022824 - Southern California Midweek Edition

lot of channels” in the U.S. government and it would have to go through the Department of Foreign Affairs first before making it to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

“We are waiting for the request

of the U.S. government on this matter,” he said at a press briefing.

Quiboloy, who is on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Most Wanted List, has claimed there is a plot to have him killed, prompting him to go into hiding despite a subpoena issued to him to appear before a Senate investigation.

The Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) leader and self-proclaimed “Appointed Son of God” accused the U.S. government of orchestrating a plan to assassinate him.

Quiboloy said the supposed scheme would involve hit men storming his compound to kidnap

and eventually murder him. He also implicated President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the plot, claiming there was a conspiracy with the U.S.

Remulla said Quiboloy is also facing two pending charges in the Philippines – for rape and cyberlibel – still undergoing review before the DOJ.

He said resolving the cases is his top priority but admitted it’s not the DOJ’s call “on everything.”

“Locally, it’s our call on the petition for review, but in terms of extradition it is something beyond our control,” Remulla said.

The Bureau of Immigration has not released any Immigration  PAGE 2

MANILA — As the country commemorated the 38th anniversary of the EDSA people power revolution on Sunday, February 25, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. highlighted the importance of learning from history and called on Filipinos to rely on multiple sources before passing judgment.

In a video posted on YouTube, Marcos did not mention the popular revolt in 1986 that unseated his late father and namesake and forced his family into exile. He merely emphasized the need to be guided by past

events and for politicians to serve the people, not their parties or their families.

“Your interest in history is very important because we have much to learn from history, and the history that has been made a long time ago and the history that is being made now, all of these are important,” Marcos said in response to a letter sender, a humanities student who claimed to be interested in history and politics.

Marcos said people must realize that politics is a constant, but because of technology, it has become more difficult to determine which is true and which is “fake news.”

THE race in California’s 41st Assembly District brings in Filipino American lawyer Jed Leaño, former mayor of Claremont, California, and currently city councilmember.

Leaño is running against Pasadena City Councilmember Felicia Williams, former prosecutor John Harabedian and former Pasadena Police Lt. Dr. Phlunté Riddle to represent the district that includes communities from the foothills of Los Angeles County to the high desert of San Bernardino.

Leaño was elected to the Claremont City Council in 2018,

Duterte backs Marcos on economic Cha-cha

FORMER President Rodrigo Duterte said he was "comfortable supporting" his successor, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in easing economic restrictions in the Constitution.

Addressing a rally in Cebu City on Sunday, February 25, Duterte said he was open to introducing amendments to the Constitution as long as they do not propose term extensions for incumbent officials.

He also said Marcos had not committed any "big mistake" as president so far.

"Maybe those below him, but him, I haven't heard anything. So, I continue to support him," Duterte said.

He said he would continue to back Marcos so long as he steps down at the end of his six-

year term.

He advised Marcos not to "follow the path" of his late father and namesake, who stayed in power for over two decades until he was overthrown during the EDSA Revolution in 1986.

"Just end your trip and then let go and let the Constitution work," Duterte said.

The president has repeatedly said that he is only pushing for changes in the economic provisions of the Constitution to attract more investors to the country.

Just several weeks ago, Duterte and Marcos were firing broadsides at each other.

Duterte had labeled the president as a "drug  PAGE 3

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) is standing by its decision to award the P18-billion automated counting machine (ACM) lease contract to the lone bidder and challenged its critics to file a case in court.

"Anybody can question our decision before the Supreme Court," said Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia. "In the meantime, we will focus now on the drafting of the contract with the joint venture company and ensure that the best interest of the nation is upheld on each and every provision thereof."

The contract was awarded to the joint venture of Miru Systems.

Garcia said the Comelec is on a tight schedule and needs at least six months to prepare the 110 ACMs it will use in the 2025 elections.

"Our timelines are so tight, hence, focus and determination are important. We cannot be disrupted in our preparations for the 2025 electoral exercises no matter how wellmeaning the intentions of certain groups or individuals are," he said.

