietly observing our moments as we prepare to bring my husband back home.” In another post, she paid tribute to Malabed, saying,
“…you always make me proud with your dedication to your service until the end. I love you so much.”
The PNP said Malabed’s passing “is a profound loss to the PNP, where he served with honor, integrity and dedication throughout his career.”
The Philippine Embassy has echoed the family’s request for privacy.
“At this time, the family has requested privacy as they mourn the loss of their loved one,” the Embassy said.
U.S. authorities have yet to announce when Malabed’s remains will be released to his family. (Inquirer.net)
“To our first responders — our firefighters, public safety officials, and public works teams —thank you for your service, sacrifice, and commitment to protecting all of us. Thank you also to the countless workers who are uplifting our communities during this difficult time—our teachers, healthcare workers, childcare providers, education workers, custodians, public transportation workers, and so many more,” Caloza said.
“On the second day of the fires, my team and I were fielding calls, emails, and requests from all over the district from residents who needed help. Robert, a resident in Highland Park, was so kind and helped us deliver almost 40 cases of water to seniors who desperately needed it,” she recalled. Those seniors who were able to receive help were present during the swearing-in ceremony. She also commended the college students from UCLA and Occidental College who were helping deliver food to frontline workers.
“I saw small businesses that were already struggling before the fires, continue to dig deep and donate hot meals to shelters even though they were the ones who needed help,” she added.
Addressing hundreds of supporters, dignitaries, community leaders, and special guests who attended the swearing-in ceremony, Caloza said, “These stories… they bind us and they are powerful. These last few weeks, we witnessed so much humanity and kindness that we were all literally willing
She also called for unity in the community. “That’s the Los Angeles I am fighting for and that I believe in. Beyond labels. Beyond political parties. Democrat. Republican. Progressive. Moderate. Conservative. None of that mattered during this crisis because when faced with life or death decisions, we picked life. We picked each other. We picked community. Because we have so much more in common than what divides us.”
According to Caloza, she is grateful that similar efforts to help disaster victims are also being carried out on a larger scale.
“This was not just true in the community but also at the State Capitol. That’s why I’m so excited that my colleagues under the leadership of Speaker Robert Rivas and our Budget Chair Jesse Chair secured bipartisan support to pass a $2.5 billion dollar relief bill to provide emergency aid to help our communities rebuild, especially our neighbors in Altadena, Pasadena, and Pacific Palisades,” she noted. Rivas administered Caloza’s ceremonial community oath of office.
Aside from the two new bills she introduced, Caloza said she is also committed to passing more expedient bills in the near term that would address the needs of her constituents. “These (two) bills are just the beginning. In the coming weeks, I will be introducing new legislation to address the ongoing needs of our district,” she added.
“I’ve talked to thousands of residents and people are ready for action and our community deserves solutions. Families want to live in affordable neighborhoods, not just for themselves but for their kids and their grandkids,” she said.
“People want more housing— both homeowners and renters alike. Every person I’ve
“I’ve listened to your stories. I want you to know that not only do I hear you and see you but I am committed to doing everything in my power to deliver real progress on these issues.”
“What you have is my commitment to representing you in the Assembly as someone who is going to work really hard for you,” said Caloza.
District 52 includes the southern portion of Glendale, Eagle Rock, Mt. Washington, Highland Park, Glassell Park, Silver Lake, Echo Park, Atwater Village, Lincoln Heights, Loz Feliz, East Hollywood, Cypress Park, Elysian Valley, Monterey Hills, Hermon, Montecito Heights, El Sereno and Unincorporated East Los Angeles. There are more than 13,000 Filipino Americans in this district.
During the swearingin ceremony, Mountains Recreation Conservation Authority executive officer Joe Edmiston, who delivered the welcome remarks, commended Caloza for her vigorous efforts to providing assistance to the community during the crisis time.
“Thank you so much to our assemblymember who understands the needs of the community,” Edmiston said.
The ceremony also highlighted special remarks from LA County Board of Supervisors, Ist District Hilda Solis.
“We are witnessing history as Jessica Caloza becomes the first Filipina American to serve in the California State Legislature. And I hope more Filipinas and Filipinos follow her path and of course, not just for herm but for all women of colors... She is an example not just in our Filipino community but for all of us," Solis said. Solis encouraged young Filipina Americans to emulate Caloza and see her as an inspiration. “To our young Filipina girls here today, you have to look at Assemblymember Jessica Caloza, you could be like her. Jessica has paved the way for you so it is easier for you this time,” Solis said. The event also included community testimonials from Foundation for Filipina Women’s Network founder
California state Assemblymember Jessica Caloza of District 52 took the oath of office administered by Assembly Speaker
Robert Rivas during a community swearing-in ceremony at the Los Angeles River Center and Gardens on Sunday, January 26. Caloza, an immigrant and lifelong public servant who was elected in November 2024, is the first Filipina American to serve in the California state Legislature.
Photo courtesy of the Office of Assemblymember Jessica Caloza
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT House Secretary General Reginald Velasco hands to Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. the articles of impeachment filed against Vice President Sara Duterte at the Office of the Senate Secretary in Pasay City on Feb. 5, 2025. SPPA POOL
California state Assemblymember Jessica Caloza addresses a packed crowd of elected officials, community leaders
Marcos to public: Pay your taxes
by helen Flores Philstar.com
MANILA — President
Marcos on Tuesday, February 4 urged the public to pay taxes and assured the people that tax evaders will be held accountable.
“We will hold those who continue to circumvent our system accountable,” Marcos said at the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)’s national tax campaign kickoff in Pasay.
Over P2.85 trillion in taxes was collected by the BIR last year, surpassing the P2.52 trillion in 2023, Marcos noted.
