Fil-Am doctor convicted of $24M Medicare fraud
LOS ANGELES Alexander
Baldonado, a Filipino American physician from Queens, New York, has been found guilty of submitting over $24 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare for unnecessary laboratory tests and orthotic braces. Court documents show Baldonado, 69, received tens of thousands of dollars in kickbacks and bribes in exchange for ordering laboratory tests, including expensive cancer genetic tests that were billed to Medicare.
Baldonado authorized hundreds of cancer genetic tests for Medicare beneficiaries who attended COVID-19 testing events at assisted living facilities, adult day care centers and a retirement community in 2020.
“Baldonado was not treating any of the patients who attended the testing events and, in many cases, did not speak to or examine the patients prior
Fake European noble pleads guilty to scam targeting elderly Fil-Ams
LOS ANGELES – A San Fernando Valley man who uses the surname of a dynasty that once ruled Austria pleaded guilty Friday, February 14 to a federal charge alleging he swindled elderly Filipino Americans and others in a Ponzi scheme that took in more than $5.9 million.
Sylvein William Maximilian D’Habsburg XVII, 48, of West Hills, who entered his plea in downtown Los Angeles to one count of wire fraud, has falsely claimed Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan were among his investors, according to court documents.
Sentencing was scheduled for May 30, at which time he will face up to 20 years in federal prison, prosecutors noted.
From January 2018 to June 2023, D’Habsburg hired recruiters to identify potential investors for his two companies, Wild Rabbit Technologies LLC and BAI Intelligence LLC, targeting the
MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday, February 18 said the pre-voting enrollment period for Filipinos overseas who would use internet voting in the May 12 midterm polls will start in March.
PH, US discuss foreign aid freeze impact
by Pia Lee-Brago Philstar.com
MANILA — The Philippines and the United States discussed the value of the two countries’ development work, in the wake of the Trump administration’s order freezing U.S. foreign aid.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Sunday, February 16, the foreign aid freeze, which is under a 90-day review, was discussed during a meeting between Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the
Munich Security Conference in Germany on Feb. 14.
“Both Secretaries discussed the value of our development cooperation work. We also recognize, however, that the new U.S. administration is still in the process of completing the review of the work of various development agencies,” DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said in a statement.
Manalo said on Wednesday, February 19 the Philippines would seek clarification on U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) programs in the country that would be affected by the suspension of U.S. foreign
Keisha Ta-asan Philstar.com
MANILA — The Philippines is expected to remain insulated from the impact of potential United States tariffs on Asian economies due to its trade surplus with the world’s largest economy, an advantage among its regional peers, according to S&P Global Ratings.
YeeFarn Phua, director at S&P, said that while countries such as China, Vietnam, Malaysia and Taiwan face risks from U.S. tariff policies, the Philippines has so far stayed out of the equation.
“The Philippines is one of the major
economies, perhaps the only major economy in the region, that actually has a trade surplus with the U.S.,” Phua said in a webinar on Tuesday, February 18.
“For now, when it comes to talking about tariffs on certain countries, the Philippines has not come up in the equation for the meantime,” he said.
However, Phua said that the Philippines could see second-order effects if U.S. tariffs shift production away from affected economies.
This could benefit industries involved in lower-value supply chain activities, such as electronics assembly and packaging.
aid. The DFA is optimistic that the development cooperation between the Philippines and the U.S. will continue.
Manalo earlier said the Philippines values its development cooperation with the U.S., especially in critical areas like education, global health and disaster risk reduction .
The projects, he said, have positively impacted the lives of many Filipinos and their communities.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order paused new obligations and u PAGE 2
and
by Daphne Galvez Philstar.com
The voter is also asked to look for the schedule of field/mobile prevoting enrollment in the Philippine Post where they are working or living.
It noted that there would be a voting kiosk at the Philippine Posts during the overseas voting period.
At the same time, overseas voters are advised to sign up using the Comelec-provided official link for prevoting enrollment.
Once the pre-voting enrollment
"Overseas Filipino voters of Philippine Posts abroad adopting internet voting in the May 12, 2025 National and Local Elections shall enroll in the Overseas Voting and Counting System (OVCS) from March 10, 2025 to May 7, 2025," it said in an advisory. Each registered voter is advised to register using their own internetcapable device during the pre-voting enrollment period.
is successful, the poll body said the overseas voter can vote online during the 30-day voting period from April 13 to May 12, 7 p.m. (Philippine Standard Time).
They are likewise advised to check the specific modes of overseas voting for Philippine Posts, go to: https:// comelec.gov.ph/?r=OverseasVoting/2025NLESpecificModesOfOverseasVoting
For more information, all registered overseas voters may visit the Office for Overseas Voting PH, and the official website and social media accounts of the Comelec. (PNA)
MANILA — Supporters of Vice President Sara Duterte have asked the Supreme Court (SC) to stop the Senate from proceeding with her impeachment trial, saying the complaint was “haphazard and procedurally flawed.”
The group, led by lawyers Israelito Torreon, Martin Delgra III, James Reserva and Hillary Olga Reserva, filed a petition for certiorari and prohibition, asking the high court to declare the Articles
of Impeachment “null and void” for failing to meet constitutional requirements on verification and proper initiation of impeachment proceedings, as well as failing to accord due process to Duterte prior to the filing with the Senate. The petitioners asked the SC to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) or a writ of preliminary injunction to bar the Senate from proceeding with Duterte's trial “based on the defective Articles of Impeachment.”
Las Vegas — Filipino Town Las Vegas will host
Filipino Town Cultural District is a cultural designation which highlights the historic influence of Filipinos on the social, economic, and cultural aspects of that area. Filipino Town Cultural District is known to host flagship events in the Filipino community. The proposed area for the cultural designation is along Maryland Parkway between Flamingo Road and Desert Inn Road. The area is home to some of the most recognized Filipino retail, restaurant and medical and professional brands. Rozita Lee, President
Founder of Filipino Town Las Vegas, will discuss the progress of the cultural designation for Filipino Town. The officers and board members will also
PH, US discuss foreign aid...
disbursements of foreign aid pending reviews “for programmatic efficiency and consistency” with U.S. foreign policy, within 90 days of the order.
Based on Trump’s EO, U.S. departments, agencies and entities “shall not provide foreign assistance funded by or through the Department and USAID without the Secretary of State’s authorization or the authorization of his designee.”
A federal judge earlier ordered the administration to temporarily lift a funding freeze that had shut down U.S. humanitarian aid and development work around the world.
The judge, in issuing the order, said the Trump administration did not take into account the extraordinary harm that a sudden freezing of foreign aid could cause – including a catastrophic effect on humanitarian missions. n
Judge Amir Ali issued the order Thursday, February 13 in a lawsuit brought by companies that received U.S. funding for their programs.
Philippines insulated from US tariff...
“If you’re talking about high-tech, cutting-edge technology, perhaps the Philippines will not be in a position at this moment to benefit from it,” Phua said.
“But if you’re looking at production down the value chain, like assembly and packaging of electronic goods, there could be some advantages for the Philippines in that sense,” he added.
He said these benefits, in turn, could help boost economic growth and support foreign direct
investments as well.
Despite these potential benefits, Phua said that trade shifts are not the primary factors influencing S&P’s credit rating assessment for the Philippines. The ratings agency is focusing on two key areas; rebuilding external buffers and maintaining fiscal consolidation.
S&P currently assigned the Philippines a ‘BBB+’ rating, with an outlook tied to the country’s ability to stabilize its current account deficit and strengthen its external position.
The Philippines’ external
buffers have been eroded in recent years due to global economic headwinds, making it crucial for the country to maintain a moderate current account deficit.
“The Philippines needs to rebuild those external buffers before its ratings could be upgraded,” Phua said.
On the fiscal front, Phua said that the government’s revised economic projections under the medium-term fiscal framework last year were more realistic than previous targets. n
Fil-Am doctor convicted of $24M Medicare...
to ordering cancer genetic tests and other laboratory tests for them,” stated a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice, dated Feb. 11.
Baldonado also billed Medicare for office visits but many of the patients testified that they had never met the Fil-Am physician. In some cases, the patients never received the results of the tests billed to Medicare.
An undercover video presented as evidence showed Baldonado receiving a large sum of cash in exchange for signed prescriptions for orthotic braces.
“The medically unnecessary laboratory tests and orthotic braces that Baldona-
do ordered in exchange for illegal kickbacks and bribes caused Medicare to be billed more than $24 million,” the press release said.
“Medicare paid more than $2.1 million to the laboratories and the durable medical equipment supply company involved in the schemes.”
Baldonado was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud; six counts of health care fraud; one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay, offer, receive and solicit health care kickbacks; one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to receive and solicit health care kickbacks; and one count of solicitation of
Petition filed at SC to stop...
The House of Representatives and the Senate were named respondents in the petition.
The petitioners argued that the fourth impeachment complaint filed against Duterte, which was transmitted to the Senate on Feb. 5, was “rushed in a single day” and was not properly verified by the House members, in violation of Article XI, Section 3(4) of the Constitution.
“The Constitution is clear: impeachment is not a tool for political expediency, nor should it be reduced to a mere numbers game among legislators seeking to consolidate power. It is a solemn process, bound by strict procedural requirements, meant to safeguard – not subvert –democracy,” the petition read.
“Yet, in reckless defiance of these constitutional mandates, the House has trampled upon the fundamental principles of justice, disregarded precedent, and undermined
the voice of the people by weaponizing impeachment as a means to remove a duly elected leader,” it added.
