Philippines, US defense chiefs discuss West Philippine Sea issues
mANILA — Philippine Defense secretary
Gilbert teodoro Jr. and his U.s. counterpart secretary Pete hegseth discussed defense cooperation between the Philippines and the U.s. and reestablishing deterrence in the south China sea. teodoro, in his first phone call on thursday, february 6 with the recently confirmed U.s defense chief, talked about current problems in the West Philippine sea.
Without particularly mentioning China, he affirmed and expressed “the importance of deepening defense cooperation to strengthen deterrence against coercive and destabilizing actions in the West Philippine sea, as well as upholding the rules-based international order.”
During the phone conversation, the Department of National Defense said teodoro and hegseth discussed key security developments in the Indo-Pacific and the enhancement of the two countries’ existing bilateral and multilateral engagements.
With looming federal cuts, senior health care needs a shake-up, CA leaders say
sACrAmeNto — for California’s older adults, “mental health is the big gap we’ve never been able to fill,” said Anni Chung, president and Ceo of self-help for the elderly.
While federal funding freezes under trump threaten to widen this gap more than ever before, barriers like social isolation and limited english are nothing new for many California seniors struggling to access help.
since Chung’s community organization for Asian seniors began in san francisco’s Chinatown as part of the federal War on Poverty in 1966, the neighborhood has grown to have the highest senior suicide rate citywide, with many immigrant and monolingual seniors unable to access city services.
In response, self-help for the elderly has grown to service 50,000 seniors a year across five Bay Area counties through behavioral health care including mental health counseling, social services, employment training, food aid and affordable housing navigation — “but you
fILIPINo migrant advocates from the tanggol migrante Campaign denounced the inhumane conditions in U.s. Immigration and Customs enforcement (ICe) detention centers and the lack of
response from the Philippine government during a virtual press conference held on Wednesday, february 5. the conference came in the wake of recent ICe raids targeting filipinos, including the detention of multiple caregivers in the Chicago area. Advocates underscored the urgency of addressing these
violations and called on the Philippine Consulate to take decisive action in protecting overseas nationals. Nerissa Allegretti, President of the National Alliance for filipino Concerns (NAfCoN) UsA reported that ICe raids have been sweeping through Chicago, which she described as “ground zero” for u PAGE A2
Marcos washes hands of VP impeachment
mANILA — President ferdinand marcos Jr. on thursday, february 6 washed his hands of the historic impeachment of his running mate-turned-arch critic Vice President sara Duterte, saying he cannot stop his allies in the legislature from performing their constitutional mandate and acting on the complaint. speaking to reporters at malacañang, marcos said he had discussed the impeachment of Duterte with lawmakers, but those who are claiming that he was behind it are giving him “too much credit.” the executive cannot have
a hand in the impeachment. the executive has no role in the impeachment,” the president said. “What the house has done is clearly within – is clearly the mandate that they have been – the Constitutional mandate that they have to proceed with the impeachment complaints... I think they are just following the procedure and they have transmitted the impeachment complaint to the upper house,” he added.
While marcos had described the efforts to impeach the vice president as a waste of time, 215 members of the administration-dominated house of representatives signed the complaint against Duterte,
hoUsING rights attorney Ysabel Jurado was sworn in as a Los Angeles City councilmember on saturday, february 1 during a public ceremony at the historic LA Central Public Library. Jurado, 35, is the first councilmember of filipino descent. she represents the city’s District 14 (CD 14), a vastly diverse region of the city that includes downtown LA (including skid row), Boyle heights, Lincoln heights, el sereno, and much of Northeast LA. her parents were immigrants from the Philippines who migrated to Los Angeles with very little money—a core part of Jurado’s family history that colors much of her political ideology. today is a moment to celebrate our collective commitment to usher in a new era centered around community and grounded by our integrity,” Jurado said at the packed mark taper Auditorium, which included supporters, other elected officials, and members of CD 14, as well as Jurado’s family, many of whom traveled from the Philippines.
he reaffirmed the U.s.’ firm commitment to the 1951 mutual Defense treaty. the talks between hegseth and teodoro came in the midst of the U.s.-led joint sail with Japan, Australia and the Philippines in the West Philippine sea. At the same time, U.s. B-1 bomber planes escorted by Philippine Air force (PAf) fA 50 jet fighters held bombing and air intercept exercises over the West Philippine sea on monday, february 3. During the 6th multilateral maritime Cooperative Activity on Wednesday, the Philippine Navy ship BrP Jose rizal said Australian ship, the hmAs hobart, the Japanese warship Akizuki (DD15) and the Uss Benfold. AfP Public Affairs Chief Col. Xerxes trinidad said
UNIteD states secretary of Defense Pete hegseth on Wednesday, february 5 discussed with Defense secretary Gilberto teodoro Jr. the need to reestablish deterrence in the south China sea in the face of China's aggressive actions. the leaders discussed the importance of reestablishing deterrence in the south China sea, including by working with allies and partners," Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot said during the readout of hegseth's call to teodoro. hegseth also talked about enhancing the capability and capacity of the Armed forces of the Philippines (AfP). u
Trump’s aid freeze suspends at least P4B of PH programs
by Cristina Chi Philstar.com
mANILA — United states President Donald trump’s sweeping foreign aid freeze has thrown at least 39 development projects in the Philippines into limbo — jeopardizing critical work from a nationwide forest protection program to a Bangsamoro education project meant to run until 2029. on January 24, secretary of state marco rubio ordered the suspension of all U.s. foreign aid programs worldwide for review, exempting only Israel and egypt. In the Philippines, the freeze affected dozens of projects funded
by the United states 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 Philippines.
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.
Filipino advocates condemn ICE...
mass deportations under trump’s immigration policies. the said ICe raid on January 24 at a suburban care home included eight filipino caregivers, six of whom were detained and deported without a judicial warrant within a 24hour turnaround while two of them were able to show proper documentation.
“It was very quick. It was truly what President trump wanted— expedited. there was no warrant given,” Allegretti said,
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emphasizing that caregivers and other migrant workers remain at the highest risk. “many of them are only trying to pursue livelihood for themselves and their families, and are already taking up backbreaking work to do so.”
Allegretti also talked about two recently arrested filipino women who remain unaccounted for as advocates struggle to determine their whereabouts. A health worker affiliated with tanggol migrante reported the incident, which happened in Albany Park on february 3, noting that bystanders were too afraid to intervene. Witnesses overheard four agents asking the women if they were U.s. citizens before taking them away in a “dark van with homeland security markings”. efforts are underway to identify their names and locate their detention center.
PH government’s response under fire the press conference took place a day after Philippine Department of foreign Affairs Undersecretary eduardo de Vega claimed that no undocumented filipinos had been arrested under the trump administration. this assertion was strongly refuted by the advocates and community organizers, who cited numerous cases of detentions and deportations.
“I am painfully frustrated when I saw that article that said there are no filipino immigrants during trump’s crackdown. It’s not true, it is happening in Chicago,” Allegretti said.
Kort m. Lee, an attorney with the mission to end modern Day slavery (mems) Legal Network, condemned the Philippine government’s inaction. “In instances where filipinos have sought out support from the Philippine Consulates for Assistance to Nationals (AtN) funds, they’ve been ignored without response or given false promises. I would go as far as to call it reckless behavior.”
Heightened fear filipino communities in the U.s. are experiencing heightened anxiety in the wake of aggressive immigration enforcement.
“At first, many were not so worried, but now we are really seeing people more anxious and
afraid because trump is actually implementing what he said he would do,” said Angela Albay of Anakbayan Inland empire. filipinos are not showing up to work because they are afraid of threats of raids. Youth are also afraid to go to school in case ICe shows up.”
Atty. Lee also highlighted the additional vulnerability of queer and transgender filipinos. “there are queer and trans filipinos in the Northeast experiencing similar things— paranoia, not going out in public. All federal facilities are expected to house people according to assigned sex at birth, leading to transwomen—filipinas—facing an additional layer of fear due to the mistreatment they would likely face.”
Ligaya Jensen, a filipina migrant detained by ICe for over six years at the eloy Detention Center in Arizona, described the persistent climate of fear faced by detainees and revealed through a phone call with members of the network that there is a climate of anxiety that detainees face under the trump administration.
speaking via phone, she stated, “every single day people are scared that their name will be called. We need to have some kind of empathy for our experiences, and know we are human beings too.”
Albay criticized the Philippine Consulate’s failure to support detained filipinos. “We want the consulates to be active in reaching out to filipinos in detention and respond to filipino nationals in distress,” she said. “People are being held in torturous conditions. that’s why we demand that Ligaya be released immediately. We demand a full pardon to stop her deportation.” the recent deportations bring the total number of filipinos deported under trump’s administration to over 30 within his first two weeks in office. Advocates are urging both the U.s. and Philippine governments to take immediate action to protect the rights and dignity of filipino migrants and as raids continue and deportations rise, community organizers vow to persist in their fight for justice and humane treatment. n
Trump’s aid freeze suspends
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 five-year 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.
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.
“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 antidiscrimination 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 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
at least...
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 Philippinesa $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-corruption 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
CLEAN POLLS. Commission on Elections Chairperson George Erwin Garcia (3rd from left, top row) leads the signing of a memorandum of agreement to strengthen the “Kontra Bigay” (anti-bribery) task force at the poll body’s office in Intramuros, Manila on Friday, Feb. 7. The police and military, other government agencies, and e-wallet providers GCash and Maya are partners of the campaign against vote buying and vote selling.
PNA photo by Yancy Lim
Ysabel Jurado, LA’s first Fil-Am councilmember...
During her speech, Jurado thanked her supporters and volunteers and celebrated the diversity of those who helped her get elected. she said that given the recent tumult of natural disasters and the new presidential administration’s attack on marginalized communities, she promised to stay true to her progressive ideals
“With the backdrop of the fires and also the national political agenda we need unity more than ever,” Jurado said.