This was the highest amount posted in two decades, he said. The BIR’s 2024 revenue could fund 1,140,800 new schools, 190,133 kilometers of roads and 167,014 rural health facilities, Marcos said. Initiatives of the BIR to strengthen tax collection led to the registration of 74,656 new establishments in 2024, bringing the total number of registered taxpayers to nearly 5.7 million, the president noted.
About P257.01 million was recovered by checking the compliance of 307,028 establishments, he said.
The president also cited the BIR Online Registration and Update System and electronic one-time transaction system.
Cases have been filed against ghost sellers and buyers through the agency’s Run After Fake Transactions program, Marcos said.
The initiative resulted in P4.33 billion collected in 2024, a sharp increase from the P617.95 million in 2023, he said.
Crackdowns on illicit trade, including cigarettes, vapes and other excisable goods generated P110.33 million in revenue last year, Marcos said. n
PH still major cyberattack target
DESPITE a year-on-year decrease in the overall number of cyberattacks, the Philippines remained a major target for web threats in 2024, a new Kaspersky report showed.
From 4th in 2023, the Philippines is now 3rd among countries most affected by cyberthreats, highlighting the persistent vulnerability of Filipino internet users.
Yeo Siang Tiong, Kaspersky's general manager for Southeast Asia, said the Philippines' rise in the global rankings, despite the drop in detected threats, shows that cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated and relentless.
"This should serve as a wake-up call for businesses and individuals in the Philippines. Clearly, it's time to strengthen their defenses and stay vigilant against evolving online threats," Yeo said.
"Filipinos are known to be really active online, so cybersecurity should no longer just be an option but a necessity in today's digital landscape," he added.
In 2024, Kaspersky Security Network detected 14,101,706 web threats targeting Filipino users,
with 42.3 percent of users facing cyber risks. Despite the lower number of attacks compared to the previous year, the Philippines moved up to third place worldwide. In comparison, Kaspersky recorded 26,164,698 web threats in 2023, impacting 48 percent of Filipino users.
At the time, the Philippines ranked fourth globally, trailing Mongolia, Moldova and Greece.
Web threats refer to cyberattacks that exploit vulnerabilities in web browsers, plug-ins and online platforms to deliver malware and other harmful content to unsuspecting users. The most common methods cybercriminals use to penetrate systems include drive-by downloads and social engineering attacks.
Drive-by downloads occur when users visit compromised websites that automatically download malware without their knowledge or consent, while social engineering attacks take place when cybercriminals deceive users into downloading malicious files disguising as legitimate programs, often through phishing emails, fake websites and misleading
advertisements.
"The numbers of cyberthreats are fluctuating, not uniformly declining.
Perceived decreases can stem from several factors, including improved detection and prevention technologies masking the actual threat volume, a shift in attacker tactics toward more sophisticated attacks, a focus on specific high-value targets and reducing the overall number of less impactful incidents reported publicly, as well as an increased investment in cybersecurity awareness training, leading to fewer successful phishing campaigns. These explanations suggest a complex picture, rather than a simple overall reduction in malicious cyber activity," Yeo said.
Kaspersky warned that the decline in total threats detected in 2024 might indicate improved cybersecurity measures among businesses and individuals, but the Philippines' higher global ranking underscores the need for continuous efforts to strengthen cybersecurity defenses through comprehensive protection strategies. (ManilaTimes.net)
US-trained doctor is new PhilHealth chief
by catheRine s. Valente , BeRnadette e taMayo and
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Dr. Edwin Mercado, a U.S.trained orthopedic surgeon, as president and chief executive officer of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), Malacañang said Tuesday, February 4.
Mercado, who replaced Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. as head of the state insurer, took his oath before the president in Malacañang on Tuesday, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said.
Before his appointment, Mercado served as vice chairman of the Mercado General Hospital and QualiMed Health Network since 2021.
"He has demonstrated proven leadership and executive and strategic planning expertise," the PCO said in a statement.
"Under his leadership, Mercado General Hospital Inc. (MGHI) has expanded into a national chain of health care facilities that includes four general hospitals, six multi-
ManilaTimes.net
specialty clinics, two surgery centers, 150 primary care corporate clinics, a college for paramedical professionals, and a physician practice group of 400 doctors," it added. A doctor of medicine graduate of the University of the Philippines in 1987, Mercado completed his master of medical sciences in global health delivery at Harvard Medical School in 2023.
He also has an executive master's in health care administration from the University of North Carolina in the U.S.
"Mercado has dedicated his work to ensuring equitable access to quality medical care and leveraging technology to strengthen health systems, particularly in financial management and primary care programs," the PCO said.
Mercado did advocacy work with the Zuellig Family Foundation and several Department of Health Centers for Health Development, providing technical assistance
to provincial health boards on operationalizing their health care provider network.
A lecturer at the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health on global supply chain, research methods, and implementation science, Mercado is also a guest lecturer at the University of the Philippines College of Public Health on medical processes and programs.
Mercado is studying the cost of per-member payment for global coverage of inpatient services.
He is also involved in an ongoing study on using artificial intelligence as an assistive tool for community health workers to deliver primary care.
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa welcomed Mercado's appointment, noting that he is actively involved in health economics work aligned with the Universal Health Care Act and cited his academic qualifications.
Sen. Grace Poe said she PAGE 7
Red Mendoza
MASTERPIECE. This “Keep Climbing” by Quezon Province artist John Infante, takes center stage at the grand exhibition ‘Banyuhay’ at the Araneta City’s Gateway Gallery in Quezon City on Tuesday, Feb. 4, alongside pieces from Lucban, Tayabas, Pagbilao, and Lucena. Showcasing over
Month, the exhibit which runs until Feb.
PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler
OPiniOn Features
Magic number for a just living wage
HERE, at last, comes a serious and determined push in Congress to increase the minimum daily salary in the private sector, some 36 years after the country’s workers experienced their last across-theboard wage hike.