The election watchdog Democracy Watch Philippines questioned the awarding of the contract to Miru Systems, citing unaddressed concerns about the firm's technology and questionable record.

Democracy Watch warned the Comelec that the South Korean vendor's proposed system is illegal and could threaten the future of Philippine elections.

"The legitimacy of Miru's proposed technology is a critical cause for concern, as everything indicates that their automated counting machines have never been used in any election before," Democracy Watch

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants the plebiscite on Charter change (Cha-cha) to be held at the same time as the 2025 midterm elections to save public funds, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said Monday, February 26, after he and other senators returned from a ceremonial signing of two laws at the Palace.

Zubiri and Senate President Pro Tempore Lorna Regina "Loren"

Legarda and Sen. Juan Edgardo

"Sonny" Angara filed Resolution of Both Houses 6 (RBH 6), which proposes to amend some economic provisions of the

Charter to attract more foreign investors.

Zubiri said the president reiterated his earlier pronouncement that the Senate should lead the move to amend the 1987 Constitution, particularly the restrictive economic provisions on public services, education and the advertising industry.

The president prefers to hold the plebiscite along with the 2025 elections because a separate plebiscite would cost between P12 billion and P14 billion, the Senate chief said.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec), in response, said it was ready to hold the plebiscite

has not yet requested...

Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO), which is different from a hold departure order issued by a court, against Quiboloy.

An ILBO directs immigration personnel to note and report to the DOJ if a subject leaves the country.

Remulla said the DOJ has received a letter from Sen. Risa Hontiveros requesting an ILBO against Quiboloy, but he said “it

will take more than a letter for us to issue an order.”

A Senate inquiry, led by Hontiveros, is looking into the supposed crimes, including sexual abuse, committed in the KJC.

The Quiboloy camp on Monday accused the Senate of abuse of power after Hontiveros warned that he could be arrested if he fails to comply with the subpoena issued against him.

Marcos Jr.: Learn from...

“Do not just read one material. Read everything. My grandmother taught me to read anything and told me it would be up to me to gauge which is true and which is not. And that’s what you have to do. That’s what history can guide us with because we have experienced this before,” the president said.

Malacañang was silent on the commemoration of the EDSA Revolution on Sunday, as the president has not issued an official statement on the event.

Critics have accused the Marcoses of attempting to distort history and of whitewashing the human rights violations and corruption under the administration of their patriarch, the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

They also alleged that disinformation had helped Marcos win by landslide during the 2022 elections.

In an earlier interview, Marcos said he and his family have no

reason to revise history and that they can prove all of what they have claimed. His sister, Sen. Imee Marcos, had said her family was only trying to tell their side of the story. The president said politics “should be in the service of the people,” not be in the service of one party or one person. Marcos claimed he entered politics because he was saddened by the sufferings of Filipinos. “I thought I could do something to help. I think that is the right reason for someone to enter politics,” he added. During the 37th anniversary of the popular revolt last year, Marcos called for reconciliation through a social media post.

“I once again offer my hand of reconciliation to those with different political persuasions to come together as one in forging a better society — one that will pursue progress and peace and a better life for all Filipinos,” Marcos said in a Facebook post on Feb. 25, 2023.

In a radio interview, lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said his client is still considering whether or not to attend the investigation into the alleged abuses within the KJC ministry.

“This is not an inquiry in aid of legislation, it is an inquiry in aid of persecution, because during the speech of Senator Risa Hontiveros, she already declared Pastor Quiboloy guilty,” he said. g

The president also said he was one with Filipinos in remembering “those times of tribulation” and how they emerged “united and stronger” as a nation.

History repeating itself?

At the 38th anniversary march Sunday, 21-year-old demonstrator Giu de Sagun told Agence France Presse he felt like he was “watching history repeat itself.”

Some protesters wore shirts and hats vowing “never again.”