Present at the ceremony were prominent local figures and activists, including LA mayor Karen Bass and legendary labor activist Dolores huerta.
“It’s moments like this that we need leaders like you who keep her eyes on the prize,” Bass told Jurado during her speech.
In her speech, huerta—who founded the National farm Workers Association and helped organize the historic Delano grape strike of 1965—honored not just the filipino organizers she worked with, like Larry Itliong and Philip Vera Cruz, but also those who fought for the U.s. during World War II. that courage from the filipino legacy continues down to Los Angeles City Council with Ysabel Jurado, who represents, not just the filipino community but all communities,” said huerta, who administered Jurado’s taking of the oath of office.
recognizing the multicultural makeup of CD 14, huerta said, “We have all of these colors in [CD 14] that forms a rainbow that will be the light that we need to go through these difficult times that we’re facing, and we need leaders like Ysabel Jurado who understand that.”
As a housing rights attorney, Jurado fought against gentrification and advocated for permanent solutions to the ongoing housing crisis in LA. LA City Controller Kenneth mejia, who is also filipino American, told LA This Week that he is “so excited to share this space with her as one of our elected officials. Ysabel is out here fighting for the people.”
“she’s inspirational, and I’m positive she’ll actually represent the people in City Council, something that so many [city leaders] failed to do,” Bianca torre, a filipina American student at UsC who canvassed for Jurado in the fall, told the Asian Journal. In addition to her plans to expedite housing solutions and providing resources for the city’s homeless population, one of Jurado’s first projects as city councilmember has been to renovating the Benjamin franklin Public Library in Boyle heights. she also introduced a motion to address street lighting issues across CD 14. n
US defense chief wants ‘deterrence’...
the joint sail featured operational exercises designed to enhance coordination and interoperability among the participating forces. AfP Chief of staff General romeo Brawner Jr. underscored the importance of the exercise, saying it "demonstrates the strong cooperation and interoperability among our nations' armed forces. Conducted in accordance with international law, the mmCA ensures safe navigation while respecting the rights and interests of all states."
A flurry of naval drills surrounding the Philippines involving the United states and its partners has prompted complaints from Beijing, which claims the entire south China sea and accuses manila of colluding with others to destabilize the region.
the U.s. 7th fleet based in Japan said forces from Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and the U.s. conducted a "multilateral maritime Cooperative Activity" within the Philippines' exclusive economic Zone on Wednesday. such drills "strengthen the interoperability of our defense/ armed forces doctrines, tactics, techniques, and procedures," the fleet said in a news release. the maneuvers were taking place within the Philippines' zone, but the fleet gave no details on the exact location. more exercises involving the U.s., Japan and france were planned for later this week in the Philippines sea, which China does not claim. that exercise "is designed to advance coordination and cooperation between french, Japanese and U.s. maritime forces
while simultaneously demonstrating capabilities in multi-domain operations," the fleet said.
the U.s. aircraft carrier Carl Vinson, french carrier Charles De Gaulle and Japan's Izumo-class multifunctional destroyer Kaga will take part in the drill starting saturday, february 8, along with their escorts and air wings, the fleet said.
france's participation is especially significant because of the distance from its home base, 6,000 kilometers (3,700 miles) away in toulouse, commander of the Carrier strike Group rear Adm. Jacques mallard was quoted as saying.
tian Junli, spokesman for
China's southern theater Command, accused the Philippines of "colluding with outside countries to organize 'so-called joint patrols', " which he said "destabilize the region," Chinese state media said on thursday, february 6. tian said the Philippines actions were "an attempt to endorse its 'illegal claims' in the south China sea and "undermine China's maritime rights and interests." he specifically pointed to U.s.-Philippines joint patrols on tuesday, february 4 and said China had carried out its
patrols in the region on Wednesday. (With reports from the Associated Press)
BINIGYAN NG PAUNAWA na ang City Clerk ng Lungsod ng Cerritos ay nagbigay ng awtoridad na ang City Council Chamber, 18125 Bloomfield Avenue, Cerritos, CA 90703 ay itinalaga bilang sentral na lugar upang bilangin ang mga balota para sa Pangkalahatang Halalan ng Munisipyo na gaganapin sa Martes, Marso 4, 2025. Magsisimulang bilangin ang mga botohan sa pamamagitan ng Koreo sa ganap na ika 8:01 ng gabi. Ang resulta ng botohan sa pamamagitan ng koreo ay hindi ilalabas hanggang matapos ang pagsasara ng mga lugar ng botohan sa ganap na alas 8:00 ng gabi. /s/ Cynthia Nava, City Clerk, Klerk ng Lunsod, Lunsod ng Cerritos
Philippine Navy personnel prepare aboard BRP Jose Rizal (FF150)
Photo courtesy of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Los Angeles Councilmember Ysabel Jurado of CD14 takes the oath of office, administered by labor activist Dolores Huerta, on Saturday, February 1 during a community swearing-in ceremony in at the Central Public Library in Downtown LA. Photos courtesy of Los Angeles Council District 14
Los Angeles Councilmember Ysabel Jurado of CD14 (center left) is joined by Dolores Huerta (left), LA Mayor Karen Bass (center), former Cerritos Mayor Mark Pulido (center right), LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia (2nd row, center), and members of the City Council and community leaders during Jurado’s swearing-in ceremony on Saturday, February 1.
Marcos washes hands of VP...
allowing it to be sent to the senate for trial. Among the allegations against the vice president are failure to properly account for the confidential funds granted to her office and conspiracy to assassinate marcos, first Lady Liza marcos and house speaker martin romualdez.
from this point on, I’m just a very interested observer. But again, I don’t appear, I will not be part of it, not – there will be no representation from the executive. Why should there be?” marcos said. marcos said he does not view the impeachment of Duterte as a defiance on the part of his house allies. he pointed out that the complaint against the vice president was filed not by his allies in the chamber but by other groups.
“I am sure that the parties that filed the impeachment cases felt strongly about it. And despite my importunings and expressing my opinion that we really – we’d rather not have the impeachment, they continued to do that,” the chief executive said.
“so, it’s not defiance. that’s their belief. they believed they had to do it even if I said, ‘I hope you don’t.’ ‘We cannot let this pass’ – that’s their thinking. so they pursued it… they’re expressing
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what they feel to be right.” marcos’ son, Ilocos Norte rep. sandro marcos, was the first signatory among the 215 house members who endorsed the impeachment complaint. the president revealed that his son had consulted him about the matter.
“I told congressman sandro, the process has already begun.’ so, it’s your duty now to support that process. so, do your duty.’ that’s what I told him. Do your duty. You have to support the process. You are constitutionally mandated to carry out that process. And you’re a congressman, so do your duty... I didn’t know he’ll be the first to sign though,” the chief executive said.
marcos noted that the house is a collegial body and as a member of the chamber, sandro has to perform his duty, regardless of his opinions.
Changing stance?
During a media interview in honolulu, hawaii in 2023, marcos said Duterte, who was still the education secretary then, does not deserve to be impeached. the vice president resigned from the marcos Cabinet last year.
Asked if he still holds the view given the recent developments, marcos replied: “It doesn’t matter what I think. there will – it will have to go through with the procedure. It will go to trial. And we will have the senator-judges and they will hear the case. the prosecutors will come from the house. there will be a defense panel and it will be filed.”
“It doesn’t matter what I think at this point. that was my opinion. that’s my opinion when I was asked that, none of these had happened yet... I have to keep reminding you... the executive has no formal role. If ever there’s an informal role. I talk to the speaker. I talk to congressmen. I talk to senators. I talk to sP (senate president). But that’s about it,” he added.
Special session
Pressed if he would call a special session so the impeachment trial of Duterte could proceed, marcos replied: “If the senators ask for it, yes.”
“Again, they are the ones who will decide... if the senate president calls me up on the telephone, ‘the senators, I talked to the senators and asked them if they can conduct a special session?’ sure. I will do it. But if they do not have such a request, that means they are doing other things. they are not yet ready,” he
I’M JUST A VERY INTERESTED OBSERVER. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he advised his son, Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos, to support the impeachment process, but that he himself is merely an observer. Philstar.com photo
added.
marcos said senators, who will act as judges during the impeachment trial, have not requested for a special session. the 19th Congress took a break last Wednesday, february 5 to give way for the campaign period of the 2025 midterm elections. It will resume session on June 2 and adjourn on June 14.
President marcos could call Congress for a special session to act on the impeachment complaints against Vice President Duterte, former senate president franklin Drilon said on thursday.
Drilon, a lawyer, said the senate must formally include the impeachment complaint in its agenda and, as part of its reference of Business,” refer the case to the impeachment court before any proceedings can begin.
“Calling Congress to a special session to tackle the impeachment complaint is the sole prerogative of the president, which cannot be questioned, not even by the supreme Court,” the legal expert explained. the 19th Congress has successfully fought against the “forces of darkness” and “push for the interest of the people,” speaker romualdez said on Wednesday night.
In his closing statement as Congress went into recess, romualdez said he is deeply honored and yet humbled to lead Congress during a transformative time.
“We pushed for the interest of the people. We fought against the forces of darkness. We did not retreat from disciple of evil,” romualdez said, apparently referring to the house’s decision to impeach Vice President Duterte without naming her. (With reports from cecille Suerte Felipe, Jose rodel clapano, Delon Porcalla)
Fil-Am leader pulls name from California governor race, backs Kamala Harris
CALIforNIA Attorney General rob Bonta has announced he won’t run to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom and will instead back former Vice President Kamala harris if she decides to run.