They contended that the articles of impeachment were constitutionally infirm, considering that the requirement for proper initiation of a complaint was not satisfied and lacked proper verification.
They said the Constitution, specifically Article 11, Section 3 thereof, mandates that upon receipt of the impeachment complaint, the same should be included in the House— in the order of business within 10 session days. The Speaker, they said, should have referred it to the committee on justice within three days. They said these are mandatory provisions that were not followed by the House of Representatives. They also said Duterte was not given prior notice before the filing of the complaint, in violation of due process.
“Here, Vice President Duterte was not given prior notice before the impeachment complaint was signed by 215 House
Members. This denied her a fair opportunity to respond, thereby violating her constitutional rights,” the petition read.
Petitioners also questioned the non-action of the House of Representatives on three other impeachment complaints filed earlier.
‘Political maneuvering’
They also claimed that the impeachment of Duterte was used as a “tool for political maneuvering rather than as a constitutional mechanism for accountability” and was “railroaded by the House of Representatives” as the complaint “came like a thief in the night.”
“If impeachment is wielded as a mere political weapon rather than as a legal instrument for ensuring accountability, then the very essence of constitutional governance is imperiled. The House of Representatives must rectify these procedural lapses and reaffirm its commitment to constitutional due process to preserve the integrity of its legislative functions,” they said.
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health care kickbacks.
Baldonado is scheduled to be sentenced on June 26. (Inquirer.net)
Alexander Baldonado, 69, received kickbacks and bribes in exchange for ordering unnecessary laboratory tests Photo from Facebook/AlexBaldonado
Urgent CDC data and analyses
by amy maxmen
SONYA Stokes, an emergency room physician in the San Francisco Bay Area, braces herself for a daily deluge of patients sick with coughs, soreness, fevers, vomiting, and other flu-like symptoms.
She’s desperate for information, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a critical source of urgent analyses of the flu and other public health threats, has gone quiet in the weeks since President Donald Trump took office.
“Without more information, we are blind,” she said.
Flu has been brutal this season. The CDC estimates at least 24 million illnesses, 310,000 hospitalizations, and 13,000 deaths from the flu since the start of October. At the same time, the bird flu outbreak continues to infect cattle and farmworkers.
But CDC analyses that would inform people about these situations are delayed, and the CDC has cut off communication with doctors, researchers, and the World Health Organization, say doctors and public health experts.
“CDC right now is not reporting influenza data through the WHO global platforms, FluNet [and] FluID, that they’ve been providing information [on] for many, many years,” Maria Van Kerkhove, interim director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness at the WHO, said at a Feb. 12 press briefing.
“We are communicating with them,” she added, “but we haven’t heard anything back.”
On his first day in office, President Donald Trump announced the U.S. would withdraw from the WHO.
A critical analysis of the seasonal flu selected for
distribution through the CDC’s Health Alert Network has stalled, according to people close to the CDC. They asked not to be identified because of fears of retaliation. The network, abbreviated as HAN, is the CDC’s main method of sharing urgent public health information with health officials, doctors, and, sometimes, the public.
A chart from that analysis, reviewed by KFF Health News, suggests that flu may be at a record high.
About 7.7% of patients who visited clinics and hospitals without being admitted had flu-like symptoms in early February, a ratio higher than in four other flu seasons depicted in the graph. That includes 2003-04, when an atypical strain of flu fueled a particularly treacherous season that killed at least 153 children.
Without a complete analysis, however, it’s unclear whether this tidal wave of sickness foreshadows a spike in hospitalizations and deaths that hospitals, pharmacies, and schools must prepare for. Specifically, other data could relay how many of the flu-like illnesses are caused by flu viruses — or which flu strain is infecting people. A deeper report might also reveal whether the flu is more severe or contagious than usual.
“I need to know if we are dealing with a more virulent strain or a coinfection with another virus that is making my patients sicker, and what to look for so that I know if my patients are in danger,” Stokes said. “Delays in data create dangerous situations on the front line.”
Although the CDC’s flu dashboard shows a surge of influenza, it doesn’t include all data needed to interpret the situation. Nor does it offer the tailored advice found in HAN alerts that
tells health care workers how to protect patients and the public. In 2023, for example, a report urged clinics to test patients with respiratory symptoms rather than assume cases are the flu, since other viruses were causing similar issues that year.
“This is incredibly disturbing,” said Rachel Hardeman, a member of the Advisory Committee to the Director of the CDC. On Feb. 10, Hardeman and other committee members wrote to acting CDC Director Susan Monarez asking the agency to explain missing data, delayed studies, and potentially severe staff cuts.
“The CDC is vital to our nation’s security,” the letter said.
Several studies have also been delayed or remain missing from the CDC’s preeminent scientific publication, the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Anne Schuchat, a former principal deputy director at the CDC, said she would be concerned if there was political oversight of scientific material: “Suppressing information is potentially confusing, possibly dangerous, and it can backfire.”
CDC spokesperson Melissa Dibble declined to comment on delayed or missing analyses. “It is not unexpected to see flu activity elevated and increasing at this time of the year,” she said.
A draft of one unpublished study, reviewed by KFF Health News, that has been withheld from the MMWR for three weeks describes how a milk hauler and a dairy worker in Michigan may have spread bird flu to their pet cats. The indoor cats became severely sick and died. Although the workers weren’t tested, the study says that one of them
by mary villeGas Inquirer.net
MEMBERS of the Filipino American community in Seattle have come together to restore the Jose Rizal Park, which was destroyed by vandals late last year.
In October 2024, vandals pried off several bronze plaques, including one holding a time capsule, from Dr. Jose Rizal’s monument in Seattle’s Beacon Hill neighborhood.
To raise funds for the restoration project, the Fil-Am community and the nonprofit Rizal Park and Bridge Preservation Society (RPBPS) organized a benefit concert, titled “Rizal Rhythms,” at Rainier Arts Center on February 7.
The concert featured Filipina jazz vocalist Charito and other local Fil-Am artists.
Tess Guerzon, a board member of the RPBPS, said the packed event was comparable to a “Bruno Mars concert.”
Extending her gratitude to those who attended the concert, Guerzon posted on social media, “Your support of the Rizal Park and Bridge
Preservation Society event was much appreciated!”
The City’s Parks and Recreation Department initially promised to replace the stolen plaques, according to the concert organizers, but “nothing has been started or communicated for months.”
“We need improvements,” Guerzon told Fox 13. “We need speed bumps, gates, surveillance measures and the vandalized structures repaired. This is the first of many events we’re hosting to repair and upgrade the park.” When asked about a timeline for restoring
the park, a department spokesperson said in a statement they have to “first determine if there is a better alternative material (other than bronze) and assess a budget and timeline.”
“We do not have enough information to determine a potential restoration plan at this time but join the community in a desire to see all our parks preserved and maintained in ways that ensure public safety and safety to park assets, such as plaques, artworks, facilities etc. We are working with community on the next steps,” the statement said. n
Fil-Am deputy mayor resigns amid corruption charges against NYC mayor
The charges against Mayor Eric Adams were allegedly dropped in exchange for his compliance with Trump’s immigration policy
by elton luGay Inquirer.net
NEW YORK CITY — In a significant turn of events, Filipino American First
Deputy Mayor Maria TorresSpringer and three other deputy mayors resigned Monday, February 17, intensifying the challenges facing Mayor Eric Adams’ administration.
Their departures come amid growing scrutiny over corruption charges against Adams, which allegedly were dropped in exchange for his compliance with Trump’s immigration policy.
The resignations of TorresSpringer, Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi, Deputy Mayor Anne Williams-Isom and Deputy Mayor Chauncey Parker have plunged City Hall into uncertainty, raising pressing questions about Adams’ leadership.
Torres-Springer, a longtime public servant with extensive experience under former mayors Bill de Blasio and Michael Bloomberg, had recently joined Adams’ team in hopes of fostering change following his federal indictment. Her exit underscores deepening concerns within the administration.
In a joint statement, the resigning deputy mayors cited “extraordinary events” and their commitment to New Yorkers as the impetus for their decision. “This was a difficult decision, but necessary,” they stated.
In her resignation letter, Torres-Springer expressed heartfelt gratitude to her colleagues:
“It is with a heavy heart but unending gratitude and admiration for all of you that I share the news that I, along with DMO Meera Joshi and DMHHS Anne WilliamsIsom, will be stepping down from our roles in this administration.
“Serving as Deputy Mayors has been the greatest honor and privilege of our lives. We have worked each day with the singular mission of improving the lives of New Yorkers and strengthening the physical foundation of
the city we love. Due to the extraordinary events of the last few weeks, we have come to this difficult decision.
“While our time in this administration will come to a close, our support for the incredible public servants across the administration will never cease. We sincerely thank the Mayor for the opportunity to serve New Yorkers in these roles and wish Mayor Adams and all of our colleagues much strength and courage in the work ahead.”
Torres-Springer also highlighted their collective accomplishments, including transformative zoning initiatives aimed at promoting renewable energy and affordable housing, as well as record financing for affordable homes.
Mayor Adams expressed disappointment but acknowledged their decision, wishing them well in their future endeavors. Their resignations coincide with a rally in Brooklyn supporting Adams, where tensions are palpable amid calls for both his resignation and potential intervention from Governor Kathy Hochul. The demand for Governor Hochul to remove Mayor Adams is increasing.
Danielle R. Sassoon, the acting U.S. Attorney for New York City, who was appointed by Trump, refused the Department of Justice’s demand to withdraw corruption charges against Adams and resigned in protest.
Sassoon’s resignation followed a wave of similar
Petition filed at SC to stop...