At a small, official anniversary event in Manila, a group of government workers raised Philippine flags after laying a wreath in front of the People Power Monument. No senior government officials attended.

Marcos Jr. and his family returned to the Philippines after his father’s death in 1989, and began a remarkable political comeback.

His presidential victory was fuelled by a massive online misinformation campaign that portrayed his father’s time in office as a golden era.

He has since won praise for pivoting away from his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte’s brutal drug war, which left thousands dead.

Under the younger Marcos’ government, rights campaigner and vocal Duterte critic Leila de Lima was also freed after nearly seven years behind bars.

“Under (Marcos Jr.), we are given the opportunity to make use of a democratic space in transition from the authoritarian regime that was Duterte’s,” she told reporters last week.

“This is our breathing room from the seven years of nightmare that we thought was all over in 1986,” she added. g

Comelec dares critics: Sue...

convenor Lloyd Zaragoza said.

Zaragoza said his group has repeatedly asked the same questions before the postqualification evaluations began, but Comelec did not answer them satisfactorily.

What was presented during the post-qualification evaluation and demonstration to the Comelec en banc and stakeholders was a prototype of the machine that has never been used in an official election, he said.

Zaragoza said the Comelec's own admission that the machine evaluated was a prototype runs against the Automated Elections Law of 2007, which requires that "the system procured must have demonstrated capability and been successfully used in a prior electoral exercise here or abroad."

"Alarming reports about the company's involvement in the 2023 elections in Iraq and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have painted a picture of voting delays, chaos, and a severe erosion of public trust. Observers had anticipated a statement from Miru, clarifying and justifying the supposed 'success' of their technology, but convincing explanations have yet to materialize," Zaragoza said. Democracy Watch cited a

preliminary report by the National Episcopal Conference of Congo and the Church of Christ in Congo (ECC) that in the DRC, a staggering 45.1 percent of polling stations experienced difficulties with electronic voting machines.

The findings, it added, were corroborated by Carter Center's international election observers, who allegedly witnessed technical issues in 22 percent of the polling stations they visited.

But Garcia said the issues raised by Democracy Watch had been taken up by the Comelec before it adopted the recommendation of the Special Bids and Awards Committee (SBAC) and its Technical Working Group (TWG).

Certifications were also issued in support of Miru's counting machines, he said. Democracy Watch said it does not know why Miru Systems misrepresented the position of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (Unami) in the elections in Iraq.

"While Miru conveyed that Unami had endorsed the elections as fair and successful, Unami had previously made it clear through a press release that it would not take part in observing or monitoring the elections, thus not being equipped to evaluate the election process," Zaragoza said.

The group called on the

Comelec to maintain transparency to ensure that next year's elections will be fair.

The Comelec en banc unanimously approved the recommendation of the SBAC and TWG last week recognizing Miru Systems as the winning bidder.

Garcia said the notice of award has already been received by the winning bidder, and that by next week Comelec and Miru Systems will start preparing the specifics of the contract, including customizing the ACMs, the construction of provincial repair hubs in all 82 provinces, including international certification, and the review of the source code.

"Hopefully, we would be able to finish the contract within two weeks if the contract negotiations would go smoothly," Garcia said.

The Comelec, he said, welcomes criticisms and questions about the ACMs.

He said the machines were just a part of the system. Other components must also be scrutinized to make sure that the entire process works without a hitch.

Garcia said the Comelec will ask Miru Systems to demonstrate the ACMs before members of the House of Representatives so that the comments and suggestions from the lawmakers could be included in the contract. g

The EDSA People Power Monument is photographed on

a day before the 38th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution on February 25, 2024. Philstar.com photo by Michael Varcas

PNA photo by Joan Bondoc

BBM wants Cha-cha plebiscite...

midterm elections, if that is what Congress specifies in its resolution.

Holding both exercises simultaneously meant there was no need to rush Charter change, Zubiri said.

"We can take this up after the break, and complete the resolution, and approve the resolution before the sine die break — that is our target date," he said.