Newsom’s second and final term in office is ending early January 2027 and several California Democrats, including Bonta and harris, have been floated as Democratic candidates for governor in the 2026 elections.
harris has evaded questions about her political plans, but has been visible in her home state lately, posing for photos with Los Angeles firefighters after the devastating wildfires and appearing at the fireAid benefit concert.
the filipino American attorney general and former assemblyman told Politico Wednesday he would support harris if she decides to run for governor.
“Kamala harris would be a great governor,” Bonta said. “I would support her if she ran, I’ve always supported her in everything she’s done. she would be field-clearing.”
Bonta confirmed he considered running for governor but changed his mind after President Donald trump won a second term and felt a calling to lead California’s legal resistance to trump’s executive orders on immigration, gender, education and climate change.
Bonta became the first filAm member of the California
general in 2021.
his
Philippines, US defense chiefs discuss...
teodoro also congratulated hegseth on his recent appointment and expressed the Philippines’ commitment to working closely with the U.s. in advancing shared defense priorities. for his part, hegseth conveyed his optimism about the future of Philippines-U.s. defense relations as the two discussed ongoing collaborative efforts, future investments for increased deterrence and defense industry development, and agreed to further extend the alliance through the inclusion of like-minded partners in defense initiatives for greater impact.
Both officials also looked forward to future high-level meetings with the conversation ending with both officials “reaffirming their commitment to a great era of Philippines-U.s defense partnership and exploring other areas of cooperation to a secure and prosperous IndoPacific.”
In a readout, Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot said hegseth and teodoro held an introductory call Wednesday (U.s time), february 5. the leaders discussed the importance of reestablishing deterrence in the south China sea, including by working with allies and partners,” Ullyot said. “they also discussed enhancing the capability and capacity of the Armed forces of the Philippines.”
hegseth reaffirmed the U.s commitment to the 1951 mutual Defense treaty and its importance for maintaining a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific and pledged to remain in close coordination with teodoro.
two Chinese Coast Guard vessels spotted off Pangasinan province last weekend left the Philippine exclusive economic zone (eeZ).
the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said its BrP Cabra on monday shadowed Chinese Coast Guard vessels 3301 and 3104 “until their exit” from the Philippine eeZ.
on tuesday, february 4, teodoro expressed optimism that the defense agreements between the Philippines and the U.s. will not change even as the U.s state Department ordered an immediate stop to the flow of almost all U.s foreign assistance pending a review.
meanwhile in malacañang, President marcos said the PCG and the Navy would continue to perform their mission “no matter what any other foreign power does.”
marcos on thursday admitted that the Philippines does not have the capability to drive away the Chinese “monster ship” that has been prowling the waters off Zambales for a month, even as he vowed to continue asserting the country’s rights in the West Philippine sea.
“We don’t have the means to drive away. We could have done it if we had an aircraft carrier with a destroyer, frigate and submarine that we could send there to drive it away. But we do not have them,” marcos said in a press briefing.
“But our policy is that we will just continue to defend... our sovereign territory and our territorial rights in the eeZ,” he added.
marcos also said senatorial candidate and sagip party-list rep. rodante marcoleta was just trying to “grab headlines” when he claimed that there is no such a thing as “West Philippine sea.” More exercises eyed the Armed forces of the
Philippines (AfP) looks forward to having more combined exercises and other engagements with the United states, Japan and Australia following a high-level meeting with top military officials of the three nations in honolulu, hawaii last week.
Wednesday’s 6th multilateral maritime Cooperative Activity (mmCA) participated by the naval and air force assets and personnel of the same countries held in the West Philippine sea was also declared a success despite the monitored presence of at least two Chinese warships from a distance that did not interfere with the drills.
AfP public affairs office chief
Col. Xerxes trinidad said the 5th trilateral staff talks with the Japan self-Defense forces (JsDf) and United states Indo-Pacific Command (UsINDoPACom) and the 2nd multilateral staff talks (mst) with the Australian Defense force (ADf) were held in honolulu on Jan. 28 with the Philippine delegation headed by maj. Gen. rommel Cordova, deputy chief of staff for plans.
According to him, the discussions focused on enhancing regional security cooperation through information sharing, humanitarian assistance and disaster response exercises, and maritime security capacitybuilding.
trinidad said the mst also addressed security threats, mmCAs, women, peace and security, and strategic messaging, with plans to involve more likeminded forces in future iterations of the combined naval exercises. he noted that Wednesday’s mmCA, a key outcome of previous talks, has facilitated regular maritime activities, reinforcing a shared commitment to a rulesbased international order in the Indo-Pacific.
“Bilateral meetings with JsDf, ADf, and UsINDoPACom were also held, covering topics such as joint exercises, logistics cooperation, cyber collaboration, and bilateral defense agreements. these discussions aim to strengthen operational initiatives agreed upon in the trilateral and multilateral talks,” he added. specifically on the talks between the AfP and the JsDf, trinidad said both sides agreed to strengthen defense cooperation with Cordova engaging in discussions with maj. Gen. Nobutaka minamikawa, director general of the Japan Joint staff, on matters focused on regional security collaboration. he said discussions covered the implementation of the reciprocal Access Agreement, maritime security, information sharing, joint exercises, humanitarian assistance, strategic communication and countering malign influence.
“Both leaders emphasized the strategic importance of the Philippines in regional stability
and Japan’s commitment to deeper maritime security cooperation. (the) AfP and JsDf reaffirm their dedication to a free and open IndoPacific, upholding international law through enhanced defense collaboration,” trinidad said. the latest mmCA held south of Panatag (scarborough) shoal on Wednesday saw the AfP’s deployment of the BrP Jose rizal and Philippine Air force search and rescue assets. trinidad said partner nations also contributed significantly to the activity, with Australia deploying the hmAs hobart (DDG39) and P-8A Poseidon, Japan’s Js Akizuki (DD115), and the United states with the Uss Benfold (DDG65) and P-8A Poseidon. the mmCA featured a series of operational exercises designed to enhance coordination and interoperability among the participating forces including communication check exercises, maritime domain awareness and contact reporting, division tactics and officer of the watch maneuver, photo exercise and anti-submarine warfare exercises.
AfP chief Gen. romeo Brawner Jr. in a statement underscored the importance of the initiative, stating that the activity “demonstrates the strong cooperation and interoperability among our nations’ armed forces. Conducted in accordance with international law, the mmCA ensures safe navigation while respecting the rights and interests of all states.” he further emphasized that the mmCA reflects the shared commitment of the nations involved to uphold the principles of freedom of navigation, overflight, and other lawful uses of the sea and international airspace, as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the sea. this multilateral activity reaffirms the critical role of collaboration in ensuring peace, stability, and security in the IndoPacific region. It also strengthens the bonds among partner nations dedicated to upholding mutual prosperity and maintaining a rules-based international order,” he stressed.trinidad said the 6th mmCA, this year’s first under the new trump administration, “was successfully completed, achieving all planned objectives. throughout the exercise, the safety of all participating personnel and vessels was our utmost priority. established protocols were strictly adhered to, ensuring a safe and professional environment.” though People’s Liberation Army Navy warships were monitored operating at a distance, he said “they did not interfere with the mmCA. the exercise proceeded smoothly, and we are pleased with the positive outcomes and the cooperation shown by all participants.” (Michael Punongbayan, Pia Lee Brago and Alexis romero/Philstar.com)
state Assembly in 2012 and the first fil-Am to serve as attorney
Bonta was born in Quezon City.
parents migrated to the U.s after President marcos declared martial law in 1972. they became activists of the United farm Workers, co-founded by fil-Am labor leader and civic rights icon Larry Itliong. (inquirer.net)
The Philippines’ BRP Jose Rizal, United States’ USS Benfold, Australia’s warfare HMAS Hobart and Japan’s JS Akizuki sail in formation as the U.S. missile destroyer maneuvers ahead of the Philippine ship. Photo courtesy of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
With looming federal cuts, senior health care...
need to integrate all this with physical health, and for that you need not only funding but trust,” said Chung at a tuesday, february 4 panel on senior behavioral health held by Insure the Uninsured Project in sacramento. the pandemic only made these gaps starker.
“We all feel lonely sometimes. But when you don’t have anybody to call, things like where your next meal is coming from when you can’t go out to get groceries, can be the final straw,” Chung explained. “one senior came to us and said the most depressing thing for her was when her grandchild was born during the pandemic, and for two years she couldn’t see or hold the baby.” the rising use of telehealth appointments “doesn’t work well with seniors, especially those who don’t speak english and can’t tell the doctor what’s bothering them,” she added. “We had one senior who only used WeChat to talk with her family in China and here, and when that broke down, she kept crying until our It person fixed it. then she got very happy again. When little things become serious, we wonder ‘Where did this temper come from?’ for seniors, it’s always cooped up inside.” these stories are multiplying exponentially as California ages.
By 2030, for the first time in state history, adults aged 60 and over will comprise 25% of the population and outnumber those under 18.
over 9 million Californians are currently over age 60; by 2040, this number is projected to reach 11.4 million.
“there is an epidemic of older adult isolation, and it drives so many other problems, like homelessness for low-income seniors,” said sarah steenhausen, deputy director of policy, research and equity at the California Department of Aging, adding that the most common feedback she receives about this issue is older adult social isolation, cultural stigma around seeking help and fragmented access to services.
Now, funding cuts under the new administration are leaving California’s health leaders to wonder whether these services can survive at all.
A monday, January 27 executive order from President trump aiming to freeze a broad swath of federal funding programs was sued that tuesday by 22 Democratic state attorneys general, including
California’s rob Bonta. on friday, U.s. district court judge John mcConnell Jr. granted a temporary restraining order blocking the trump administration from freezing federal loans, grants and aid to 22 states, until mcConnell can hear the states’ request for a longerterm block. With this uncertain crisis of federal support, “We need to be funding change at the local level, and it can’t be one-size-fits-all,” said steenhausen. she cited as a success story Contra Costa County-based community organization Choice in Aging, which dramatically improved depression among local Afghan older women during the pandemic by holding cultural knitting circles where they could talk about the issues they faced while stuck at home.