The proposed raise — set initially at P100 by the Senate and now doubled by the House of Representatives to P200 — offers not just relief but salvation to millions of working-class Filipinos whose earnings have failed to keep up with skyrocketing costs of feeding, clothing, and housing their families.
Editorial
double the Senate proposal to provide employees economic relief while ensuring the sustainability of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), as “a critical step toward achieving inclusive growth and addressing the immediate challenges faced by Filipino families.”
What made everyone sit up and take notice wasn’t so much the announcement itself but where the announcement was coming from: Speaker Martin Romualdez, who on Wednesday, January 29 pledged to speed up deliberations on the minimum daily wage hike bill, following a meeting with labor leaders.
The Senate had done its part when it passed its P100 wage hike proposal in February last year. Then on Thursday, January 30, the House labor and employment committee promptly endorsed the Speaker’s pitch for a P200 wage hike bill, bringing it a step closer to approval in plenary session.
Romualdez said the House had resolved to
bAbe romuAldez
As usual, there are those unscrupulous, opportunistic people engaged in the law profession who are coming forward pretending to be do-gooders but in reality are just trying to take advantage of the situation to promote themselves or their “legal” business – capitalizing on the “fear factor” that people are experiencing. These people are stupidly and dangerously trying to undermine the efforts that our Philippine consulates are doing to help those who are affected by the new immigration policy of the Trump administration. Ironically, we are even being accused of creating panic because we have been giving the sound advice for those affected to leave voluntarily IF there is no legal path –especially for those who came into the United States illegally or overstayed on a tourist visa.
President Franklin Delano
Among the hundreds of executive orders (EOs) signed on Jan. 20 by United States President Donald Trump, the EO which unduly limits birthright citizenship—the inherent right to American citizenship of those born in the U.S. — is plainly disadvantageous to the Fil-Ams (and many other nationals) and ultimately to the Philippines. Why? Because Fil-Ams remitted a whopping 40.9 percent of total remittances sent by all Filipinos working abroad, constituting by far the largest share of the $37.2 billion full-year 2023 remittances, followed meekly by Singapore (7.1 percent) and Saudi Arabia (third at 6.2 percent). With this backgrounder, may I offer my two cents worth on why this EO violates the U.S. Constitution and is therefore void. THE 14th AMENDMENT TO THE US CONSTITUTION
The greater good On Thursday, Senate President Francis Escudero said his chamber looked forward to working with the House to harmonize the two versions of the bill at the bicameral conference.
But the timing raised questions about the lawmakers’ motive in pushing for the measure so close to the midterm elections in May: Is this what they call “legislation in aid of reelection”?
Then again, do the legislature’s intentions matter when the outcome redounds to the greater good for the greatest number?
The case for a wage hike is not only compelling — it is undeniable.
Roosevelt said during his first inaugural address: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” If people allow fear to take over, it can make them even more vulnerable as well as susceptible to those who just want to take advantage of their situation in the guise of concern. Filipinos who are “tago ng tago” or TNT – a euphemism for illegal immigrants hiding from authorities – should start seeking legal advice and reach out to those organizations that are truly concerned in helping with their plight. But as I have repeatedly stressed on many occasions, the best and most practical advice we can give to undocumented Filipinos is to seek a legal path – for their peace of mind. The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is continuing to work closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and the Department of Labor and Employment for a whole-ofgovernment support system for Filipinos who will be
solemnly declares: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” This is the bedrock of jus soli—citizenship is conferred by the place of birth. Thus, babies born in the U.S. are U.S. citizens regardless of the citizenship, if any, of their parents, unlike in the Philippines where citizenship is determined by jus sanguinis, that is, babies get the nationality of one or both parents. Thus, those born anywhere in the world of a Filipino mother and/or father are Filipinos at birth; or by constitutional fiat, “natural-born citizens.” Consequently, by their birthright, babies born in the U.S. whose mothers and/or fathers are Filipinos are dual citizens of both the U.S. and PH. They are not required to do anything to obtain such citizenships. In fact, in my humble opinion, they already possess Philippine citizenship at their conception, not just at their birth. However, to
Over the years, inflation has whittled away at the purchasing power of Filipino workers, reaching 2.9 percent in December. Yet, today’s minimum wage remains woefully inadequate to meet the basic needs of a family, while scant regional wage increases consistently fail to keep up with soaring
costs of food, transportation, and utilities. Drop in the bucket In July 2024, the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board approved a wage hike of P35 in Metro Manila, which might well have been a drop in the bucket for
impacted by the immigration policy of President Donald Trump – especially those who are undocumented or have no legal status in the United States.
Estimates place the number of undocumented Filipino immigrants in the U.S. at 350,000 (although the DMW puts the number higher at 370,000), and among the support mechanisms being put into place for possible deportees include financial and legal assistance as well as job retooling and employment facilitation in coordination with agencies such as the National Reintegration Center for OFWs, Department of Trade and Industry and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. According to Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, the government is ready to assist Filipinos who will be affected by the Trump administration’s massive crackdown on illegal immigrants, citing the previous largescale deportation of undocumented Filipino
possess U.S. citizenship, the baby must be born, not just conceived, in America.
Trump, however, claims that the words “subject to the jurisdiction” of the U.S. give him the authority to determine who does not have such birthright. Thus, according to him, no such birthright occurs (1) when the baby’s mother was unlawfully present in the U.S. and the father was not a citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., and (2) when the baby’s mother’s presence in the U.S. was lawful but temporary such as those with student, work, or tourist visas, and the father was not a citizen or lawful permanent U.S. resident.
WITH DUE RESPECT, THESE TWO INTERPRETATIONS OF THE WORDS “subject to the jurisdiction” of the U.S. are plainly strained and grotesque because everyone living or residing, whether lawfully or unlawfully, in America regardless of age, race, gender, or nationality are “subject to the jurisdiction
workers from Malaysia.