“Thus, the Honorable Court must act promptly on these issues because the transmittal of this void impeachment complaint to the Senate will disrupt that chamber’s normal legislative work and focus would shift to another unsettling impeachment trial that had already precipitously divided the nation,” the petitioners added.
They also noted the filing of the impeachment complaint “was rushed, a blitzkrieg maneuver.”
“The impeachment process demands thorough deliberation, careful analysis, and a firm understanding of the legal and factual basis of the complaint,” they said.
“However, in the case of the February 5, 2025 impeachment complaint, the 215 House members collectively spent only 4-5 hours to complete the verification process. When broken down mathematically, this means that each member had only about 1.4 minutes to read and verify the complaint—an amount of time grossly insufficient for any meaningful review,” they said.
Under pressure
Petitioners also cited several statements of lawmakers who claimed they only voted in favor of the impeachment complaint for fear of losing fund allocations for projects in their respective districts and they were pressured to align with the majority to avoid being labeled as part of the opposition.
They claimed Duterte has been the target of a “calculated political demolition job orchestrated by the administration and its allies, aimed at crippling her political influence
and eliminating her as a formidable contender in the 2028 elections.”
“The speed and intensity of the impeachment proceedings is a deliberate effort to permanently damage her public image, rather than a genuine pursuit of justice,” the petitioners maintained.
They also criticized the caucus held by the House of Representatives for the signing of the complaint, saying this means most of the signatories had not actually reviewed the complaint, investigated the claims or validated the supporting documents.
“Such haphazard and careless endorsement of impeachment complaints cannot be tolerated, as it turns impeachment into a political game rather than a constitutional process grounded on evidence and due process,” the petition read.
“These moves, including the filing of this void impeachment complaint, rather than strengthening democracy, set a dangerous precedent for using state resources to silence political adversaries,” they further said. The impeachment complaints against Duterte were “based on the grounds of culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.”
A copy of the verified complaints for impeachment was turned over to the Senate by the House of Representatives shortly before the former adjourned session last Feb. 5. Earlier, lawyer Catalino Generillo Jr. asked the Supreme Court in a petition to compel the Senate to immediately convene as an
Filipino Town Las Vegas to host public...
be part of the panel to discuss their roles in guiding Filipino Town Las Vegas in its efforts to attain a cultural designation aimed at celebrating the vibrant Filipino culture in Las Vegas as well as helping to promote businesses in its proposed area along Maryland Parkway, from Flamingo to Desert Inn Road.
All community organizations and individuals with interest in Filipino Town Las Vegas are invited. If you have questions and concerns you would like addressed during the town hall, please send them on or before February 27, 2025 to Corin Ramos, PRO, Filipino Town Las Vegas, at filipinotownLasVegas@ gmail.com.
be used for promotional, marketing, and social media purposes by Filipino Town Las Vegas. If you do not wish to be recorded or photographed, attendees may notify a member of our team immediately. By remaining in the area, attendees consent to the use of their image, voice, and likeness in any media format without compensation or further notice.
Officers and Board
Members: Rozita V Lee - President
Bernie Benito - Vice
President
Corin Ramos - Secretary / Public Relations Officer
Sam Buban - Treasurer
Jocelyn BorromeoAssistant Treasurer
Virgilio (Bing) LongakitAuditor
Director Filipino Town will be an agenda item during the Paradise Town Advisory Board meeting starting at 7 p.m. The officers and board of directors of Filipino Town Las Vegas invite community leaders and members to attend this meeting to show their support. The Paradise TAB meeting is one of the pathways to the Board of Clark County Commissioners in March when the Filipino Town Las Vegas committee will make another presentation before final resolution in April.
departures from the Public Integrity Section after the DOJ insisted on dropping the case.
Sassoon wrote a scathing letter to the DOJ, explaining why she would not comply with the order, which could provide grounds for Governor Hochul to remove Mayor Adams from office.
Hochul acknowledged the contributions of the departing deputy mayors. “If they feel unable to serve in City Hall at this time, that raises serious questions about the longterm future of this mayoral administration,” the governor said in a statement.
She reiterated her commitment to ensuring stability for New Yorkers, emphasizing, “My most urgent concern is the wellbeing of my 8.3 million constituents who live in New York City.”
Filipino American mayoral candidate Deirdre Levy weighed in on the situation. “New York needs transparent and trustworthy leadership— leaders who restore faith in our institutions rather than erode it,” Levy, who is running in the Democratic primary, told Inquirer.net USA.
“This failure of leadership is precisely why these cabinet members chose to resign. It’s time for a government that leads with accountability, honesty, and a commitment to the people it represents.”
These departures raise the alarm about the future of Adams’ administration, leaving New Yorkers questioning the stability of his leadership. n
impeachment court.
Objective Meanwhile, Senators Ronald dela Rosa and Imee Marcos vowed to be objective if and when they stand as judges in the impeachment of Duterte.
“As a member of the impeachment court, as an impeachment court judge, I must also defend the integrity of the Senate as an institution to which I belong. I will be very objective, I will be apolitical, and I have to maintain my apolitical neutrality. I will read everything, weigh all the arguments from the prosecution and the defense, consider everything presented, and do my best to be objective,” Dela Rosa said in a chance interview Monday night, February 17.
Like Dela Rosa, Marcos said she would remain objective. “Of course, every day in the Senate, there are friends who get into trouble and get investigated. Every day, it’s our duty to be objective,” Marcos said.
“I don’t think it is necessary (to inhibit from the impeachment proceedings), we are fully aware of our duties as senators, we will all study pieces of evidence,” Marcos, who is very vocal in her support for Duterte, said.
She also voiced support for the Senate leadership’s position not to act with urgency on the impeachment trial.
“It is not justified for us to act with urgency. There’s been impeachment talk for two years already, and the House sat on the complaint for two months. Why should the Senate then hurry?” Marcos said. “That is the consensus here, that the Senate should not be pressured to rush this.” (With reports from Cecille Suerte Felipe)
The Town Hall will be videotaped and streamed LIVE on Filipino Town Las Vegas’s Facebook page.
By entering the Town Hall area, attendees acknowledge and agree that they may be photographed and/or recorded on video. These images and recordings may
Director
Carl Magno - Board
Connie Benito - Board
Director
Dr. Philip PaleracioBoard Director
Engr. Ernie Buo - Board Director Ron Sumbang - Board
Meeting location will be at Paradise Park Community Center 4775 McLeod Dr., Las Vegas, Nevada 89121 After the Paradise Town Advisory Board meeting, other milestones include the second Clark County Commissioners Meeting on March 18, the second Filipino Town Las Vegas Hearing / Clark County Commissioners Meeting on March 28, and the final commissioners Meeting on April 15. n
Fake European noble pleads guilty to scam...
local Filipino community, including elderly church parishioners, according to his plea agreement filed in LA federal court.
D’Habsburg had his name legally changed to resemble that of the famous European family and is not a descendant of nobility, a spokesperson for the US Attorney’s Office said.
At investment presentations, D’Habsburg claimed that he had an artificial intelligence technology that could predict the future and detect a COVID-19 infection based solely on a video recording, among
other things, court papers show.
Prosecutors say he also falsely claimed to potential investors that he had received about $500 million in investments for his companies from retired pro athletes and other wellknown people, including Bryant, Jordan, and Apple Computer co-founder Steve Wozniak, and that he would use the funds to hire personnel and obtain patents. However, D’Habsburg used the victims’ money to purchase luxury cars, such as a 1933 Rolls Royce Phantom II Continental
As a result of his scheme, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said, D’Habsburg caused his victims a total of about $5.9 million in losses.
Once D’Habsburg faces a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison, prosecutors noted.
The House of HabsburgLorraine is the former royal house of the defunct Austro-Hungarian thrones. (Inquirer.net with reports from CNS)
Urgent CDC data and analyses on...
3
had irritated eyes before the cat fell ill — a common bird flu symptom. That person told researchers that the pet “would roll in their work clothes.”
After one cat became sick, the investigation reports, an adolescent in the household developed a cough. But the report says this young person tested negative for the flu, and positive for a cold-causing virus.
Corresponding CDC documents summarizing the cat study and another as-yet unpublished bird flu analysis said the reports were scheduled to be published Jan. 23. These were reviewed by KFF Health News. The briefing on cats advises dairy farmworkers to “remove clothing and footwear, and rinse off any animal biproduct residue before entering the household to protect others in the household, including potentially indoor-only cats.”
The second summary refers to “the most comprehensive” analysis of bird flu virus detected in wastewater in the United States.
Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University, said delays of bird flu reports are upsetting because they’re needed to inform the public about a worsening situation with many unknown elements. Citing “insufficient data” and “high uncertainty,” the United Kingdom raised its assessment of the risk posed by the U.S. outbreak on dairies.
“Missing and delayed data causes uncertainty,” Nuzzo said. “It also potentially makes us react in ways that are counterproductive.”
Another bird flu study slated for January publication showed up in the MMWR on Feb. 13, three weeks after it was expected. It revealed that three cattle veterinarians had been unknowingly infected last year, based on the discovery of antibodies against the bird flu virus in their blood. One of the veterinarians worked in Georgia and South Carolina, states that haven’t reported outbreaks on dairy farms.
The study provides further
evidence that the United States is not adequately detecting cases in cows and people. Nuzzo said it also highlights how data can supply reassuring news.
Only three of 150 cattle veterinarians had signs of prior infections, suggesting that the virus doesn’t easily spread from the animals into people. More than 40 dairy workers have been infected, but they generally have had more sustained contact with sick cattle and their virus-laden milk than veterinarians.