In san francisco, already facing a $876 million deficit over the next two years, “all our aging departments were asked to do a minimum 15% cut, meaning our services will be cut,” said Chung. since trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship — now blocked by two federal judges — “We’ve seen ICe asking Chinatown employers for ID’s, so we’ve already begun partnering with nonprofit legal services to tell seniors their rights,” she continued. “If more cuts are coming under an administration that’s hostile to the people we represent, we have to rely more on community partners like these, or shut our services.”
however, “self-help for the elderly was not started waiting for the government to come into our community. We started based on the principle of selfdetermination,” Chung added. “If we don’t have something seniors need, we’ll find someone in the community to give it to them. We have to go back to why we started back in 1966: helping seniors live freely, not in institutions.”
“We’re driven by a preoccupation with responding to crises by getting people out of our field of vision — by the political urgency of people, many of them older adults, who are inconvenient to us, who we don’t want to see as a part of our public landscape,” said Dr. Luke Bergmann, director of behavioral health services for the san Diego County health and human services Agency. my dad died three years ago at age 90. he was a very esteemed professor of philosophy, and he developed spinal stenosis. his
health degraded rapidly because he wasn’t moving,” he continued. he couldn’t care for himself. his pension wasn’t enough. We had to deliberately destitute him of his assets to get him in the medicaremedicaid PACe program. that was the only way we could get him care, and it’s not an uncommon story.”
he added: “We’re stuck in a culturally driven loop of being obsessed with crisis, which prevents us from actually caring for people over the long-term … and that drives state policy.”
recent landmark examples of this include the 2022 CAre Act allowing petitioners to ask a court to create a court-ordered care plan for someone with an untreated severe mental illness like schizophrenia, and the 2024 senate Bill 43 expanding eligibility for state conservatorship to include people unable to provide for personal safety or necessary medical care, in addition to food, clothing or shelter — the first update to California’s conservatorship law in 50 years.
“When we address mental health, we need to address physical health as well, especially for seniors who disproportionately suffer co-morbid chronic illnesses,” Bergmann said.
of san Diego County’s 31,000 long-term care beds, only 225 are occupied by people served through Bergmann’s behavioral health specialty care system — largely due to steep costs and, now, looming federal public health cuts.
“more than anything, our department is building up capacity for long-term residential elderly care. the continuum of care gap is unconscionable when the average price is $8,000 a month,” he said.
“A big part of the $1.2 billion budget I run in san Diego relies on block grant funding,” Bergmann continued. “I’m substantially worried about the cuts. But I’m more worried for those who don’t live in California. here, we’re fortunate to have political actors who have committed to firewall California as much as possible.”
“the only way that I think we can remediate this deprivation of investment in behavioral health is to think about it as a culture change,” he added. “We’re fighting to help the expression of agency over an ever-longer time for people. We’re giving them space to build their own life.” (Selen ozturk/Ethnic Media Services)
California housing officials recommend state protect renters
CItING the hundreds of lives lost to extreme heat each year, California state housing officials are urging lawmakers to set residential cooling standards long opposed by landlords and builders who fear such a measure would force them to make big-ticket upgrades.
In a 60-page report sent monday, february 3 to the legislature, the California Department of housing and Community Development recommended lawmakers set a maximum safe indoor air temperature of 82 degrees fahrenheit for the Golden state’s estimated 14.6 million residential dwelling units. this is a big deal,” said C.J. Gabbe, an associate professor of environmental studies at santa Clara University. “We’re seeing more and more concerns about the increase in heat-related morbidity and mortality in California, which is leading to these kinds of maximum indoor temperature guidelines.”
If the housing proposal is adopted, California could have the most comprehensive requirements in the nation, Gabbe said. some local jurisdictions, including Phoenix, Dallas, and New orleans, have set their own standards, and the city and county of Los Angeles are exploring their own protections.
Last year was the planet’s warmest on record, and extreme weather is becoming more frequent and severe, according to the National oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. even though most heat deaths and illnesses are preventable, about 1,220 people in the United states are killed by extreme heat every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. heat stress can cause heatstroke, cardiac arrest, and kidney failure, and it’s especially harmful to the very young and the elderly. state law protects renters in the winter by requiring all rental residential dwelling units to include functioning heating equipment that can keep the indoor temperature at a minimum of 70 degrees, but there is no similar standard giving renters the right to cooling. the release of this report is a key milestone, but it’s just the first
step of a long road, vulnerable to legislative politics and an influential housing industry that has successfully delayed similar proposals in the past. In 2022, state lawmakers directed the housing department to issue cooling recommendations after proposed legislation stalled when landlords, real estate agents, and builders raised concerns such a standard would be cost-prohibitive. those concerns remain. many California rental units are older homes, sometimes 90 to 100 years old, and installing air conditioning would require expensive changes, including upgrading the electrical system, said Daniel Yukelson, Ceo of the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles.
“these types of government mandates, absent some kind of financing or significant tax breaks, would really put a lot of smaller owners out of business,” said Yukelson, who added that he’s concerned it would lead to housing getting bought by large corporations that would spike rent
prices. the report recommends lawmakers provide incentive programs for owners to retrofit residential units so the cost isn’t passed along to renters. It also suggested a variety of strategies that could be deployed to keep homes cool: central air conditioning, window units, window shading, fans, and evaporative room coolers. for new construction, housing officials suggested new standards incorporating designs to keep indoor temperatures from topping 82 degrees, such as cool roofs and cool walls designed to reflect sunlight, or landscaping to provide shade.
Whether the legislature will take up the housing department’s recommendations is unclear. spokespeople for Democratic Assembly speaker robert rivas and sen. henry stern, Democrats who co-authored the 2022 cooling standard bill, declined to comment.
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OpiniOn Features
Impartial judges
EvEn before examining the Articles of Impeachment, several senators have announced that they will oppose the ouster of vice President Sara Duterte by the impeachment court. The statements have led to suggestions that such senators should inhibit themselves from the impeachment trial.
While impeachment is mainly a political numbers game at the house of representatives, the trial must be impartial and judgment based on solid evidence. Like congressmen, senators are politicians, but their political alliances must take a back seat to the national interest. they are on the public payroll and they are sworn to serve the people with honesty and integrity – issues that are at stake in the Articles of Impeachment brought against the second highest official of the land. Impeachment is always disruptive to national life, which makes it all the more important to ensure that the process is credible. Conviction by an impeachment court will permanently bar the vice president from public office. this will eliminate her as a candidate for president in 2028 – something that she has said she is seriously considering. senators, who will be sitting as judges, bear a greater burden than congressmen of showing fairness and impartiality in the impeachment
As usual, there are those unscrupulous, opportunistic people engaged in the law profession who are coming forward pretending to be dogooders 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 roosevelt said during his first inaugural address: “the only thing we have to fear is fear
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 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
Editorial
process. this burden goes both ways, for both the supporters and opponents of the ouster of the vice president. the last thing supporters of the impeachment should want is to reinforce perceptions that her ouster is being railroaded.
With the impeachment process under way, President ferdinand marcos Jr., who originally came out strongly against the move, is now keeping his distance from what he has described as an act of a co-equal and independent branch of government. his son and cousin are for the impeachment while his elder sister has openly vowed to fight it. on thursday, february 6, the president said amid his repeated denials of involvement in the impeachment: “I’m just a very interested observer.”
even if the president has no role in the impeachment trial, he is making an effort to show impartiality. It would be prudent for senators to maintain the same stance. (Philstar.com)
We are committed to help Filipinos within legal parameters
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 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 large-scale deportation of undocumented filipino 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 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 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 United states.
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 three pillars of our foreign policy is the protection of the rights and the promotion of the welfare and interests of filipinos 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
Trump’s limits on birthrights bad for PH
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 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 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 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 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
ManilaTimes.net photo
U.S. President Donald Trump White
Dateline philippines
Sara: ‘God Save the Philippines’
by red Mendoza ManilaTimes.net
fACING an impeachment trial at the senate, Vice President sara Duterte said on friday, february 7 said the only message she could tell the people is, "God save the Philippines." speaking to reporters two days after 215 members of the house of representatives signed the impeachment complaint and sent it to the senate, Duterte also said she has no intention of resigning the vice presidency.
sa kabila ng lahat ng aking mga naging pahayag ukol sa planong impeachment sa mga nakaraang buwan, ang tanging masasabi ko na lamang sa puntong ito ay: God save the Philippines (Despite all my statements about impeachment in the past months, the only thing that i can say at this point is: God Save The Philippines)," she said. Duterte said she does not feel any resentment for the congressmen who voted for the impeachment complaint, especially those who she considered as political allies.
"Do I feel betrayed? Actually, wala akong feelings. Wala akong feelings about it, I don't move in the circle of politicians. friends, yes. But to say that I have a close personal relationship with them, none," Duterte said.
she said she is not open to resigning as vice president to pave the way for her running for the presidency in the 2025 elections.
"It's' too far to think about these things. We are not yet approaching because the lawyers are working. I do not know what they are doing," Duterte said.
she added that she wants to look first at how she fares in the opinion surveys in the next few years. she said that since the announcement of the impeachment, many lawyers have volunteered to join her defense counsel during the impeachment trial.
Asked if her father, former President rodrigo Duterte, will participate in the trial, Duterte said that while he is allowed to render an appearance, she may not allow him to be the lead counsel due to his poor health.
Duterte dissuaded her supporters from taking to the streets to protest her impeachment, urging them
instead to speak their mind on social media. she said she believes the country has lagged behind its neighbors because of neverending political bickering.