It can be recalled that in 2018, the Malaysian government implemented a crackdown against undocumented migrants, affecting an estimated 400,000 Filipinos who had no legal immigration status. During that time, the government encouraged our undocumented kababayans to take advantage of the voluntary deportation program offered by the Malaysian government rather than risk facing imprisonment or paying penalties.
As Secretary Laguesma noted, there is “convergence” in the efforts of government agencies that have been tasked to provide support to those who will be possibly affected by the Trump administration’s immigration policy.
Definitely, the Philippine embassy in Washington, D.C. will continue to do what it has always been doing in providing whatever legal advice it can give to Filipinos in the United States, whether they are documented or
of” the U.S., that is, they are required to follow the American Constitution and laws, including tax laws.
Who then are not “subject to the jurisdiction” of America? Answer: Ambassadors and other diplomats, their families, and officials of international organizations like the United Nations and their families who are granted diplomatic immunity. Their children though born in the U.S. are not American citizens because they are “not subject to the jurisdiction” of the starspangled nation. In my humble opinion, this interpretation is backed by the historical reason for the passage of the 14th Amendment. In the 1857 case of Dred Scott v. Sandford, the Supreme Court of the U.S. (Scotus) held that black slaves and their children were not protected by the Bill of Rights and could never be American citizens. The U.S. Civil War was waged principally to abolish slavery and racial discrimination. And before being incorporated into the
undocumented. Even before the U.S. presidential election in November last year, one of the first things we did was to evaluate the potential impact of a new immigration policy under a Trump administration. We also intensified our information campaign on the rights that Filipinos have in the United States regardless of their immigration status through our website, putting together the information obtained from various sources that include the U.S. Department of Labor, migration offices of states and immigration centers. In addition, engagements with relevant U.S. government officials were strengthened to advocate for the rights and welfare of all Filipinos in the U.S. We also listed the 24/7 consular emergency hotline numbers for all consulates across the United States, including Agana in Guam. This was followed by a planning and strategy session in Washington, D.C. with all the consulates general to discuss the
winning union of Northern states, the losing Southern states had to accept the freedom of slaves and the 14th Amendment that precisely allowed the formerly enslaved U.S.-born blacks to become citizens of the American union. This interpretation allowing anyone born in the U.S. to be a citizen thereof was reiterated in 1898 in U.S. v. Wong Kim Ark and in 1982 in Plyler v. Doe. ON THESE LEGAL GROUNDS, 22 U.S. states, several organizations, and undocumented mothers sued in the federal trial courts. In fact, Judge John C. Coughenour of Seattle, an appointee of Ronald Reagan, a Republican, surprisingly issued a temporary restraining order stopping the implementation of the EO for 14 days pending a final judgment.
Note, however, that by its own terms (Section 2-b), the EO “shall apply only to persons who are born within the United States after 30 days from the date of this order.” In other words, the
next steps in view of the incoming administration’s statements regarding the massive deportation of illegal immigrants. The main target of authorities now are those people with criminal records. However, this should not make those with uncertain legal status complacent.
One very major concern of ours is those who have been in the United States for many years – decades even – and have already established families as well, which is why we have reached out and are working with groups from the Filipino-American community that are prepared to offer support and provide legal advice.
One of them is the Filipino American Legal Defense and Education Fund or FALDEF that is offering legal advice pro bono. Our meeting with the representatives of FALDEF was very productive as we discussed the various challenges that undocumented Filipinos face, with insights on how they can legally stay in the
EO has no retroactive effect on babies born before Jan. 20, 2025.
Unlike here, the Scotus has no appetite to ingest original cases regardless of their importance or urgency. It exercises merely appellate jurisdiction from the U.S. Court of Appeals and at times from the highest courts of the 50 states. Nonetheless, after going through the judicial mill, the cases will end up in the Scotus. How would the Scotus, with six out of its nine justices appointed by Republican presidents, (three by Trump during his first term) try to uphold this “blatantly unconstitutional” EO? Though Trump expects a resounding victory, will the Scotus surprise the world by thrashing the EO? (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.
* * * Comments to chiefjusticepanganiban@ hotmail.com
Clergy’s call: Go beyond ‘ayuda-driven budget’
by Dexter cabalza Inquirer.net
MANILA — The country’s Catholic clergy amplified its concern over the way the P6.3-trillion national budget had been loaded with billions of pesos for “ayuda” (aid) through antipoverty programs that might only end up promoting patronage politics and corruption ahead of the midterm elections.
“It is time that we each take a stand about corruption, and that we be able to do something positive towards overcoming corruption. We must lobby, we must protest, yes, but more importantly, we must agree to come together and become the light to overcome the darkness of corruption,” Fr. Tito Caluag said in his homily during an online Mass on Sunday, February 2.
Doing so is a “nonnegotiable moral imperative,” added Caluag, executive director of Caritas Philippines, the social action arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
“While ayuda is needed for the poor not to get mired deeper into poverty, it is also important that we provide them with programs that will truly give strength and opportunity to empower them and to genuinely improve their lives. They should be masters of their lives and not need to depend on ayuda,” he said.
“I think it is high time — and this is the source of corruption—it is high time that our national budget must transition from an ayuda-driven budget into working toward programs that really empower people, human development,” Caluag added.
“We can be [a] light to our people, to our society. And I’m sure there are many leaders in government who will be welcoming our support and our participation in helping create a government that is really not corrupt, and a government that will really push for the genuine development of our
people,” he also said.
‘Dynasty, patronage’ In a pastoral letter issued on Sunday titled “Is there still hope?” the CBCP, through its president Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, cited various conditions in the country that were causing “frustration and anguish” for many.