Instead, recently released reports have been about wildfires in California and Hawaii.
“Interesting but not urgent,” Nuzzo said, considering the acute fire emergencies have ended.
The bird flu outbreak, she said, is an ongoing “urgent health threat for which we need up-to-the-minute information to know how to protect people.”
“The American public is at greater risk when we don’t have information on a timely basis,” Schuchat said.
This week, a federal judge ordered the CDC and other health agencies to “restore” datasets and websites that the organization Doctors for America had identified in a lawsuit as having been altered. Further, the judge
ordered the agencies to “identify any other resources that DFA members rely on to provide medical care” and restore them by Feb. 14. In their letter, CDC advisory committee members requested an investigation into missing data and delayed reports. Hardeman, an adviser who is a health policy expert at the University of Minnesota, said the group didn’t know why data and scientific findings were being withheld or removed. Still, she added, “I hold accountable the acting director of the CDC, the head of HHS, and the White House.” Hardeman said the Trump administration has the power to disband the advisory committee. She said the group expects that to happen but proceeded with its demands regardless.
“We want to safeguard the rigor of the work at the CDC because we care deeply about public health,” she said. “We aren’t here to be silent.”
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.
Maria Torres Springer
Contributed photo
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Sedanca de Ville by Barker, and rare antiques, including a pair of Italian carved giltwood throne armchairs from the 1800s, prosecutors said.
DAteline PhiliPPines
SMIC, Philippines firms attract foreign funds
by Marianne go Philstar.com
THE ability of private Filipino corporations such as SM Investments Corp., Ayala Corp. and Jollibee to successfully tap the international credit market is a welcome development in raising the profile of the Philippines in the international capital markets.
In an interview with Erwin Pato, executive vice president for treasury, finance and planning at SM Investments, (who was formerly head of Singapore’s Temasek’s global treasury) he pointed out that the recent recognition by International Financing Review Asia (IFR Asia) of SM Investments’ successful issuance last year of a $500 million five-year bond reflects confidence in Philippine corporate issuers and underscores SM’s reputation as a stable and well-managed investment option.
Furthermore, he added, “the good thing that is happening right now in the Philippine market is that you have more companies that are essentially bigger, which are also good, wellmanaged like us, that can access that market.”
Just 10 years ago, Pato recalls, SM investments access to the capital markets was limited primarily to the domestic market. However, he pointed out, “we have grown so much, our company has grown so much, that one of the things that opens up for us is essentially because of our size, the foreign market is interested in success stories like that.”
Filipino conglomerates that manage to successfully grow like SM Investments, Pato noted, can likewise tap the international capital markets.
“The offshore market, if you access it... first of all, it’s very deep, meaning if you’re
a good credit, the size of what you can access there may be much bigger than what you can access in the Philippines because there is just a much bigger and a fund manager base there.”
The ability to access the offshore market, Pato explains, allows Filipino firms to diversify their funding source and spur economic growth.
SM Investments, the parent company of the SM Group, was awarded the “Philippine Capital Market Deal of the Year” by IFR Asia for its successful issuance of a $500 million five-year bond in 2024, underscoring the Sy-family corporation’s leadership in the capital markets and the strong confidence of global investors in the company’s financial strength.
IFR Asia cited SM Investments’ return to the U.S. dollar bond market after a decade-long absence as a significant development for the Philippine corporate sector. The transaction, which was the largest fiveyear deal by a Philippine corporate in 2024, reopened the market amid volatile conditions and achieved competitive pricing at 35 basis points.
IFR Asia noted that SM Investments’ bond issuance attracted significant investor interest, given the relative scarcity of corporate issuances from the Philippines in recent years. The transaction was SM Investments’ first bond issuance since its $350 million 10-year note in June 2014.
The deal was arranged by leading global financial institutions, with HSBC, JP Morgan, Standard Chartered, and UBS acting as joint lead managers and joint bookrunners. BDO Capital and Chinabank Capital also participated as joint lead managers.
The success of SM Investments’ bond
issuance, when global economic uncertainties kept many investors on the sidelines, attests to its solid fundamentals and the broader credibility of Philippine businesses.
According to SM Investments, a thriving capital market translates to sustained investments, job creation, infrastructure development and financial inclusivity – critical components for long-term economic resilience.
In its 2025 outlook for the Asia credit market (excluding Japan), Puja Shah, JP Morgan’s head of Southeast Asia DCM and Sustainable Finance Asia, had noted that 2024 was a busy year for Philippine bank issuers tapping the offshore market. Thus, she projected that Philippine banks would be more opportunistic this year.
Likewise, she said, “We do expect the sovereigns to continue to be active in the market as they were this year (2024), and we expect more corporate supply. We’ve had some very successful transactions this year with some companies, such as the SM Group. So I do expect some of the corporate issuers to come back to market next year (2025).”
Shah observed that “a lot of the corporate issuers will look at the U.S. dollar market more as a diversified source of funding. The dollar-local currency differential is becoming lower for some of the Southeast Asian countries and therefore, (it is) more justifiable for them to look at the dollar market.”
She acknowledged, “In general, deals have done very well in the Philippines, and investors have been welcoming of Philippines corporate borrowers.”
Likewise, she said, “Onshore support for Philippine borrowers tends to be very strong. We expect
PH exploring legal action on WPS
by Franco Jose Baroña ManilaTimes.net
THE Philippine government, through the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), is exploring a range of legal strategies to reinforce its sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) as tensions with China continue to escalate.
With growing incursions by Chinese vessels into Philippine waters, the country is seeking to leverage both legal and diplomatic avenues to assert its territorial rights and uphold international law.
While specifics of the government's legal approach remain confidential, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra confirmed on Tuesday, February 18 that the OSG is in close coordination with key agencies, including the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), to formulate a robust legal response.
"There are several legal options under discussion," Guevarra said in an interview. "However, we cannot disclose specifics at this time to maintain our strategic advantage."
Despite the 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which invalidated China's expansive claims over the South China Sea and reaffirmed the Philippines' maritime rights, Beijing has continued its aggressive activities in the region. These include unauthorized patrols, the construction of artificial islands, and the deployment of its maritime militia — actions widely condemned by the international community.
Legal experts and maritime scholars suggest that the Philippines has several legal avenues it could pursue. These include initiating new cases before international tribunals, calling for an enforcement mechanism under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), or even seeking advisory opinions from international courts to further strengthen its position.
Beyond legal maneuvers, the Philippine government is also ramping up diplomatic efforts to rally support from allies and regional partners.
The DFA has reiterated its call for strict adherence to international law and the peaceful resolution of disputes. Recent highlevel discussions with the United States, Japan, Australia, and other like-minded nations have underscored the importance of a unified stance against coercive maritime behavior. n
Solicitor
OPiniOn FeAtures
Not so lovable cities
HERE’S yet another indication of the progressive decline in the regional standing of the Philippines.
Canadian investment and tourism advisory Resonance Consultancy, which releases an annual list of the world’s best cities, has released its first-ever list of the 100 best cities in the Asia-Pacific. The cities included in the study are those with a population of at least one million. The rankings are based on livability, “lovability” and prosperity. Livability refers to factors such as property rent, parks, landmarks and highly rated sights. Prosperity is based on gross domestic product per capita and the number of companies in the Fortune 500. “Lovability” is based on nightlife, shopping and reviews on Tripadvisor.
Editorial
In the annual World’s Best Cities for 2025, released by Resonance in November last year, Singapore ranked fifth overall, behind only London, New York, Paris and Tokyo. This time, in the inaugural Asia-Pacific best cities, Thai capital Bangkok ranked second to Singapore at sixth place, while Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur ranked 10th.
Indonesian capital Jakarta placed 23rd while Vietnamese capital Hanoi was at 28th and its southern city Ho Chi Minh was at 35th. Cambodian capital Phnom Penh was also ahead of Manila at 41st place. Two other Malaysian cities were in the top 50: Johor Bahru at 29th and Penang at 31st.
For the Asia-Pacific rankings, only three cities in the Philippines made it to the list. All, however, were ranked below the median, with Manila at 53rd place, Davao City at 91st and Cebu at 92nd.
In contrast, five other Southeast Asian countries had cities in the top 10 and top 50. Not surprisingly, the city-state of Singapore was listed as the best in the Asia-Pacific.
SHORTLY after arriving from Washington, D.C., we started off our public diplomacy engagements by taking part in a forum hosted by the U.S.Philippines Society (USPS) during the annual directors’ meeting of the bi-national board of directors cochaired by former U.S. Director of National Intelligence Ambassador John Negroponte and Ayala Corporation head Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala.
Another Indonesian city, Denpasar, made it to 48th place, while Bandung was at 52nd, a notch ahead of Manila.
Vietnam’s Da Nang placed 60th. Other Southeast Asian cities in the top 100 were Surabaya in Indonesia at 68th, Thailand’s Pattaya (85th), Indonesia’s Medan (87th) and Malang (90th) and Malaysia’s Ipoh (98th).