"We are so pathetic inside, and we are in an embarrassing state if we set ourselves in a global stage where we are being seen by other races and other countries," Duterte said.
house secretary General reginald Velasco said on friday 25 more lawmakers have submitted their verification forms as complainants in the impeachment case against Duterte.
If the senate, who will convene as the impeachment court, allows the inclusion of the additional signatures, it will bring the number of congressmen favoring impeachment to 240, or 80 percent of the house's 306 members.
Velasco said the 25 lawmakers, who were unable to attend the oath-taking and verification of the complaint due to commitments abroad or in their districts, had sent their verifications to the house to formalize their support. the lawmakers who want their signatures included in the complaint are Biñan's marlyn Alonte, Cagayan's ramon Nolasco Jr., Isabela's tonypet Albano, Lanao del Norte's mohamad Khalid Dimaporo, Leyte's Carl Nicolas Cari, masbate's richard Kho, olga Kho, and Wilton Kho, Negros occidental's emilio Bernardino Yulo, Quirino's midy Cua, sultan Kudarat's Princess rihan sakaluran, and Pangasinan's ramon Guico Jr., all members of the ruling Lakas-CmD party.
those who already signed the complaint include Ako Bicol rep. Zaldy Co, Pangasinan's Arthur Celeste (Nacionalista Party), Cavite's Adrian Jay Advincula (National Unity Party), tarlac's Noel rivera (Nationalist People's Coalition) and Christian tell Yap (samasama tarlac), oriental mindoro's Alfonso Umali Jr. (Liberal Party), Ako Bisaya rep. sonny Lagon, GP rep. Jose Gay Padiernos, Ako Ilocano Ako (AIA) rep. richelle singson, Kabayan rep. ron salo, sagip rep. Caroline tanchay, Abono rep. robert raymund estrella, and ACt-CIs rep. edvic Yap. If convicted in the senate trial, Duterte would be barred from
Sen. Imee Marcos rejects VP impeachment, wants focus on more pressing issues
by charie abarca Inquirer.net
mANILA — sen. Imee marcos on thursday, february 6 reiterated her disapproval of the impeachment proceedings against Vice President sara Duterte.
In a statement, she said instead of focusing on issues that “[do] not help the people,” the government should focus on legitimate problems endured by filipinos, such as unemployment, rising prices of commodities, and the lack of support for farmers, persons with disabilities, seniors, and other sectors.
“Impeachment ba at destabilisasyon ang solusyon? hindi ito ang sagot sa mga hamon na ating kinakaharap. Nakakahiya!”said marcos. (is impeachment and destabilization the solution? These are not the answers to the difficulties we are facing. It’s shameful.)
“sa halip, dapat nating harapin nang sama-sama ang mga tunay na suliranin ng bayan. Bigyan natin ng prayoridad ang pagtugon sa paghihirap ng mga mahihirap, upang mapawi ang kanilang pagtitiis at makamit ang tunay na pagbabago,” she added.
running for future public office, something that could be avoided should she step down in advance.
Duterte on Wednesday, february 5, was impeached for "violation of the constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, and other high crimes."
Accusations spelled out in the 44-page document include an alleged plot to assassinate President ferdinand marcos, first Lady Liza marcos and house speaker martin romualdez, a marcos cousin.
on friday, Duterte once again said comments taken from an expletive-filled speech where she claimed herself to be the subject of a plot had been taken out of context.
"I didn't make an assassination threat to the president. they are the only ones saying that," she said.
A day earlier, President marcos said he had played no role in Duterte's impeachment process.
"there is an implication that somehow I am giving them (Congress) orders. that is not the case at all. We are independent of each other," he told reporters.
"You give me too much credit."
escudero has said Duterte's trial will probably not begin until after the may 12 elections — or finish before the next Congress takes over in July. (With reports from Agence France-Presse)
California housing officials recommend...
Californians largely stand behind the idea, according to a 2023 poll from the University of California-Berkeley Institute of Governmental studies and cosponsored by the Los Angeles times. sixty-seven percent of voters said they supported the concept of the state establishing cooling standards for residential properties.
As temperatures rise and heat waves become longer and more intense, the report cautions, deaths in California could rise
to 11,300 a year by 2050. And deaths from all causes “may be up to 10% higher on hot nights compared with nights without elevated temperatures,” according to a february presentation by the Los Angeles County Department of Public health. that’s because it can be particularly dangerous when people can’t cool off at night during extended heat waves, said David Konisky, a professor of environmental policy at Indiana University.
“When you can’t count on
(We should instead stand united in facing the real problems of the country. Let us address the miseries of the poor, alleviate their suffering and attain real reforms.) meanwhile, senate President francis escudero addressed sen. marcos’ remarks in a Kapihan sa Senado forum also on thursday. the senate chief said he respects the lady senator’s stand given that she is a reelectionist, but he also noted that the impeachment is a reality and a fact that the chamber needs to face.
“Whether we like it or else, nasa amin na yun at meron kaming trabaho, a constitutional duty na gampanan ito,” said escudero. (it is already with us. and we have a constitutional duty to act on it.)
“Ang panawagan ko at sisikapin ko, tiyakin na ito ay magiging patas, parehas, naaayon sa batas, walang kinikilingan, at walang pinapaboran. higit sa resulta, ang importante ay ang kapanipaniwala at may kredibilidad na proseso. Yun ang aming tutukan at bibigyan ng pansin,” he added. (We will strive to be fair, lawful, and impartial. More than the results, what is important is a credible process. That is what we will focus on.) n
MORE QUESTIONS. Reporters hound Vice President Sara Duterte (right) during her press conference at her office in Mandaluyong City on Friday, February 7. Duterte is facing an impeachment complaint endorsed by the House of Representatives. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc
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
Catriona Gray Photos from Instagram/@catriona_gray, TikTokt/@teamaaguas
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.
with ConGen Mangalile, Fil-Am Press Club of New York
AS President Donald Trump pushes forward with his mass
and deportation agenda, “Citizen Pinoy” presents the
of its
Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel joins Consul General Senen Mangalile of the Philippine Consulate General in
Twenty years after, Nina’s self-titled album still resonates with listeners
by jessicA Ann evAngelistA Inquirer.net
SINGER Nina reflected on the continuous impact of her 2005 hit album “Nina Live!” as she also shared her excitement about her new role as a judge in the singing competition “Sing Galing.” With her wide vocal range, Nina was easily one of the most popular and sought-after singers of the early 2000s after breaking into the R&B scene, especially after releasing her self-titled album, becoming one of the best selling recording artists in the country.
In a recent interview with INQUIRER.net, the “Diamond Soul Siren” expressed gratitude for how her 20-year-old album is still gaining traction to this day, especially in the era of social media.
“Nakakataba ng puso kasi from generation to generation, relevant pa rin ‘yung songs ko. I thank the parents for doing that, kasi baka nung bata sila
pinapakinggan ng parents tapos napass on, at least nalaman ng mga kabataan, kilala pa rin nila ako and my songs,” she said. (It’s heartwarming that my songs remained relevant from generation to generation. I thank the parents for doing that, because they might have been listening to those songs then passed that on
to their kids. At least the youth are aware of me, and my songs.) Nina also said that from her “Nina Live” album, her cover of the Julia Fordham original, “Love Moves in Mysterious Ways,” and Chaka Khan’s “Through the Fire” are her personal favorites. She shared that recording the
Sandara returns to PH as host of talent survival show
SANDARA Park, known affectionately as Dara of K-Pop girl group 2NE1, returns to the Philippines to host "Be The Next: 9 Dreamers," the newest talent survival show premiering on Feb. 8 on TV5. In a media conference, Park expressed her excitement about reconnecting with her "second home" and taking on the role of main host for the first time.
"I'm really excited and nervous at the same time because it's a new challenge for me. I've done a lot on stage — acting, doing a musical show — but this is my first time being the main host. So I'm really excited. I don't know how I'll do because, you know, 'krung krung' ako (I'm quirky)," Park enthused.
"But although I'm not a mentor, I'll be like an older sister to them and a friend. If they cry, I can be there to help them and remind them that they can do it," she continued. Despite her jam-packed schedule — including 2NE1's ongoing "Welcome Back" tour and solo projects — Park is still determined to give her best.
"No more friends for now, no alcohol, no rest, no vacation, just focus. I'm really focusing on my work. If I have time, of course I go to massage. It's still important to stay healthy so I can do all the schedules in my best condition," shared the 40-year-old global
star. The show, produced by TV5 and MLD Entertainment PH, brings together 75 aspirants selected from global auditions in 2024. These contestants will compete for nine coveted spots in a new boy group, undergoing rigorous training under the guidance of a stellar panel of mentors.
The mentors include AB6IX's Park Woojin, Bang Ye-dam, Hori7on's Vinci, Hyebin (formerly of Momoland), choreographer Bae Wan Hee, producer Bullseye and Exo's Chen. These mentors bring a wealth of experience to the show, each
with unique perspectives on what makes an ideal idol.
One of them, Bae Wan Hee emphasized the importance of hard work saying, "It will be very tough to choose, but for me, I would like to see how hard and diligent they work."
For Vinci, leader of P-Pop group Hori7on, confidence is the key.
"I am very honored to be part of a very unreal panel of mentors because Hori7on is very new to the industry so it's a big responsibility for me. But as a young artist myself, I think I also have insight on how to navigate towards their dreams. I hope I can give insights on how I navigated through mine," Vinci said.
"I think it's very useful to be using my leadership skills kasi I can also look at my trainees as my members as well and see how they can do well as a group as well. As for the qualities I look for, I think members with confidence and passion show through their performances," he added.