Aside from economic, ecological, security, and international concerns, David noted the “scandalous misuse [in the political realm] of public funds and resources; the questionable insertions, cuts, and adjustments in the national budget; and the anti-poverty programs that promote a culture of patronage and mendicancy.”
“As the elections draw near, we see how platforms of popularity, dynasty, and patronage are again exploited, making politics into a family business,” he said.
Despite these, David cited “sparks of hope” in principle-driven leaders who champion good governance and in the idealism of young people and responsible citizens who do not sell their principles.
“We sense a strong surge of hope, above all, in the feeling of uneasiness and disturbance—symptoms of an inner affliction, prodding us that something is wrong, yet at the same time urging us that something can and must be done within, among ourselves, and our institutions,” he said.
Call to action
David called on the country’s leaders “to breathe the spirit of sincerity of God-directed service, breathe transparency and accountability.”
He also urged the youth to stand up for change and responsible leadership and the “dear faithful” in government, business, and religious or public communities “to harness a tempest of change by a sincere witness to our Christian values and fidelity to conscience.”
This was the first time the CBCP openly criticized the 2025 General Appropriations
Act (GAA) enacted on Dec. 30, although some of its members had earlier cited its flaws.
Various critics of the budget, including members of the Catholic Church, held a rally at Edsa Shrine last Friday to protest its provisions.
The protests called on Congress to rectify the flaws in the 2025 GAA by passing a supplemental budget to strengthen social services and defund noncritical public works projects.
In a pastoral commentary last month, former CBCP president LingayenDagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas called on the faithful “to study diligently, judge critically and act with vigilance on the moral concern of the 2025 national budget.”
He criticized the budget cuts for the education sector and the zero subsidy for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.
Comelec exemptions
Advocates and budget experts have flagged the 2025 GAA for allotting hundreds of billions of pesos for various ayuda programs that could be used by unscrupulous politicians running in the May elections to sway voters.
Under the Omnibus Election Code, public officials and employees are prohibited from releasing, disbursing or expending any public funds for social services and housingrelated projects 45 days before Election Day—or from March 28 to May 11— unless exempted by the Commission on Elections.
The Comelec, however, has exempted various aid projects, including the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (P26.26 billion) and Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (P18.29 billion) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, as well as the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers Program (P26.16 billion) of the Department of Labor and Employment. n
urban poor families trying to stay afloat. Other regions saw even smaller increases, rubbing salt to the wound of struggling workers across the nation, whether in cities or provinces. The proposal has been greeted with stiff opposition.
The Employers Confederation of the Philippines (Ecop) warned that a legislated wage hike could stoke inflation and drive investors away. “This will just make investors hesitate more with the uncertainty it creates. And we are already lagging behind our neighbors in terms of investments,” Ecop president Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. said. But that argument pales in comparison to what the wage hike could mean for ordinary workers.
Deputy Speaker Democrito Raymond Mendoza of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines said higher salaries would “lift over 5 million minimum wage
Magic number for a just living... We are committed
A major concern is the possibility of our kababayans being detained for a long period of time before they are deported – and this is what we are trying to avoid for them. Let’s not forget, one of the
earners out of poverty, put nutritious food on their table, send their children to school, and give them a fighting chance for a better life to overcome hardships and attain prosperity.”
Backbone of nation’s economy
As the House begins debates on the wage hike bill, the challenge for lawmakers now is finding the magic number that is acceptable to both labor and business sectors. The P200 proposal is a step in the right direction, but by no means is it an upper limit.
Lawmakers must engage in genuine dialogue with stakeholders and be open to compromise. For instance, a possible middle ground is the grant of wage subsidies to MSMEs. In the end, the final product must not fall short of a sustainable wage increase that lifts workers out of poverty without crippling employers.
The clock is ticking, and the onus is on both legislative chambers and
hopes the new PhilHealth management could "breathe new life" into the state health insurer that needs healing itself.
"We are looking forward to the new PhilHealth leadership and we hope for a more responsive, efficient and just health care management," Poe said in a statement on Tuesday.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said he hopes Mercado would be able to "fix all the problems" of PhilHealth, adding: "One good thing is [that] he is not a
politician."
Poe said Mercado "faces a gargantuan task in making PhilHealth shape up to live up to its mandate of providing efficient, reliable and accessible universal health care to all Filipinos."
The PhilHealth members "who now cough up higher premium contributions must feel the benefits of the health care system, or at least have peace of mind that they can rely on it in case of need," the senator said.
The new PhilHealth management should also settle its remaining deficiencies to
Malacañang to rally behind this long overdue measure. It may well require President Marcos certifying the bill as urgent for it to be enacted before the midterm poll winners take office. But whether motivated by the people’s welfare or their odds of being reelected, lawmakers must act quickly to ensure the proposal does not get drowned out by election noise.
For too long, the government has failed to recognize economic justice as the bedrock of a functioning democracy. A legislated wage hike is not just about fulfilling workers’ wishes but affording them the dignity of living meaningful, purposeful lives rather than just toiling away to put food on the table and keep a roof above their heads. Workers are the backbone of the nation’s economy, and they deserve nothing less than wages that allow them to live, not just survive. (Inquirer.net)
*
overseas, and we at the embassy in Washington, D.C. – and all Philippine embassies all over the world for that matter – are committed to help Filipinos everywhere. (Philstar.com)
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
* * * Email: babeseyeview@gmail.com
health workers, hospitals and other institutions, Poe added. House lawmakers also welcomed Mercado's appointment.
Batanes Rep. Ciriaco Gato, chairman of the House Committee on Health, said he was "very optimistic" with Mercado as PhilHealth chief. AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee, who has been critical of how the state health insurer has been run, said he hopes that the appointment of Mercado would speed up its benefits enhancements that he has been seeking for more than a year. n
Catriona Gray tears up over TJ Monterde’s ‘Hanggang Dito Na Lang’ performance
by Anne PAsAjol Inquirer.net
CATRIONA Gray attended singer TJ Monterde’s concert and was visibly moved by his performance of his song “Hanggang Dito Na Lang,” with the beauty queen shedding tears over the heartbreak song.