It’s ironic that the Philippines’ current tourism campaign slogan is “love the Philippines.” The rankings, which reflect tourism arrivals in the region, show that not enough travelers are loving the Philippines. The rankings are not static, and the
as one of the best performers in the region. This will depend on the willingness and capability of the country to implement the necessary reforms, to develop urban centers that are prosperous,
and lovable. (Philstar.com)
A week of public diplomacy
I was requested to give remarks about the Philippine perspective on the political transition currently underway in the United States. Since it is my second time serving under a Trump administration – having first presented my credentials as Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. in November 2017 during President Donald Trump’s first term in office – I suppose I am uniquely qualified to speak on this political transition. During the presentation, I also shared the view of an analyst from the Brookings Institution who said that this transition was actually four years in the making. From the Philippine perspective, the appointment of Cabinet officials such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio as well as National Security Advisor Mike Waltz reflects a more deliberate attempt on the part of President Trump to maintain a strong U.S. presence in the Indo-Pacific. It was extremely essential that we immediately connected our respective Foreign Affairs Secretary and Defense Secretary with their U.S. counterparts, who both affirmed the “ironclad” commitment of the U.S. to the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, but we are all aware of the work that lies ahead to ensure that the alliance will continue to be enduring and that support for our military modernization and our economic transformation goals will continue. While we are well aware
that President Trump favors good deals that align with his America First agenda, I see this as an opportunity for us to project branding and messaging. It is also important that our ASEAN friends and allies within the region must reframe our collective interests in the Indo-Pacific as not only a good deal for the United States, but an essential deal as well.
As an independent and non-partisan organization, the USPS has been instrumental in fostering mutual understanding of the dynamics that underpin the longstanding relationship between the U.S. and the Philippines. The Society also plays a very important role in providing continuity in the relationship, serving as a bridge that connects both nations amid political changes and transitions. The forum was very successful in providing members with deep insights into prospects for bilateral trade relations and identifying potential investment prospects,
opportunities as well as challenges in light of the Trump administration’s agenda. As I have reiterated on several occasions, economic diplomacy is key in building up the Philippines’ economic prosperity that in turn would bring about economic security. There is absolutely no doubt that an economically strong Philippines could potentially become a reliable and strong partner of the United States. We hosted a welcome reception for the USPS board of directors and members at the historic Goldenberg Mansion that served as a perfect venue in celebrating the longstanding friendship between the Philippines and the United States. Originally built by the Eugster family in the 1870s, it later became the residence of Arthur MacArthur – the American military governor-general of the Philippines in 1900 –following the defeat of the Spanish Navy in the Battle of Manila Bay in 1898. The mansion very likely became a hub of activity as the U.S. established its presence in
the Philippines.
Last Wednesday, February 12. I was honored to receive the Journalist of the Year –Diplomacy award during the Manila Overseas Press Club Grand Journalism Awards night that recognized the country’s outstanding journalists in print and broadcast media. This is only the second time in 80 years that the MOPC, which is the first and oldest press club in Asia, is giving these awards. More than anything, what is more important for me is the recognition given to fellow honorees for the passion, dedication and integrity that they put into their work, especially today with the advent of other platforms that peddle fake news and spread misinformation.
Having a column at The Philippine STAR – recognized as the Newspaper of the Year – is a responsibility I take very seriously because it has been an extremely effective public diplomacy platform to share our advocacies and our activities in strengthening the relationship between
the United States and the Philippines.
We at the Philippine embassy in Washington, D.C. are also utilizing public diplomacy to reach out to our kababayans to inform them about their rights and provide legal advice regardless of their immigration status. It’s really very unfortunate that there are groups out there that are creating panic and confusion, coming out with biased and unverified claims which, sadly, some media outlets are accommodating without verifying the whole issue or asking concerned government agencies first before putting out news reports.
During my recent engagement with students at the American University School of International Service on the topic of “Public Diplomacy and the Future of U.S.-Philippine Relations,” I told them that my weekly column at The Philippine STAR allows me to share insights about my work as ambassador. The rise of mass media and now
2025 Polls, Duterte-Marcos proxy war
THE coming elections shall be a war between the solid north and the liquefied south. The day when the INC and the Kingdom of God shall meet the forces of the Palace and the allies of the House. The coming elections are crucial as they shall lay the predicate for the grand pintakasi in 2028. The coming elections is, above all, a clash of forces between the richly-funded, strongly entrenched, proUSA BBM administration and the ragtag, less-funded, not-too-well-organized, and pro-China alliance of former President Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter, the vice president.
The Palace wants a 12-zero sweep for the administration, but that’s impossible. Instead, it’s highly probable Willy Revillame will most likely
dislodge Benhur Abalos, highly-qualified but unpopular. The masses, brainwashed by social media, would rather swallow Revillame and Philip Salvador, who are definitely popular, and never mind the need to be qualified.
This is what I really abhor in Philippine politics, the kind of mentality our voters are still manifesting as shown in surveys. Most of the "hoi polloi" don’t demand competence, credentials, or qualifications. They want the Senate to be a platform for jesters, entertainers, retired actors, boxers, and TV and radio announcers.
The pro-U.S. forces being endorsed by the BBM party includes Abalos, former DILG secretary, a former Mandaluyong mayor, and a member of the Abalos dynasty, together with Abigail Binay, former Makati mayor and a member of the Binay family whose father, mother, and brother used to be mayor of Makati and
whose sister is an incumbent senator. There’s also Camille, sister of an incumbent senator and daughter of another senator, the perfect example of a dynasty, the Villar family of Las Piñas.
The pro-China team of the Dutertes includes incumbent Senator Bato dela Rosa, allegedly linked with PRRD's reported cases of extrajudicial killings. Another is Bong Go, who isn’t a doctor but who styles himself as a champion of healthcare.
Another probable winner is actor Philip Salvador who, like Revillame, also aspires to join Lito Lapid, Robinhood Padilla, Bong Revilla, Jinggoy Estrada, Raffy Tulfo, and other entertainers and TV/radio characters. As if we don’t have enough jesters in the Senate. The Duterte camp desperately needs more senators to acquit Sara once the twentieth Congress is in place.
BBM's team includes Pia Cayetano, whose brother Alan Peter used to be a
favorite of the Dutertes. The Cayetanos have deteriorated into a dynasty and have taken courses contrary to the ideals of their late father, Renato Cayetano. There’s also Lapid, Tito Sotto, Manny Pacquiao, Erwin Tulfo, and Revilla.
The choice of candidates of both camps begs the question: what kind of standards does both sides have in choosing future legislators, and what values are they looking for in a senatorial candidate? The Duterte team even adopted Quiboloy who is facing serious charges of trafficking and serious illegal detention, among others.
The Duterte group offers no better alternative. By endorsing Revillame and Salvador, they only confirm our impression that they aren’t for competence but popularity. All they need is victory, not integrity, excellence, and good governance. By endorsing Quiboloy, the Dutertes
show they aren’t for good government.
Their respective senatorial slates don’t offer better options for Filipinos. Both teams are either pro-U.S. or pro-China. None of them are pro-Philippines. They are pro-dynasty, pro-capitalist. Their goals run counter to the dream of all Filipinos to build a just and humane society. These candidates aren’t pro-life, pro-family, prolabor, pro-social justice. They’re all trapos running only to protect their business empires and goals. What tragic fate is our country nowadays facing that we are here and now being pushed to the wall?
The better option for Filipinos are genuine nationalists and men and women of integrity like Bam Aquino, Kiko Pangilinan, Heidi Mendoza, and Sonny Matula. Perhaps Ping Lacson can still bring hope because he’s the only senator who refused pork
barrel. I’m tempted to go for Luke Espiritu and Leody de Guzman, France Castro, and Arlene Brosas. But I’m not sure if I’m ready to embrace the extreme left. Filipinos shouldn’t be pushed to choose only between the devil and the deep blue sea. We need to choose only those who are competent, conscientious, and have integrity. The Philippines doesn’t deserve to swallow the BBM team or to accept Duterte's ragtag army of sourgraping advocates of hopelessness. We need to find a new path of hope, truth, and justice. The 2025 polls are crucial because the results shall influence the 2028 presidential polls. Another mistake in 2025 shall spell doom in 2028. (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.
Josephus Jimenez
Philippines can still regain its status
livable
Rodrigo Duterte faces sedition rap
by Jane BauTisTa, JeanneTTe i andrade Inquirer.net
MANILA
— A top police official on Monday, February 17 filed a complaint of inciting sedition against former President Rodrigo Duterte over his remarks suggesting the killing of senators to “create vacancies” for senatorial candidates of his political party.
This developed amid calls by lawmakers from the House of Representatives to have the former president investigated for his remarks at the proclamation rally of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) on Feb. 13.
Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police, filed the complaint of inciting to sedition and unlawful utterances in the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Under Article 142 of the Revised Penal Code, inciting to sedition carries the penalty of prision correccional in its maximum period (six months and one day to six years in prison) and a fine not exceeding P400,000, whereas under Article 154, unlawful means of publication or utterances carries the penalty of arresto mayor (one month and one day to six months in prison) and a fine of up to P200,000.
The complaint — the second legal action against Duterte over his myriad “kill” remarks — will be evaluated by the National Prosecution Service as to whether it has sufficient evidence to warrant a preliminary investigation.
‘Kill, kill’
Torre told reporters that “I am filing this as a citizen, and as a policeman. It’s part of the PNP’s duty to ensure that we protect the public from criminal activities like this.”
“It may seem trivial, but coming from a former president, it’s not farfetched that it could be copied or taken seriously by his blind supporters,” he added.
“Because it’s already happened, right? He said to kill drug addicts, and it actually happened,” said
Torre, a former police chief of Davao Region. Duterte said at the proclamation rally in Club Filipino: “Now, there’s many of them [candidates for senator]. What should we do? Let’s kill the senators now to create vacancies.”
Behind the former president was Sen. Robinhood Padilla who smiled at Duterte’s remarks, which drew laughter from the audience and later chants of “Kill, kill.”