Bullseye highlighted the balance between talent and visual appeal, saying, "The first thing I would look at is the tone of their voice. Second will be the visuals because K-Pop and P-Pop is not only just for the singing; visuals also play a very important role." (ManilaTimes.net)
Meet Marvel’s first Filipina superhero in new Spider-Man series
by gAvin MArtinez Inquirer.net
A FILIPINA superhero is about to make a splash in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)! “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man,” which premiered last week on Disney+, is not just bringing us more of Peter Parker’s high school struggles and web-slinging action as it
also introducing “Wave,” the first-ever Filipina superhero to hit Marvel’s TV screens. While Filipino representation in Marvel isn’t entirely new, Pearl Pangan – aka Wave –might just be the most exciting addition yet. Created by writer Greg Pak and Filipino artist Leinil Francis Yu, she is a hero with a deep love for the water (literally). Born and raised in Mactan,
Urgent immigration issues under Trump in...
immigration policies in Trump’s new administration. With fear and uncertainty rising among undocumented Filipinos, this discussion provides muchneeded clarity and guidance. This episode examines crucial topics such as what constitutes illegal entry, potential changes to family-based petitions, and the impact of Trump’s stance on H-1B visas. The panel also discusses ICE procedures— specifically whether detained Filipinos are legally entitled to Consulate notification—and what kababayans should keep in mind as they navigate the next four years. The case of journalist Jose Antonio Vargas, who went from being undocumented to securing legal status, is also explored for lessons that others might apply.
Atty. Gurfinkel and ConGen Mangalile respond to tough questions from FAPCNY members, including Momar Visaya, Don Tagala, Marivir Montebon, Lindy Rosales and Marilyn Abalos. The Philippine Consulate reassures
Atty. Gurfinkel with ConGen Mangalile
Lindy Rosales, Don Tagala, Momar Visaya, Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel, Philippine Consul General to New York Senen Mangalile, Marilyn Abalos, and Marivir Montebon.
Sandara Park Photo from TV5
Nina Girado Photo from Inquirer.net/Jessica Ann Evangelista
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s survivorship portal gives researchers free and unparalleled data analysis
data platform incorporates clinical and genomic information from thousands of cancer
SCIENTISTS from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital have announced the first data portal for sharing and analyzing pediatric cancer survivorship data. The portal integrates data involving whole genomic sequencing, treatment exposure and outcomes — creating an unprecedented research system that houses 400 million genetic variants from over 7,700 childhood cancer survivors.
The portal is free to use and open access as a part of the St. Jude Cloud ecosystem. Research at St. Jude has been instrumental in increasing childhood cancer survival rates over the past 61 years, and today approximately 85 percent of childhood cancer patients in the U.S. are successfully treated and alive five years post-diagnosis.
This growing population of survivors is at risk of developing a wide range of adverse health effects that can be linked back to their cancer or its treatment. Such outcomes include premature mortality, organ dysfunction, secondary cancers and psychosocial challenges, among others. By studying this unique population of childhood cancer survivors, investigators can gain insight into how to best tailor therapy up-front and provide screening and support later in life to avoid adverse outcomes.
“With the portal, with just one click, you can make new discoveries,” said co-corresponding author Jinghui Zhang, PhD, St. Jude Department of Computational Biology. “In the past, people would spend weeks downloading, analyzing, organizing and summarizing data into figures — now you can do all that in just minutes.”
Some new findings from the data in the Portal include:
• Platinum chemotherapy has been used for decades to treat cancer and is known to cause
hearing damage, but the data in the portal were able to show that not all types cause the same amount of damage.
• Gene mutations are associated with placing cancer survivors of African ancestry at greater risk for developing heart disease later in life.
• A novel association was discovered between mental health, age and limb amputation. Receiving an amputation at an older age (teenage compared to earlier childhood) is associated with increased resilience against poor mental health.
“There are half-a-billion clinical data points in the portal, hundreds of terabytes of genetic data supported by dynamic and interactive visualization analysis,” said Xin Zhou, PhD, St. Jude Department of Computational Biology.
“We aren’t just sharing data,” said Yutaka Yasui, PhD, St. Jude Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control. “We are facilitating the analysis and visualization of data and making it free to anyone — that’s a tremendous resource for the cancer survivorship community.”
About 15,000 children are diagnosed with pediatric cancer each year in the United States. The most common childhood cancers include leukemia, lymphoma, and brain tumors. However, there are over 100 different types of cancers that occur in children.
Danny Thomas, the son of immigrant Lebanese parents, founded St. Jude in Memphis in 1962 to care for some of the world’s sickest children regardless of their race, ethnicity, beliefs or ability to pay. In October, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital was recognized as one of the top 10 pediatric cancer hospitals for the 17th straight year by U.S. News & World Report. (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Release)
Pechanga Resort Casino celebrates Lunar New Year with Lion Dance ceremony, drawings; wishes
everyone a prosperous Year of
JOIN Pechanga Casino Resort in celebrating 2025, the Year of the Snake! Enjoy the festivities and programs designed to spread joy and good fortune to everyone.
Lunar New Year Lucky Lion Dancers
Pechanga Resort Casino presented a splendid Lucky Lion Dancer performance on Saturday, February 1. The Lion Dancers, which symbolize auspiciousness and good luck, began their performance at the Pechanga north entrance and wound their way into the casino and through the casino floor. Guests received lucky red envelopes to give to the Lion Dancers for well wishes for a wonderful year ahead.
$125,000 in cash and EasyPlay drawings
Pechanga Club members can earn entries to win the cash windfall by playing their favorite slots or table games each day from now for a chance to win big! Guests’ number of entries can be multiplied according to their Club tier level. Multiple winners will be drawn on Friday, February 14 to receive EasyPlay. One lucky winner will be drawn at random for the ultimate cash prize of $100,000. Discover the thrill of possibility in winning multiple times.
$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 property
décor
The Lunar New Year festival
the Snake
symbolizes the fresh start of a new year, a renewal of everything. In celebration of the Year of the Snake, starting from midJanuary for a month, Pechanga has decorated 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. For more information on
Pechanga events and promotions, please call (877) 711-2946 or visit its website, www.Pechanga.com. Must be at least 21 years of age to participate in promotions. Pechanga Resort Casino offers one of the largest and most expansive resort/casino experiences anywhere in the United States. Voted best casino/ resort in the
Marvin Agustin answers ‘TOTGA’ question about Jolina Magdangal
entire album was still vivid on her mind after all these years.
by Kristofer Purnell Philstar.com
ACTOR-chef Marvin Agustin humorously stammered as he answered whether his love team partner Jolina Magdangal was his “the one that 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.”
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.
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.
“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.
“I still remember very much recording that album. Kasi galing pako sa ASAP taping non Tapos I remember parang magkakasakit ako tapos inabot kami ng madaling araw. And yung bar na ‘yon sarado na siya ngayon,” shared the soulful singer. In 2005, “Nina Live!” debuted number one on the Philippine Top 10 Albums chart. After a week of commercial release, the album reached gold status by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI) and was certified platinum after three weeks. It is considered to be the biggest-selling album by a female artist in the Philippines, certifying 10× Platinum (Diamond) by the PARI.
Given her continued relevance and experience as a singer, Nina has been recently announced as one of the new judges of the upcoming season of “Sing Galing.”
Syempre tuwang tuwa to be
chosen as a judge, I get to share my knowledge of what I know as a singer. It was really fun. You get to watch the celebrities na hindi mo alam na magaling or marunong pala kumanta. So nakaka surprise siya and masaya since relax lang ‘yung feel sa pagiging jukebox boss,” she said. When asked what kind of judge she thinks she is going to be considering it’s her first time to tackle such role, Nina underscored that she will be more gentle to her team.
Strikto ako sa sarili ko pero baka hindi ko naman iapply sa kanila Siguro baka sweet na istrikto Hindi naman to criticize how they sing, siguro ‘yung kailangan lang iimpove,” she said.
“Okay lang sakin kung biretera o hindi as long as kapag kinakanta nila ‘yung song naiintindihan nila kung ano ‘yung kinakanta nila Hindi ‘yung basta kakanta lang sila,” added the singer. The OPM artist also extended a word of advice to young aspiring singers, emphasizing
the importance of staying humble.
“Siguro doon sa mga gusto talaga maging singer, just pursue your dreams. And if they want to stay up there, huwag nila pabayaan ‘yung boses nila alagaan nila. And of course, always be humble; just stay grounded. Huwag ipasok ‘yung fame sa ulo,” she said.
Nina, who was set to have her Pre-Valentines concert “Love Matters” on Feb. 7 at the New Frontier Theater as well as her Australia tour “Nina Live!” then reflected on her overall journey as a singer.
“So far, it has been a really beautiful journey. I have my fair share of ups and downs. Syempre hindi naman mawawala ‘yon and I’m really grateful for those times na nagkaroon ng konting sadness, kasi it will lead you to your happiness, like in the present. Lahat ng pinagdaanan ko sobra akong proud doon. I’ve learned a lot of lessons along the way,” she explained.
“Sing Galing” premieres in March on TV5.
Marvin Agustin and Jolina Magdangal reunite on the big screen in ‘Ex Ex Lovers’. Photo courtesy of Project 8 Projects
The duty to provide complete and accurate financial disclosure in a California divorce
COUPLES that are going through the divorce process in California should understand that the Family Code and the Family Courts requires that they provide complete and accurate disclosure to the other spouse. The financial disclosures are taken seriously by the Courts and failure to disclose could have serious consequences for the non-disclosing party in a divorce case. The parties are required to prepare and exchange preliminary declaration of disclosure which includes and fl142 schedule of assets and debts, fl-150 income and expense declaration, 2 years tax return, a statement of all material facts and information regarding the valuation of all assets that are community property or in which the community has an interest, a statement of all material facts and information regarding obligations for which the community is liable, and an accurate and complete written disclosure of any investment opportunity, business opportunity, or other incomeproducing opportunity presented since the date of separation that results from any investment, significant business, or other income-producing opportunity from the date of marriage to the date of separation. If the case does not settle and proceeds to trial, the parties would have to exchange final declaration of disclosure which consists of the above information with the characterization of the assets and debts whether community or separate and the valuation of those items.