“Isa sa pinakamahirap na part ng relationships ‘yung goodbyes. Five years, seven years, three years, tapos sa isang iglap wala na siya,” Monterde said prior to his performance of the song last Sunday, February 2, as seen in the videos shared by concertgoers on social media.
“‘Di mo alam saan ka magsisimula [kasi] sanay ka nang nand’yan siya… sanay na ‘yung buhay mo na kasama mo siya,” he added.
“If that’s you, this song is for you.” Monterde was only a few lines into the song when the LED screen showed Gray wiping tears from her eyes and covering her lips, seemingly in an attempt to suppress her emotion. Akala ko’y habangbuhay tayo / Akala ko’y hanggang dulo / Kay haba pa ng kalsada / Dito na ba tayo bababa?” the lyric goes. In a TikTok video shared by one @ynahsecretarioflo, Gray is seen leaning her head on her friend Isabel Oli’s shoulder after she saw herself on the screen. It can be noted as well that the beauty queen was seated just a few seats away from actor Sam Milby, amid rumors of their breakup. Gray did not immediately comment on her being
emotional at the concert.
Gray and Milby, whose relationship was confirmed to the public in May 2020, announced their engagement in February 2023.
A year later, the pair’s talent management company said that they were “facing some challenges in their relationship” but that the couple were “actively working to resolve these issues together.”
However, in May 2024, eagle-eyed fans noticed that the beauty queen had removed her engagement photos with Milby from her Instagram page. In the same month, Milby celebrated his birthday without Gray.
The pair has yet to publicly confirm the rumored breakup as of this writing.
ACTOR-chef Marvin Agustin humorously stammered as he answered whether his love team partner Jolina Magdangal was his "the one who got away" or TOTGA.
Both Marvin and Jolina were guests in the January 30 episode of "Fast Talk with Boy Abunda" to promote their upcoming headliner reunion movie "Ex Ex Lovers."
After reminiscing about the MarJo love team during the '90s and reenacting one of their scenes, Boy brought up that the last time he interviewed Marvin, the actor did not answer his TOTGA question. Boy asked it again, this time for both Marvin and Jolina.
Marvin quipped it was difficult to answer because Jolina has been married to Rivermaya drummer Mark Escueta since 2011, "Baka masapak ako!
The actor-chef stuttered loudly to give a response, much to the amusement of the studio audience, so Jolina chipped in her answer.
“I think hindi kasi never naman siya nawala, nandiyan pa rin siya para sa’kin ‘pag kailangan ko ng kasama,” said Jolina. Marvin said that their years of friendship was what mattered the most.
The actors then talked about “Ex Ex Lovers.” Jolina described it as a dream project where she and
Marvin get to bring MarJo fans another thing to cherish. Before the episode ended, Boy asked them what they know about love that they did not know back then.
Marvin said it was the existence of a sincere and supportive love between two people; it is the same one that he has with Jolina, one he knows could last forever.
“Ex Ex Lovers,” directed by JP Habac, will premiere in Philippine cinemas on February 12, two days before Valentine’s Day.
Heaven Can Wait Animal Society receives $55K award to strengthen and expand its spay & neuter and wellness care,
LAS VEGAS — With veterinary costs rising and the pet overpopulation crisis worsening, Heaven Can Wait Animal Society is taking action to address both. Thanks to a generous $55,000 grant from Maddie's Fund®, a national family foundation established by
thanks to Maddie’s Fund
Dave and Cheryl Duffield to revolutionize the status and well-being of companion animals and community cats.
This grant will help the local animal well-being nonprofit expand their low-cost, highquality services provided to Southern Nevada at both their Spay & Neuter and
Wellness Clinics.
“Thanks to Maddie, this grant will allow us to invest in new and upgraded medical equipment for spay, neuter, and preventative care,” said Rachel Bergren, Executive Director of Heaven Can Wait Animal Society.
Remembering former Pres. Cory Aquino on her birthday
My P.E.P. (People, Events,Places)
rogelio ConstAntino medinA
I SAW a Facebook post from Jose Ma. Montelibano that said: “Old friends gathered to reminisce about a great lady that they all served directly or indirectly from 1986, or 39 years ago. It was a different era but a proud one, and the memories remain strong and vibrant. May generation after generation never forget.”
He was referring to former President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, whose birthday is January 25, a day before my birthday.
I vividly remember I was the Information Officer 3 at the Office of the Press Secretary. How I missed the late Fritzi Aragon and my good friends Margie Juico and Marisse Reyes. Ballsy Aquino-Cruz was so kind to me and she even called me up at my home then.
* * * February is the month of love. I will feature different stories of love. I asked each respondent: (1) How do you define love? (2) Are you in love with whom and why?
Their replies are as follows: PX Ilano is happily married to She Ilano and has a child actress-daughter Elia: (1) “Love for me is an unshakable commitment to protect, provide and stand firm no matter what the storm is. It’s when you look at someone and know you’d face the world’s chaos just to see her smile.”; (2) Yes, I am very much in love with my wife every day. I love her because she gave meaning and direction to my life. She is incomparable and she is a blessing from God.” Basketball coach and sportscaster Frederick Francisco is married to Hershelyn David Francisco and has a son Luka: (1) “True love is
choosing to be with someone who can’t live without you.”; (2) “My wife and baby boy. I’m in love with life and the hope it brings with my family.”