“If we can kill around 15 senators, we can all go in. But they’d be pitiful. Yet they’re irritating — not all of them, though. Talking of opportunities, the only way to do it is to use a bomb,” the former president added.
Bomb jokes are punishable by imprisonment under Presidential Decree No. 1727.
‘Just rhetoric’
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, for his part, told reporters: “The NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] can look at that motu proprio. But you know, sometimes we’re used to the former president’s language. We’re accustomed to it. Not everything he says will make us jump, right?”
Remulla also noted that Duterte’s remarks differed from the assassination threats by his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez.
In her online press briefing in November last year, the vice president said her remarks were “no joke, no joke.” The NBI has recommended filing charges of grave threats and inciting to sedition against the younger Duterte.
NBI Director Jaime Santiago on Monday also played down the former president’s remarks, saying, “That’s just rhetoric, part of their political propaganda.”
Remulla had suggested that “if the senators file a complaint themselves, the DOJ will have a reason to act on it,” as they would be the ones at risk from Duterte’s remarks.
But some senators
themselves dismissed these utterances by the former president.
“I think he just said it in jest. You know [him]. He’s just playful,” Sen. Jinggoy Estrada said, adding that “he (Duterte) is so entertaining to watch.”
Duterte’s ally, Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said, “It’s as if you don’t know President Duterte… It’s still a big deal to you… Don’t believe that joke. It’s a joke, clear.”
Drawing the line
House lawmakers also on Monday held a news conference to call for the NBI’s investigation.
“Do we allow this kind of rhetoric in the first place? Do we actually normalize this kind of talk? Especially if it’s uttered in a very important event like a proclamation rally?” House Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong said, reiterating his earlier call for such an inquiry
“We are actually trying to convey a message where, in the case of the former president, he somehow has the license and permit to say anything he [wants]. He can tell you, ‘I will kill you.’ He can tell you, ‘I will kill him,’ and then get away with it,” he added.
“Let’s draw the line. When can we actually accept things as [a] joke or as a mere, [simple] ordinary rhetoric from that of a statement that actually causes harm to individual lives? So I think that’s just the thing that I would like to drive at,” Adiong also said.
He noted further that ordinary Filipinos are punished for simple bomb jokes.
1-Rider Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez said, “I think we have to really take [Duterte’s remarks] seriously this time.”
He expressed concern that Duterte’s followers could take his remarks as a “call to arms.”
“That’s [the] problem with words — it emboldens people to do what might be wrong,” Gutierrez said.
The lawmakers also appealed to Santiago to reconsider his “unfortunate” position. n
by Moises cruz ManilaTimes.net
MANILA — The Philippines is set to shine on the global culinary stage as the Michelin Guide announces its arrival, covering Manila, Cebu, and surrounding areas including Pampanga, Tagaytay, and Cavite in 2026.
With expert inspectors evaluating the country's vibrant gastronomic scene, Filipino food is set to take the lead in the international culinary map.
This highly anticipated selection will highlight the Philippines' most brilliant chefs and teams, recognizing their enthusiasm, creativity, and profound knowledge of native flavors and traditions.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) supports the Michelin Guide's arrival.
"We are proud to share our vibrant culture and distinct cuisines with the world, which can be enjoyed through exceptional dining experiences across our dynamic cities and beautiful islands," Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco said on Tuesday, February 18.
"The arrival of the
Michelin Guide is not only a testament to our country's culinary excellence but also a significant leap forward for Filipino tourism, with gastronomy now forming a key part of our national tourism priorities," she said.
Since 1900, the Michelin Guides have been published by the renowned French tire manufacturer, providing esteemed ratings of up to three Michelin stars to exceptional restaurants in specific regions.
The Michelin Guide has maintained its dedication to its original vision, settling in prominent culinary destinations to guide international travelers and
local food lovers while showcasing the world's most exceptional culinary scenes and encouraging cultural exploration through travel.
The selection process for the Michelin Guide adheres to a rigorous methodology, assessing restaurants against five universal benchmarks: ingredient quality, cooking technique, flavor harmony, culinary personality, and consistency across the board.
The complete list of restaurants featured in the Michelin Guide Manila and Environs & Cebu 2026 will be revealed at an exclusive event scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2025. n
by MarK ernesT ViLLeza Philstar.com
MANILA — A Chinese military helicopter flew dangerously close to an aircraft of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Tuesday, February 18 as the latter was on patrol over Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc.
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman on the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA-Navy) helicopter, identified by tail number 68, came as close as three meters to the port side of the BFAR aircraft at around 8:39 a.m.
“This reckless action posed a serious risk to the safety of the pilots and passengers during the MDA (maritime domain awareness) flight,” Tarriela said in a statement on X.
The BFAR aircraft, with PCG personnel and photojournalists on board, was conducting routine monitoring within Philippine territorial airspace when the incident occurred.
Tarriela condemned the PLA-Navy’s actions, calling it a violation of international aviation regulations set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
“The PLA-Navy’s clear violation and blatant disregard for ICAO’s international aviation regulations raise significant concerns,” he said.
Despite what it described as “aggressive and escalatory actions” from China, the PCG and BFAR reaffirmed their commitment to upholding the Philippines’ sovereignty, sovereign rights, and maritime jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea, he stressed.
In an interview with The STAR, BFAR spokesman Nasser Briguera said the bureau would not be cowed into abandoning its mandate by the latest Chinese show of aggression.
“We expect (these kinds of incidents) as it is mandatory for us the monitoring and surveillance of our bodies of water, so BFAR is really on the frontline,” Briguera said.
“We are still committed to carry out our mandate in terms of monitoring, control and surveillance in terms of the conservation and protection of our marine resources,” Briguera added.
He said BFAR and PCG have a memorandum on agreement on assisting each other in patrolling the West Philippine Sea. “We have a MOA in terms of manning both floating and flying asserts,” he added. (With reports from Bella Cariaso, Delon Porcalla)
Philippines firms attract foreign...
However, the recent policy direction of U.S. President Donald Trump with regards to trade and tariffs has caused some turmoil that is causing volatility anew in financial markets. There are fears that the imposition of higher tariffs by the U.S. against some of its trading partners such as Canada, Mexico and China, and possibly even its traditional European allies could disrupt global trade and stoke inflation. n
helicopter flies dangerously close to BFAR plane that for next year (2025), this will remain a key attraction for offshore investors who buy into these papers. From an investor’s perspective, Philippines issuers should do relatively well.”
A week of public
diplomacy
VEGAS&STYLE
Fil-Am from Las Vegas shines on ‘The Voice’
by Gavin Martinez Inquirer.net
FILIPINO talent continues to shine on the international stage, with Jessica Manalo – a Filipino American singer from Las Vegas – making waves on “The Voice USA.”
Following the historic win of Sofronio Vasquez as the first Asian and Filipino champion of the singing competition, Manalo has stepped into the spotlight, leaving quite an impression in the latest season’s blind auditions.
During her performance, it was Michael Bublé, Vasquez’s coach, who first hit his button upon hearing Manalo reach the chorus, quickly followed by Kelsea Ballerini.
The Las Vegas-based Filipina shared her overwhelming emotions in an Instagram post, expressing gratitude for the love and support she has received.
“Where do I begin? The
HAVE you heard of Transition Quotient?
TQ “is one’s ability to recognize different stages of life transitions, perceive them as opportunities for growth and skillfully navigate them with compassion, clarity and curiosity.”
Atty. Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones, former Department of Migrant Workers undersecretary, said, “I was in an ‘emerging ending’ phase in my career at the end of August last year. As I sought productive coping, I signed up in a three-month program to be a certified coach on TQ. After eight Tuesdays with chief trainer Kari Cardinale, I earned the distinction to be a part of the pioneer class of 650 certified TQ coaches around the world. It was an empowering, enabling course that equipped me with frameworks, tools and confidence to journey with those who are trying to get out of their chrysalis and soar with the gifts of new beginnings.”
This program was also life-changing for her for it guided her transition from her 30 years of government work to her new role as chief human resource officer of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation last December 2024. When Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan told her that “this work is also ‘para sa bayan’ (for the country), it was easy to say yes. She quoted William Bridges, “some people fight transition all the way and bewail their fate, while others come to recognize that letting go is not defeat — that it may, in
last 24 hours have been overwhelming. My heart is full and I am in shock from the love and support from so many near and far.” she wrote.
Manalo also revealed that her blind audition had been given an early sneak peek by NBC ahead of its official airing. “BUT who do I choose?? You’ll have to see for yourself! Keep watching every Monday, tune into @ nbc!!” she teased.
Among the many who showed support was Vasquez, who proudly commented, “PILIPINAS.”
Manalo further embraced her Filipino heritage by reposting congratulatory messages and affirming her identity with the caption, “Yes, I am Filipina,” alongside a Philippine flag emoji.
Ballerini was evidently impressed, praising Manalo’s artistry and unique musicality.
“I love that song, and it took me a minute to realize
that you had reimagined it, then I turn around and you’re playing a guitar,” she said. “I play guitar. You’re a musician, you’re a creative, I love that you’re from Vegas — I’m feeling lucky. Women are killing it in music right now, specifically women who have these really identifiable voices and styles, and that’s what you have.”
Bublé, in his signature charm, made his case with a playful remark: “Sure, you could go to Team Kelsea. You could go to this incredibly young, smart, talented, really freshbrained woman, or you could be with a much older — what was I saying?”
Manalo, 31, told KSNV her passion for music began with playing trumpet in a jazz band as a child.
The Las Vegas native has headlined performances at the Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas and opened shows for renowned artists Allen Stone and Bruno Major.