Family Code Section 2100 states that “[a] full and accurate disclosure of all assets and liabilities in which one or both parties have or may have an interest must be made in the early stages of a proceeding for dissolution of marriage or legal separation of the parties.” This disclosure must be made regardless of the characterization
of the assets and liabilities as community or separate property.
Family Code Section 1100 defines disclosure as “the act of providing information to the other party or to the court.” Disclosure can be made in a variety of ways, including through the exchange of financial documents, such as tax returns and bank statements, or through written declarations.
Family Code Section 721 states that “[e]ach party to a proceeding for dissolution of marriage or legal separation has a duty to make full and accurate disclosure of all financial information and material facts.” This duty includes disclosing information about all assets and liabilities, as well as information about income and expenses.
The duty of disclosure is important for several reasons.
First, it allows each spouse to have a full understanding of the marital estate before they enter into negotiations, settlement, or go to trial. This helps to ensure that the division of property and debts is fair and equitable.
Second, the duty of disclosure helps to reduce the likelihood of fraud and concealment of assets.
If a spouse fails to disclose all of their assets or liabilities, the other spouse may be able to set aside the divorce judgment.
Finally, the duty of disclosure helps to promote the public policy of California, which favors the speedy and efficient resolution of divorce cases.
If a spouse fails to comply with their duty of disclosure, they may face a number of penalties. The court may order the spouse to pay the other spouse’s attorney’s fees and costs. The court may also order the spouse to disclose the hidden assets or liabilities and award the non-disclosed asset to the other spouse. In some cases, the court may even set aside the divorce judgment.
The best way to comply with the duty of disclosure is to be honest and forthright with your spouse and with the court. Gather all of your financial documents and review them carefully. If you have any questions about what to disclose, consult with an experienced divorce attorney.
Here are some specific tips for complying with the duty of disclosure:
1. Disclose all assets and
liabilities, regardless of the characterization as community or separate property.
2. Disclose all income and expenses, including income from employment, investments, and businesses.
3. Disclose all debts, including credit card debt, student loans, and mortgages.
4. Disclose all gifts and inheritances received during the marriage.
5. Disclose all business interests, including partnerships, corporations, and limited liability companies.
6. Disclose all information about any income-producing opportunities that arose after the date of separation but that resulted from any investment made during the marriage.
If your divorce entails significant assets such as a business interests, real estate holdings, retirement plans, inheritance, it is important to seek the guidance of an experienced family law attorney to help you navigate through your case.
* * * Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APC This article is not a solicitation.
* * *
Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist with extensive trial experience. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He was a former CPA prior to law practice. He is Managing Partner of the LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APC and Managing Partner of REYES CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC. located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@kenreyeslaw. com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw. com. (Advertising Supplement)
Fixing our eyes on Jesus and His teachings
Pastor’s Notes
reverend rodel G. BAlAGtAs
DEAR Parish Family, Last Tuesday’s (February 4) First Reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Hebrews caught my attention. St. Paul urges us “to rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and to persevere in running the race that lies before us, while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus.” Indeed, in light of the troubling issues facing our world and society— such as the ongoing wars between Russia and Ukraine and between Gaza and Israel, the disheartening immigration challenges in the U.S., the rising prices of commodities, the natural disasters like the recent wildfires in Los Angeles, the plane crash in Washington D.C. that claimed 67 lives including those of teenage skaters, and the persistent divisions in politics within our nation and across the globe— we must persevere in “running the race while keeping our eyes on Jesus.” For us Christians, it is our relationship with Jesus and His teachings that inspire us. Our faith in Him is what grants us hope. Pope Francis highlights this by choosing the theme of “Pilgrims of Hope” for this Jubilee Year, calling all Catholics to renew their hope in Christ, with St. Paul the Apostle as a guide during this special year.
“Everyone knows what it is
to hope,” said Pope Francis.
“In the heart of each person, hope dwells as the desire and expectation of good things to come, despite our not knowing what the future may bring. Even so, uncertainty about the future may at times give rise to conflicting feelings, ranging from confident trust to apprehensiveness, from serenity to anxiety, and from firm conviction to hesitation and doubt. Often, we encounter people who are discouraged, pessimistic, and cynical about the future, as if nothing could possibly bring them happiness. May the Jubilee be an opportunity for all of us to be renewed in hope. God’s word helps us find reasons for that hope. Taking it as our guide, let us return to the message that St. Paul wished to communicate to the Christians of Rome,” continued the Pope.
Pope Francis refers us to the words of St. Paul in Romans 5:12.5:
“Since we are justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing in the glory of God… Hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”
The Holy Father’s Jubilee message connects beautifully with the Gospel Reading for this Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, where Jesus urges His disciples to put out into deep water and lower their nets for a catch, despite their complaints that they have worked hard and
caught nothing. Jesus wanted them to trust in Him, to keep working diligently, and to fix their eyes on Him and the mission He set before them. It is only through this trust that they will truly live in hope.
Our hope lies in our fidelity to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Church’s teachings. In today’s socio-political climate, our hope as Catholics is anchored in our belief in and adherence to the Church’s social teachings:
- Each person is sacred, created in God’s image and equal in dignity.
- Each person is social, called to participate in family and community.
- All people have rights and responsibilities: the right to life and its necessities, and the responsibility to respect the rights of others and work for the common good.
- We care for the poor and vulnerable before all else.
- Workers have rights. Work has dignity. We are partners in God’s creation.
- Solidarity is our call; we are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers.
- We care for creation and recognize our interdependence with all that God has made. May we never lose our hope in God and humanity. 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.
Meet Marvel’s first Filipina superhero...
then, she has been a celebrated figure among Filipino Marvel enthusiasts.
Now, with her transition from comics to animation, her presence is expected to resonate even more, especially with Filipino audiences worldwide.
Wave’s biography
Growing up by the beach, Pearl was practically a fish out of water – according to her lolo (Tagalog for grandfather), she could swim before she could walk.
Her speed in the water was unmatched, and her love for the ocean ran deep. But her journey to becoming a superhero took an unexpected turn.
While working at Mactan Fry King, she was approached by Alontek, a company conducting a study on swimmers. The opportunity seemed too good to pass up – she got paid well just to swim.
But things went south when the lab was suddenly attacked. As she fought back, Pearl discovered she could
manipulate water – lifting waves, firing water blasts from her fists and even sensing changes in temperature.
Here’s the plot twist: The attackers were Triumph Division, a secret group of superheroes defending the Philippines, and Pearl had unknowingly been working for the bad guys.
With Marvel expanding its roster of heroes, it’s about time Filipinos got a superhero who truly represents the Philippines.
My P.E.P. (People, Events,Places)
Demi Moore predicted to be Oscar’s best actress
DEMI Moore has been one of my favorite actresses since I saw her in the romance-thriller 1990 film “Ghost,” also starring Whoopi Goldberg and Patrick Swayze. In the film “The Substance,” she won at the Golden Globes this year as best actress. I am hoping and praying Demi will capture the Oscar’s best actress accolade this year.
* * * Foremost Filipino glass sculptor Ramon Gahol Orlina celebrated his 81st birthday recently at Two Roxas Triangle in Makati City.
* * * 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 (the second batch) are as follows:
Noted actress Evelyn VargasKnaebel, who is Switzerlandbased: (1) “To answer your question on love, let me share the message of my husband when he was courting me overseas. According to Kahlil Gibran, love gives naught but itself and takes naught from itself, love possesses and not it would be possessed for love is sufficient unto love. When you love you should not say, ‘God is in my heart,’ but rather, ‘I am in the heart of God.’ And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course. Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself. But if you love and must need to have desires, let these be your desires: to melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night; to know the pain of too much tenderness; to be wounds by your own understanding of love and to bleed willingly and joyfully; to wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving; to rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstacy; to return home at eventide with gratitude; and
then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.”; (2) “He courted me for two years. But it was not easy for me since it was the height of my career as a theater and film artist. Finally, he proposed and sent me another quote of Kahlil Gibran on marriage. He was former festival artistic director of Fribourg International Film Festival for 15 years. We met in the Hawaii International Film Festival and I never wanted to uproot myself but we both found love and respect that we decided to be wed. In 1997 after the Cannes Film Festival, we were married. There were many adjustments but we are happy to face any challenges that come our way. Thanks and praise God for His guidance, love and compassion!”
2nd Southeast Asian Premier Business and Remarkable Achiever awardee and Better Boneless Chicken and Beyond entrepreneur Cheska Bansil Costes, who is married to Mac Costes, and they have two kids Clay and Caly: (1) “For me, love is about passion, dedication, and unconditional support. It’s the driving force that motivates me to work hard, overcome challenges, and make sacrifices for the people and things that matter most.”; (2) “I am in love with my family and my passion (my business). My family is my rock, my safe haven. They provide me with unwavering support, encouragement, and love. My family inspires me to be a better person and to work hard for them. My business is my passion. I am deeply invested in its success and dedicated to making it grow. I love the thrill of entrepreneurship, the challenge of solving problems, and the satisfaction of creating something from scratch. My business allows me to pursue my dreams, and make a positive impact. So, my love is rooted in a deep sense of commitment, responsibility, and care. I strive to nurture and grow these loves every day.”