Ping Diaz Fetizanan is married to Robert RJ Fetizanan and they are in New York City celebrating their anniversary: (1) “Love after 30 years of marriage is not just a feeling — it is a legacy. It is a commitment built through the years, marked by struggles, joys, and the everyday moments that often go unnoticed. Aging may bring physical and emotional challenges, but love at this stage becomes a testament to the promises you made long ago. Hormonal changes and irritability are natural, but they also offer the chance to redefine love. It becomes less about grand gestures and more about quiet acts of care. Love is brewing a cup of tea for your spouse when they’re too tired to ask, choosing to walk away instead of snapping back, or holding hands in silence when words feel too heavy. These small acts of kindness remind you both why you chose each other. This love is also a gift to your family — a reminder to your children and grandchildren of what true commitment looks like. It shows them that love is not fleeting; it is a constant effort to choose one another every single day, even when it’s hard.”; (2) “My husband because he is the one whom God chose for me, and in his, I find a partner who walks beside me through every high and low. When we stood before God and our loved ones on our wedding day, we made a commitment to love, honor, and cherish each other. That promise was not just for a season, but for a lifetime. It was a vow to embrace the good and the bad, to adjust to life’s changes, and to grow together in faith and love. My love for my husband goes beyond the things he does for me. It’s about the life we’ve built together, the family we’ve nurtured, and
the shared dreams we continue to pursue. With him, I’ve found not just love, but purpose. He is my blessing, my strength, and my greatest gift from God.”
Comedian Roger Ocampo, hailed as the Filipino Mr. Bean, has lost his right foot and is blinded on the left eye: (1) “For me true love is unconditional, just how Jesus Christ loved us. Love is knowing how God really loves us by giving His one and only Son to die on the cross for all of us. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, that whosoever believes in Jesus Christ will not perish.”; (2) “I’m separated with my original wife and three kids for 24 years. They’ve left after I had an accident losing my middle finger on my left hand on board ship as I worked as a seaman. I lost my job and I couldn’t provide the needs of my family. My mother-in-law took away my wife and my three kids and I was left all alone. I was accused falsely, that’s why my three kids neglected me and they have forgotten me as their father until now... But I’m so in love with Jesus Christ and I’m happy walking on His side holding and leaning in His everlasting arms. Jesus Christ is everything to me. I’m so blessed that He never leaves me even in my hardest time.”
*
* * It is very much appreciated that each year my very good friend Wick Veloso, De La Salle University alumnus and CEO of the Philippine National Bank, greets me an advanced birthday greeting.
Many thanks, Wick, you are always the first one to greet me a happy birthday. I turned 65 on January 26 this year.
* * * Thanks to my mother Rosita Constantino Medina as well as to my sister Victoria Medina Isip and her loving husband Vicente Santiago Isip (they plan to spend this year their wedding anniversary in London) for treat-
ing me to Hibachi Grill and Buffet along Gateway Blvd., Fairfield, California for my 65th birthday after attending a Sunday Mass at Northgate. Birthday cake was courtesy of my niece Aiko Kumano in Hawaii and my sister and brother-in-law surprised me with their birthday presents.
* * * The movie Mark Wahlberg’s “Flight Risk” is now showing in cinemas worldwide, including the Philippines.
* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints
by Kristofer Purnell Philstar.com
Marvin Agustin and Jolina Magdangal reunite on the big screen in ‘Ex Ex Lovers’.
Photo courtesy of Project 8 Projects Catriona
Former Pres. Corazon Cojuangco Aquino and Rogelio C. Medina
Frederick and Hershelyn Francisco with their son Luka
Robert and Ping Fetizanan
From left: Birthday celebrant Rogelio C. Medina, Victoria Medina Isip and Rosita Constantino Medina behind Kohl’s Sephora in Vallejo, California.
Photo above shows (seated, from left) Popoy and Margie Juico, Elfren Cruz, Maria Montelibano, Ball Dominguez, Mimi de Jesus, Mariasun Azcuna, Ballsy Cruz, and Neni Sta. Romana Cruz; (standing, from left) Dodo Dee, Cesar Sarino, Jose Ma. Montelibano, Eldon Cruz, Viel Dee, Tina Sarino, Sonny Dominguez, Ping de Jesus, and Adolf Azcuna. Photos courtesy of Rogelio C. Medina
PX and She Ilano
Wick and Cayen Veloso with their cute, talented grandchildren.
Adorable Roger Ocampo bringing cheers to children as Mr. Bean Pinoy.
THE World Health Organization observes “World No Tobacco Day” on May 31st of each year to remind people around the globe about the deadly effects on smoking and to inspire smokers to quit the habit as a part of a healthy lifestyle.
The smokers and their family and other people around them are impacted directly and indirectly by this addiction. Globally, there are about 1.25 billion smokers. In the United States, there are about 29 million who smoke tobacco, a reduction from 44 million in 2011.
Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death, killing 7 million persons (about 1.3 million from secondhand smoke) around the globe annually. This is extrapolated to increase to almost 9 million deaths each year by 2030. And the greater tragedy is that this massive loss of lives could be prevented by the pre-emptive option of abstaining from tobacco or quitting the habit.
At least 300 Filipinos die each day – yes, each day – or about 109,500 a year, from smoking-related illnesses like cardiovascular, pulmonary and metabolic diseases, and cancers, especially lung cancer. In Malaysia about 20,000, and in Vietnam at least 40,000, die annually from tobacco-related conditions. Indonesia’s death toll is the worst: 400,000 a year.
The sad fact is that official global tobacco youth survey has revealed that the “smoking prevalence among American high-school students in 2024 is about 10.1 and 5.4 in middle school. In the Philippines, 12.5 percent ages 13-15 are smokers (18.3 percent boys and 6.9 percent girls), and about 28 percent of Filipinos (round 32 million) smoke some forms of tobacco, with about 112,000 deaths each year from tobacco-related diseases.