Jericho Rosales feels ‘so happy and lucky’ to play Manuel L. Quezon in biopic
JERICHO Rosales is officially portraying the role of former Philippine President Manuel L. Quezon in the upcoming historical biopic “Quezon.”
On Tuesday, February 18, TBA Studios released an official photo and teaser of the actor as the lead of the cast for the much-anticipated film, which is expected to follow the life of Quezon, a Filipino lawyer and soldier who became the president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines from 1935 to 1944.
The film, which is currently in production, marks Jericho’s return to the big screen following the 2018 romantic drama “The Girl in the Orange Dress.”
He recently starred in the hit ABS-CBN drama “Lavender Fields” with Jodi Sta. Maria and Janine Gutierrez.
“I feel so honored to be with this team. Coming to a script like this which is so potent and so entertaining, I feel so lucky and happy,” Jericho said in a press release statement.
“Here, you will see Quezon as a person. He’s not written as a hero. He is cunning, he is charming, he is intelligent. Quezon is such an interesting character to play; there are so many things I can put into the role to build Quezon as a character. That adds to the pressure, but at the same time I am very excited,” he added.
TBA Studios president Daphne Chiu praised Jericho’s onscreen presence, while director Jerrold Tarog highlighted his powerful audition. The film is part of TBA’s Bayaniverse, which includes the 2015 film “Heneral Luna” starring
“Goyo:
Quezon, Karylle Yuzon as Aurora Quezon and other notable actors. In a Facebook post, Benjamin praised Jericho, saying: “The Philippines’ Quezon: Jericho Rosales! From our initial meetings, rehearsals and readings: this is going to be a Quezon we have never seen or read about.
“Honored to explore such a deep, historic, and colorful person with you Kuya! Like I told you, I will do my best to keep up.
“Welcome to the Bae-yani Universe, Señor Presidente!” he added. The film is set for a local and international release later this year.
Atty. Tonette Velasco-Allones, a certified TQ coach
fact, be the start of a whole new and rewarding phase of their lives.”
* * * During my mom’s second visit to “It’s Showtime” before the COVID-19 pandemic, we were about to sit in the lower third row in the leftmost side when we were uncourteously told to sit in the far upper side in the mid-portion. I kept my cool but it was alright for my persevering American mom. I was then a journalist for the Philippine Star’s entertainment section under editor Ricky Lo.
The reason why senior citizens and disabled persons are placed in the lower portion is so that it would be easier for them to get out after the show.
In fairness, during my mom’s first visit to the show, we were attended with due courtesy. She was then with my American sister Victoria M. Isip who lives in Green Valley, Fairfield, Solano County, California. They had a brief vacation to the Philippines. Another incident I could not forget was during a live audience for Pinoy Big Brother one afternoon in 2017. I was preparing to go to De La Salle University on Taft Avenue, Manila to cover the victory of the all-female DLSU Lady Spikers volleyball team in the UAAP Season 79 championship when I received a call from Julie Forbes, young sister of beauty queen-actress Ali Forbes, who was a housemate contestant in that PBB house. Ali needed support so I chose to go to the station. As I entered the studio, Julie greeted me and I joined Ali’s parents and younger brother in the audience. We were sitting there for a long time. During the short break, I needed to go to the nearest rest room. Little
did I know I entered a secured automatic entrance. As to how I was able to penetrate the locked gate (one could only enter if you had an employee ID), I did not know, perhaps my telekinesis worked in times of emergency.
It surprised me that I was asked to go to the studio’s security management. I refused for I did not do anything wrong. Then came my savior, Col. Dani Enriquez, who was surprised as to what happened. When I got high blood pressure, a medic came to assist me.
So I could just hear the PBB happening just outside while my hypertension was being monitored.
I had a brief chat with TV host Robi Domingo (my cousin singer Yeng Constantino’s cousin) as I saw Tawag ng Tanghalan contestant Noven Belleza and Maymay Entrata passed by. We gazed at each other as I predicted these two would be the winners. (It indeed came true for Noven was the Tawag ng Tanghalan Season One grand champion and Maymay was the Pinoy Big Brother Season 7 grand winner.)
After the incident, Col. Enriquez told me to write what happened since I was with the Philippine Star, but I did not use my position as a PhilStar writer to reveal what happened.
* * * February is the month of love. I will feature different stories of love. I asked two respondents: (1) How do you define love? (2) Are you still in love with your spouse and why? Their replies (third batch) are as follows: Oly Sason-de los Santos, widow of former Philippine
National Police Spokesman Napoleon de los Santos Jr.: (1) “Love is not a feeling. It is a commitment to do good for the other.”; (2) “Love is replaced by good memories and respect for him, for who he was and what he stood for.”
Guia Cruz-Buenaventura, a doting wife of Dan Villarba Buenaventura: (1) “Love is a very special feeling that makes you face life with joy and happiness. It keeps you going through life which is full of challenges and uncertainties.”; (2) “Yes I still do, he is a part of me and will always be. Life has to go on, focusing on our our son, daughter and furbaby, our present and what lies ahead. His legacy is very much alive as we continue doing what he loved doing then through ‘A Smile From Heaven’ charity efforts.”
* * * I met on West America road (in Green Valley) and asked an 85-year-old lady on how to go to Costco and Safeway on Business Center Drive in Fairfield. Clarita Biscocho, a UST alumnus and a retired teacher (she went to the U.S. in 1983), was kind enough to inform me of the right direction. A long walk indeed despite the cold climate. I learned that her daughter, Noralyn Biscocho, a registered nurse, is our neighbor on Overture Lane. Teacher Clarita and her son Almer live on Aria Street not too far from us.
* * * My friend, Jose Arnulfo “Wick” Veloso informed me that he was no longer with the Philippine National Bank as its president. He is now the president and general manag-
er of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). He was the president and CEO of HSBC Philippines, the first Filipino CEO in HSBC’s 144 years of operations.
* * * After the church service in Northgate, we had lunch at Hibachi Grill & Buffet restaurant on Gateway Blvd. in Fairfield, California. I saw lots of Filipinos. Here I met Edna Arcebal, a retired nurse, with her son Dale Navarro. They live in Vallejo where we used to live. Then came Eleanor Kincaid, sister of Edna.
* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
* * * rogeliocmedina@yahoo.com
by Lyka nicart Philstar.com
Jericho with Benjamin Alves, who will portray the younger Quezon. Photo from Instagram/@benxalves
Jessica Manalo stuns coaches Michael Bublé and Kelsea Ballerini. Screencap from The Voice/YouTube
Volpi Cup Best Actor winner John Arcilla and the 2018
Ang Batang Heneral” topbilled by Paulo Avelino. The cast also includes Mon Confiado as Emilio Aguinaldo, Benjamin Alves as a younger
Oly de los Santos (in colorful dress), mother of Miss Aura
International 1st runner-up Issa de los Santos, attending to her daughter’s birthday with some special friends at Casa Angela in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Transition Quotient certified coach Tonette Velasco-Allones Beauty queen-actress Ali Forbes
Wick Veloso, president and general manager of GSIS
Photo shows (seated, from left) Dale Navarro and Edna Arcebal; (standing, from left) Rogelio Medina and Eleanor Kincaid at Hibachi Grill & Buffet in Fairfield.
Guia and Dan Buenaventura in 2020 Valentine’s Day.
Journalist Rogelio C. Medina in white t-shirt with his California-based mom Rosita C. Medina (left) during the first visit to ABS-CBN’s It’s Showtime. Rogelio Medina and retired teacher Clarita Biscocho from Green Valley.
Bianca Umali no billing issue with Nora Aunor in ‘Mananambal’
by HannaH MaLLorca Inquirer.net
BIANCA Umali shut down reports that she had a billing issue with National Artist Nora Aunor in the poster of their upcoming film “Mananambal,” which premiered on February 19.
During a press conference for “Mananambal,” director Adolfo Alix, Jr. was asked to clarify if Umali’s team requested to have a bigger space than Aunor in the film’s poster. This prompted the younger actress to immediately shut down the rumor, pointing out that she was “shocked” to even hear such a question.
“I am shocked by the question but I would like to handle it as professionally as possible,” she began.
“I believe the question is inappropriate for the event, and also, hindi ko po alam anong mararamdaman ko (I don’t know how to feel about it) because I do not have any idea about that. And I’m worried about how people in this room might take it, hearing it from the representative of the press.”
Umali explained that having the chance to work with Aunor is “already a blessing” in itself, saying she doesn’t want to pass up the opportunity to learn from the award-winning actress.
“And it is an opportunity that I already knew na hindi ko po palalagpasin (I wouldn’t let go of),” she said.
“Being with her on set was a masterclass for me and was a dream I never thought I would achieve this early in my career. Kaya po ‘yung makasama si Miss Nora (The fact that I already worked with Miss Nora) — that’s already enough.”
Maintaining the billing issue is “something she is not aware” of, the actress stressed that aside from sharing scenes with Aunor, sharing to the public the fruit of their hard work in “Mananambal” is already a win for her.
“Ako po, bilang isang actor and the love that I have for my craft and the respect I have
for myself and the industry… Bonus na po ‘yun and it is a recognition [of] how I do my work,” she said.
“Pero dito sa pelikulang ‘Mananambal,’ napakatagal na panahon kong hinintay na ipalabas dahil pinaghirapan namin ang pelikulang ito. Maraming pinagdaanan ang pelikulang ito, at ipalabas at maipakita, at ito ang pagbabalik-pelikula ni Ms. Nora Aunor [and that] is all that matters,” she further added.