Engineer Boyet Jose, who has been happily married to Merle Jose for 47 years, and together they have three children: (1) “For me, the example of true love is the selfless love of our Lord Jesus, who offered and sacrificed His
self to save us. Love must be felt through action with a heart not by mouth, with humility. He or she can forgive and forget without resentment, helping others with no return.”; (2)
“Yes, I’m always in love first to God, to my family, to my wife and children and to everybody. Life is short and I must do the right thing to save my soul and everyone’s soul.”
John Michael Gahol, married to Mercedes R. Gahol, through the test of time: (1)
“It’s an unconditional love. It’s not necessarily without expectations. It’s love that survives and thrives. A comforting love that understands.”; (2) “I have still fallen in love with my wife despite us having already seven children. She is so very understanding in many ways.”
* * * It has caught my attention and interest on women power in U.S. President Donald Trump’s Cabinet: Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Next month is Women’s Day, March 8.
Ms. Leavitt, 27, a Catholic, is the youngest White House press secretary. She previously served as the national press secretary for Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. She was an assistant press secretary and presidential writer during the first Donald Trump administration as well as a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a pro-Trump Super PAC. She is married to Nicholas Riccio, a real estate developer, and she gave birth to their son on July 10, 2024. She had planned to go on maternity leave, but changed her mind after seeing the attempted assassination of Donald Trump on July 13, 2024, and resumed her professional duties. She advocates for private education and credits her Catholic schooling (at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire) for instilling pro-life values, discipline, and the importance of public service. On the other hand, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem served as U.S. representative for South Dakota and became the first female governor of South Dakota in 2018. Noem, a Protestant, is also a farmer and a rancher.
She published her first autobiography, “Not My First Rodeo: Lessons from the Heartland,” in 2022. She married Bryon Noem in 1992 in Watertown, South Dakota. They have three
children. In 2011, when Noem moved to Washington D.C. to take her congressional office, her family continued to live in a ranch near Castlewood, South Dakota.
TJ Monterde delivers ‘most
romantic’
night in Philippines concert scene
by nAthAlie toMAdA Philstar.com
WHATEVER magic spell TJ Monterde’s hit song Palagi holds, the air at the Big Dome was so filled with romance that multiple wedding proposals took place during his duet with wife, KZ Tandingan, on the last of his three-night “Sarili Nating Mundo” concert.
From the VIP section to the bleachers, men went down on their knees and pulled out rings. TJ had to quip about bringing out a pastor for an instant mass weding.
The STAR learned from concert producer Cornerstone that a total of 10 proposals also happened on the first two days of the show, including one involving his own band member. February has just begun, but Valentine’s Day indeed came early. And while yours truly never felt more single, needless to say, it was still the most romantic concert experience we’ve had so far. Perhaps the most romantic moment of the night was courtesy of TJ and KZ.
“Aside from being a great artist, singer, songwriter, head of his own label, husband, dada to our dogs, son, son-in-law, brother, TJ is my inspiration. Kasi as an artist, I also feel I’m in my season of waiting and sometimes, I feel like it’s time to throw in the towel and give up on music and everything,” KZ
told her hubby onstage.
“But every time I wake up in the morning and I look to my left, I see this man and I am reminded that a few years ago, he was about to give up, but he chose to fight.
“And in less than a year, he’s now one of the most-streamed artists in the Philippines. He’s the first male solo act to sell out Araneta Coliseum three nights in a freakin’ row.
“So, on behalf of all of us, thank you for reminding us that dreams do come true. I love you so much, wala ka nang magagawa. You signed away your rights, hahaha!
“Seriously, I never imagined that I
Rogelio Constantino Medina
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt during a press briefing at the White House.
Cheska and Mac Costes with their kids Caly and Clay.
Demi Moore with her famous pet Pilaf, a micro Chihuahua. Photos courtesy of Rogelio Medina
Filipino glass sculptor Ramon Gahol Orlina with his Malaysian wife lawyer Lay-Ann Lee Orlina.
Home Security Secretary Kristi Noem (extreme right) with her family.
John Michael Gahol with his wife Mercedes R. Gahol
Merle Jose with hubby Engineer Boyet Jose
Renowned theater and film artist Evelyn Vargas-Knaebel with her husband Martial Knaebel, former festival director of Fribourg International Film Festival Switzerland.
The singer- songwriter from Cagayan de Oro City mounts a three-night, sold-out show at the Araneta Coliseum, taking audiences on a journey through his hits like Puhon, Dating Tayo, Mahika and Ikaw At Ako as finale number.
TJ Monterde shares a sweet kiss with wife KZ Tandingan on the last night of his ‘Sarili Nating Mundo’ concert series at the Big Dome.
Manny Pacquiao to join Korean athletic reality show ‘Physical: Asia’
by hAnnAh MAllorcA Inquirer.net
MANNY Pacquiao will represent the Philippines in the survival competition show
“Physical: Asia,” a spinoff of the hit Korean reality series
“Physical: 100,” set for a late 2025 global release.
Pacquiao’s appearance was announced by a streaming platform in a press statement on Tuesday, February 4, where he will put the Philippines’ “national pride on the line.”
“Pacquiao, revered worldwide as the only boxer in history to acquire titles in eight weight divisions, brings his formidable talent and indomitable spirit to this team-based clash of champions,” the statement read. “His participation signals the show’s expanded ambition: a fierce face-off among Asia’s finest, with national pride on the line.”
The platform also shared photos of the Filipino boxing legend and former senator, accompanied by his wife Jinkee, walking at the airport in South Korea.
Details of the show’s other contestants are yet to be revealed, as of this writing.
“Physical: Asia” expands on “Physical: 100’s” original premise, where top athletes from different countries will be divided into respective teams and be part of a series of physical challenges against
their opponents. But what raises the stakes is that when one team member fails in a certain challenge, the whole team is eliminated.
In the original format of “Physical: 100,” athletes, sports influencers, and fitness experts compete in a largescale competition featuring individual and team challenges until the last man emerges as the champion with the “most ideal human physique.”
Pacquiao, dubbed as the
TJ Monterde delivers ‘most...
anniversary of their first meeting. It was also born out of the lowest moment in his career when he thought he was done with music.
He was already thinking of shifting careers, but Palagi came to him — a song he released independently and wrote, for the very first time, without the pressure of producing a hit.
It became the biggest hit of last year, with even esteemed songwriter Ogie Alcasid saying he wished he had written it. Recently, it reached one billion streams on Spotify and declared the No. 1 song in the Philippines for 2024 by Billboard Philippines.
During the interview, TJ was asked how he plans to reward himself after successfully mounting shows for three consecutive nights.
He had initially wanted to purchase a watch to mark this milestone in his more than decade-long career.
“I want to buy a watch. To celebrate that I was able to do Araneta,” he said.
The singer said he has been eyeing a luxury watch and even asked his manager how much would his talent fee be for this concert so as to check if he could afford to buy himself a watch.
But he had the biggest surprise before the show when
he received his dream watch as a gift from KZ.
“Before the show started, KZ gifted me with the watch. Sobrang na-touch ako kasi hindi pa naman ako sure kung bibilhin ko yung relo na yun
“But she bought it for me. It’s my first of this brand of watch. Na-touch ako kasi binigyan niya ako nun pero wala siya nung relo na yun Inuna niya ako
“I’m happy — it’s the gesture.”
Meanwhile, a visibly overwhelmed TJ admitted that it might be hard to top his concert series named after his 2024 album Sariling Mundo and featured the likes of — at least on the third night — South Korean hitmaker 10CM, fellow Cagayan de Oro native Arthur Nery and even the concert king Martin Nievera as front act.
“I’m so proud of the show. We all worked hard on this. This was all a collaboration. Direk John Prats, the band, everybody, and aside from that, we were just very happy…
“It’s hard to top it. Kaya kanina ina-absorb ko lang, ‘di ko alam kung mauulit pa ‘to. I’m just enjoying my moment.
“But towards the end… (I couldn’t help it.) I broke down because wala eh. I just told myself, ‘Bro, you did it!’ Thank you, God, for making it possible!”
Sharon Cuneta draws praises for slim physique
by Anne PAsAjol Inquirer.net
SHARON Cuneta has yet again left her fans in awe after she revealed she recently lost 15 lbs, saying she has stepped up her weight loss journey to achieve her fitness goal this year.
Megastar shared an Instagram video of herself standing while singing her song “ Ikaw ” as a birthday gift to her Tita Cherrie Pie Lazatin, whom she fondly calls “Mom.”
The clip did did not only earn praises for Cuneta’s performance but also compliments from fans and fellow celebrities for her slim physique.
“Yes, I lost weight. 15 lbs to be exact,” she said in the caption.
Speaking more about her weight loss in a separate post, Cuneta admitted the struggles she had during her now nineyear fitness journey.
“Pambansang Kamao” (national fist), is one of the most legendary athletes in the Philippines. He is the only boxer who brought home eight-division world champion and was the oldest welterweight world champion at 40 years old. He eventually retired from boxing in 2021. The athlete-politician also decided to run for Senate anew in the 2025 mid-term polls after his failed attempt at the presidency in the 2022 elections.
“I decided to lose weight slowly on my 50th birthday [in] 2016. It’s been 9 years of losing weight, gaining weight again, being happy and inspired, feeling disappointed and frustrated,” she said.
“So I finally decided to step it up and lose the last several pounds this year. Nakakapagod Nakakaiyak Nakakagutom Lahat na yata ng diyeta ginawa ko ,” she continued.
Cuneta declared that she is now more focused than ever, asking fans to include her in their prayers.
“Praying tuloy-tuloy na ! Please pray for me,” she said.
“Excited na mamili ng mga damit na talagang gusto ko . But most of all, para super healthy na talaga !” She also shared her meal plan in another post, although she stressed that netizens should still consult their
doctors before trying the same diet. Cuneta has been documenting her weight loss milestones through her social media pages. In 2023, she revealed that she underwent surgery to remove excess skin off her body after losing “over a hundred pounds.”