The figures cited above are from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and National Cancer Institute of the United States and from the Tobacco and Poverty Study in the Philippines conducted by the College of Public Health of the University of the Philippines, National Epidemiology Center of the Department of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Obviously, for political correctness and expediency, majority of our Philippine legislators in Congress (the same with the old U.S. Con-
Choosing our poison
gress several decades ago) prefer to protect the tobacco industry and allow tobacco to continue to kill our people. What money from the tobacco lobby finding its way to the deep pockets of the legislators can do! Smoking kills. It is that plain and simple. There is no more doubt today that tobacco (cigarette smoking) is the predominant cause of lung cancer, besides other malignancies and cardiovascular diseases that maim, kill men and women and hurt our society, especially our children.
In the United States alone, almost half a million die each year from smoking-related illnesses. Demographic studies have shown that smokers are about 10 times more prone to die premature deaths than non-smokers. This unnecessary loss of lives is at an immense direct cost for non-smokers in terms of increased health risks from passive smoking, in higher health insurance premiums and taxes, not to mention personal and family tragedies in all shapes and forms. As we have alluded to in a previous column, secondhand smoke is even more dangerous. Innocent bystanders are forced to inhale cigarette smoke at their workplaces or in public places, thus increasing their health risk. The Environmental Protection Agency engineers have shown that even the best available ventilation and air-moving equipment were unable to reduce carcinogenic (cancer-causing) air contamination to a safe level for a non-smoker sharing workspace with a habitual smoker.
If you think about it, our government and those of other nations are enabling drug use (nicotine and other chemicals in cigarettes, and now legalized recreational marijuana) in the name of profit and added revenues, wantonly sacrificing their citizens’ health and future, shortening people’s lives, wasting trillions of dollars or more of expenditures for research as to how to fight the habit, how to cure the tobacco-induced illnesses, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, hypertension, and cancer, etc. Allowing the development of addiction and diseases, and then finding a way to fight the addiction and the diseases it causes, is plain stupidity. Having said that, I shall defend the right of people to smoke if they so choose, so long as they respect and do not abridge the right of the non-smokers to protect themselves from the more
deadly health effects of secondhand smoke. Those who defend smoking are misinformed or are in denial, and doing a great disservice to the public, especially to the youth.
Unfortunately, the senseless global smoke-filled “killing field” protected by governments will continue. It is, indeed, most tragic for the victims.
The other poison in our midst is alcohol. Use to be thought of as providing some health benefits, alcoholic beverages, even wine, has been found to damage our health. It used to be two drinks for men and one for women, but new studies found that there is actually “no safe level of alcohol.” One drink is one too many, health-wise. A colleague suggested a practical compromise: one drink, occasionally. At least 40-45 percent of all cancers can be prevented by abstinence from alcohol and tobacco.
As a cardiac surgeon, I find the solution too obvious to ignore, equally evident to billions of non-medical people (including school graders) with common sense: Eliminate the darn cause, get rid of the poison! Then, you don’t have to do expensive research looking for the “antidote” or finding the cure, etc.
Instead, let us save the trillions of dollars in each country and spend the money to eliminate graft and corruption among government officials and eradicate poverty among the destitute, homeless and hungry.
This way, we can even have these added bonuses: a smokeless and sober society, a healthier citizenry, nobler and more compassionate nations, and a less polluted environment, ecologically friendlier to Mother Earth!
* * * 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.
*
* * Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, a health advocate, medical missionary, newspaper columnist, and chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He is a recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award, whose past awardees include President Harry S. Truman, President George HW Bush, Astronaut Gus Grissom, Mohammad Ali, distinguished educators, and renowned scientists (source: Wikipedia). Websites: www.FeuNrmfMedicalAlumni.org, www. Today.SPSAtoday.com, and www.FEU-dnrMedalumni.org; Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com.
Heaven Can Wait Animal Society receives $55K...
“These state-of-the-art tools will significantly elevate the quality of care provided by our veterinary team, contributing to long-term pet health and well-being.”
The grant will fund key additions such as a new anesthesia machine, an ultrasound system, and advanced laboratory equipment for blood and urine analysis. The anesthesia machine will allow for safer surgical procedures by providing precise monitoring and control, reducing risks to patients. The ultrasound machine will enable detailed internal imaging, improving diagnostic accuracy with less stress for the animals. Enhanced laboratory services will provide rapid, reliable test results, ensuring timely diagnosis and, when needed, further care at a fullservice clinic. By utilizing these improved services through grant funding, Heaven Can Wait Animal Society can keep care affordable, empowering pet parents to actively contribute to a healthier and more compassionate community for dogs, cats, and the people who love them. If you’d like to support Heaven Can Wait Animal Society in their mission to improve the quality of life for pets and families, spay or neuter your pets, spread the word about the importance of these programs, and consider donating at www. heavencanwaitlv.org.
Chinese New Year in the Desert ushers in the Year of the Snake
CHINESE New Year in the Desert™ returned to Las Vegas for its 14th year, bringing a vibrant celebration of culture, tradition, and community from January 30 to February 1, 2025. What started as a small event at Fremont Street Experience in 2012 has since transformed into a city-wide festival, with key events taking place at Suncoast Hotel & Casino, Taste of Asia, Downtown Las Vegas, and Container Park. This year’s festivities featured a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the Suncoast Hotel & Casino followed by a special Lunar New Year dinner at Taste of Asia. Dignitaries and community leaders, including Nevada Lieutenant Governor Stavros Anthony and Congresswoman Susie Lee, joined the celebration, marking the beginning of the Year of the Snake with cultural performances, traditional blessings, and
to highlight Las Vegas as a premier destination for Lunar New Year celebrations. The 2025 edition was proudly supported by JAMBA at Harry Reid International Airport, Uehara Financial & Longevity Planning, MGM Resorts International, Vegas Golden Knights, the City of Las Vegas, and Golden