(As an actor who loves my craft and the respect I have for myself and the industry, it’s a bonus and it is a recognition of how I do my work. With the film “Mananambal,” I waited for a long time to have this film out. It has been through a lot before it will be shown to the public. This is also the comeback film of Ms. Nora Aunor and that is all that matters.)
For his part, Alix said the alleged billing issue is “unfair” for Umali and Aunor. He also explained that the screen veteran was absent during the press conference due to health concerns.
“The idea po of billing with [any artist] for that matter, siguro alam naman po nila. Like sa sinabi ni Bianca, Ate Guy deserves the rightful billing [since] she’s an icon in the industry. Kung ano po ‘yung nakikita niyo ngayon I think ‘yan po ang tama at nararapat,” he said.
(The idea of billing with any artist for that matter, I’m sure they are aware of it. Like Bianca said, Ate Guy deserves the rightful billing
because she’s an icon in the industry. Whatever you’re seeing today, I think it is what’s right and proper to do.)
‘Emotional moment’
Umali also addressed the particular question in 24 Oras interview where she admitted that it was an “emotional moment,” but she knew that she had to put her feelings aside and be professional.
“I was shocked. It became an emotional moment for me at some point. But then, in my heart and my mind, I knew that the best way to handle it was to be the most professional person in the room,” she said.
The actress also reiterated that having the opportunity to be with Aunor in a film is “everything” she needs in her career.
To be working with our superstar and National Artist is already an honor. That is everything I need. Everything else that comes from it, the billing, even the award that I won, is already a bonus na lang,” she said.
In May 2024, Umali bagged the Best Dramatic Actress award at the Jinseo Arigato International Film Festival for her portrayal of the film’s lead character Alma. She is set to star as Sang’gre Terra in the upcoming fantasy drama “Sang’gre.”
Mananambal” marks
Aunor’s return to the film industry after appearing in the Alix-helmed “Pieta” in 2023. She also lent her voice to the final scene of the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival entry “Isang Himala.”
Sam Milby confirms split with Catriona Gray, but they’re ‘okay’
SAM Milby and Catriona Gray have already broken up, finally ending the longstanding speculations that they ended their relationship for good. There was no third party involved in their split.
Milby confirmed his split with Gray to ABSCBN News on Wednesday, February 19, when asked about their status.
After clarifying that they are “okay” and they have no problems, he was directly asked if they are still together, which prompted him to confirm that they are no longer together, per report.
The “Pinoy Big Brother” alum clarified that there was no third party involved in their breakup, including the rumors that Moira Dela Torre was allegedly the cause of their split.
“There was never a third
party sa amin ni Cat. That needs to be cleared,” Milby was quoted as saying. “There is no truth to it at all. It makes me sad. May babala ako sa mga tao. Please magingat kayo sa mga nakikita niyo online. If there’s no evidence, huwag niyong paniwalaan yung nakikita
niyo because in this incident, there’s absolutely no truth to it at all,” he further added. (There is no truth to it at all. It makes me sad. I have a reminder to the public. Please be careful with the things you see online. If there’s no evidence, don’t believe what you’re seeing because, in this
OUR mental health is arguably more vital to our being than our physical health, although both are essential to our general well-being. A solid stabilizing anchor for all this is faith, a belief in a supreme spiritual almighty far greater than us or any force on earth. Whether we call it God, Allah, or Jehovah, Elohim, El Shaddai, Adonai, Budha, Abba, Brahma, Hashem, or others, each and all represent goodness, compassion, understanding, forgiveness, love of fellowmen, and peace.
Loneliness, sadness, depression, pain, and other neuro/psychological ailments are ameliorated by having a strong faith in the existence of a most powerful omnipotence in the universe. This loyalty greatly impacts our emotional balance, our general health, and inner peace.
I am not a religious extremist. I believe in God and He is my compass and GPS. I thank the Lord for every morning He grants me to wake up to and for all His graces and blessings for my entire family and friends. And that includes my longing for world peace, an elusive friend I have been praying for as long as I can remember. No saint and imperfect, I disdain bigotry and treat people, even strangers, with respect. I find all this to be beneficial to my own health and sanity.
One God
While it is not realistic in our world today, it would be wonderful if all peoples around the globe believed in one single supreme almighty and lived in harmony and peace, instead of worshipping different gods and fighting each other. Each faith proclaims God represents love and peace, so why the hatred and conflict?
One religion for the world where love and compassion for all our fellowmen rules humankind would certainly be ideal, but realistically impossible. The best compromise would be various peoples with different religions living together in peaceful coexistence, with understanding and tolerance for each other. After all, we, Homo sapiens, modern man, are all relatives, having originated from ONE single family in Southern Africa around 300,000 years ago. Global peace would be a nirvana, a paragon vastly conducive to the physical and mental health of humanity.
Fanatics
In spite of the religious and political divergence in the world today, there are the
incident, there is absolutely no truth to it at all.)
The actor-singer was also asked if Gray’s viral video during TJ Monterde’s concert, where she was spotted crying to singer-songwriter’s “Hanggang Dito Na Lang” performance, had something to do with their split. However, he said that he “could not speak for her.”
“If you wanna ask her what she was feeling, I can’t speak for her. I know that we’re okay,” Milby said in the report. “Kahit after ng concert I said, ‘I’ll go to the backstage.
fanatics, extremists, zealots, religious, political, or simply power-hungry and greedy people, with blind beliefs and irrational thinking, who are the stumbling block to world peace and prosperity. The majority of all peoples, no matter their faith, Islam, Christian, Buddhist, Hindus, Sikhi, and partisan beliefs, are good and just people, who love harmony and peace.
Unfortunately, even in a democracy, a selfish and unjust minority could adversely impact, if not overpower, the majority. The rioting, flagburning, criminals destroying businesses and public properties, killing people, in the name of free speech (in abuse), are too frequent events that devastate the mental and physical health of people and contribute to our ailments. We may not be aware of it, but all these, especially the potential for a nuclear Armageddon, are registered in our subconscious, constantly nagging our brain and bothering our immune system each and every day in our life. Our domestic problems with finances, taxes, price of eggs, gasoline, and other commodities, are nothing compared to the insults from these fanatics upon our life and the extreme fear of the prospect of a global catastrophe initiated by unthinking evil zealots. Every religion should seek world peace in earnest to make domestic tranquility around the world a reality.
RFK, Jr.’s MAHA
On the home front, the appointment of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, as the 26th Secretary of Health and Human Services, is predicted to usher in a more vigilant and strict policies to root out unhealthy aspects in human health and environment in the United States. This includes healthier diet for children in schools and for the general public. Products on the market that have been vetted as healthy foods will carry an FDA healthy icon label, making it easier for people to find and choose the healthier food items at the supermarkets.
Hopefully this more aggressive approach of RFK, Jr., will include stringent quality control of all vitamins and food supplements on the market today. There are thousands of products out there, which have not been scientifically tested and proven to be safe, effective, and as good as they claim to be. They pose potential dangers to people’s health.
While the wonder drug aspirin, vitamin D3, and the prescription drugs being advertised are proven good, effective, beneficial
‘Cause we’re okay.” Gray has yet to address Milby’s remarks, as of press time.
Milby and Gray, who announced their engagement in February 2023, have been hounded with breakup rumors since February of last year after entertainment insider Ogie Diaz claimed that they have already parted ways. Diaz, however, clarified that he would rather wait for them or their management Cornerstone Entertainment to set the record straight.
Weeks after Diaz’s showbiz
products, the majority have not been scientifically evaluated.
Does Prevagen and other neuro-drugs popularly advertised to improve brain function, which some people are interpreting to be a good to prevent Alzheimer’s, have any double-blind, randomized, evidence-based clinical studies to prove their claim?
How many DOZEN capsules does one need to take a day of the advertised “Fruits-and-Vegetable” (not 3 as the Ads recommend) to equal the required daily minimum of fresh fruits and vegetables?
How about the claim that the nose clip, or dental gear, etc., being marketed as a therapy for sleep apnea? As a cardiac surgeon, I know that the patho-physiology of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the caused by a sagging soft palate and the tongue falling back, blocking the airway. Those gadgets sold out there are a scam! The golden standard of care for OSA is CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) to “push” the blockage wide open (like inflating balloons), to enable normal breathing and good oxygen supply.
The surgically-implanted Inspire should be more honest in its ads to clearly state it is only an alternative to CPAP for those who could not tolerate CPAP. People could misinterpret Inspire’s ads that it is better than CPAP, which is not true. It requires surgery, for one; it needs an implanted electrode to stimulate your tongue while asleep, and it does not work for all patients. There are countless products that need scientific scrutiny and vetting to safeguard the people. After more than a century, it’s about time the public was protected from the vicious greedy entrepreneurs.
* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
*
* * Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, medical missionary, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He is a decorated recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995, presented by then Indiana Governor, US senator, and later a presidential candidate, Evan Bayh. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry S. Truman, President George HW Bush, Astronaut Gus Grissom, distinguished educators, scientists, etc. (Wikipedia). Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com
vlog, Cornerstone confirmed that they were indeed facing “relationship issues,” while seemingly denying their separation. They have since been spotted together on multiple occasions since then. However, they were again hit with split allegations after Gray took down their engagement photos on her Instagram account, although both parties have remained silent on the status of their relationship since then. The ex-partners were supposed to get married sometime in 2024. (Inquirer.net)
Catriona Gray and Sam Milby
Photo from Instagram/@catriona_gray
(From left) Bianca Umali and Nora Auno Photos from Facebook/Viva Films