He added that he had asked Angara to look into the possibility of adding a rider question on the constitutional amendments on the back page of the ballot.

Zubiri also said the president expressed concern about how the Senate and the House were getting along, after a very public word war erupted over Charter change.

"I said after the signing today, it's even much better. We said the ceasefire has been holding," Zubiri said.

He added that the president reiterated that he only wanted the amendment of some economic provisions and made it clear that "there should be no political amendments."

Possible

On Monday, Comelec said it was possible to hold the plebiscite on Charter change at the same time as the 2025 elections.

"We will comply per our mandate in accordance with the Constitution," said Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia, even as he pointed to the tight timeline.

He said the Comelec could hold a plebiscite simultaneously with the regular elections in 2025 with corresponding adjustments to their ongoing preparations at least cost to the government.

There will be no additional

cost except for the additional allowance for public school teachers and other poll workers who will man the precinct on election day, Garcia said, adding that the Comelec already has a sample ballot with plebiscite questions. The new automated counting machines that they will use in 2025 can read a "yes or no" question in the ballot.

Comelec spokesman John Rex Laudiangco, meanwhile, said that under the terms of reference for the lease purchase of the 110 ACMs from Miru Systems intended for the 2025 polls, any other electoral exercises like the plebiscite can be included.

He said the question should contain the provision of the Constitution with the proposed amendment.

The Comelec estimates that it would cost P13 billion to conduct a national plebiscite.

Earlier, Garcia said that synchronized plebiscite and regular elections could not be done because of a previous Supreme Court ruling that prohibits the simultaneous holding of a plebiscite and a regular election.

But he said it could be legally done, provided that it is specified in the resolution of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

House divided

In the House, where deliberations began on a similar Charter change resolution, lawmakers were divided over the process that would be followed once they approved Resolution of Both Houses 7 (RBH 7).

Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman asked whether the House would send RBH 7 to the Senate if the House approves it. Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali "Boyet" Gonzales 2nd,

committee floor leader, said that "the moment we approve our resolution, then we'll send it to the Senate."

But Lagman then asked whether the House and the Senate would meet as a constituent assembly once the Senate concurs with the resolution.

Gonzales said that "our view is that we are exercising separately the powers granted by the Constitution, which is we vote by at least three-fourths of all the members separately. And then once we have concurred with the same resolution, then it will now be sent to the Comelec for purposes of scheduling a plebiscite, and there is no more need to meet as a joint assembly."

Lagman, however, insisted that when it comes to a constituent assembly, the representatives and the senators should meet in an assembly.

"They cannot be acting separately. And only a constituent assembly of representatives and senators can propose amendments to the Constitution for ratification by the people in a proper plebiscite," he said.

RBH 7 seeks the same amendments as the RBH 6 filed in the Senate.

The Senate started its deliberations on RBH 6 earlier this month.

Like RBH 6, RBH 7 covered Article XII (Section 11), Article XIV (paragraph 2 of Section 4), and Article XVI (paragraph 2 of Section 11).

Both RBHs seek to add the words "unless otherwise provided by law" to these provisions. Both RBHs also seek to add the word "basic" before the words

"educational institutions" in the first sentence of paragraph 2, Section 4 of Article XIV. g

Duterte backs Marcos on economic...

addict" who is often "high" while performing his duties.

The president fired back by saying, "It's the fentanyl," referring to a strong anti-pain medication that was triggering Duterte's tirades.

During a press briefing Monday, February 26, some members of the House of Representatives welcomed Duterte's support for economic Charter change (Chacha).

Isabela Rep. Faustino "Inno"

Dy 5th described the former president's backing as "a welcome

development." House Deputy Speaker David "Jayjay" Suarez said he was "very happy with Duterte's statements, but he would be a lot happier "if the same can be echoed by" Duterte's supporters. Suarez said the House has "been consistent" in pushing for an "economic Cha-cha."

Also on Monday, the House, acting as a committee of the whole, started deliberations on Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) 7, which lists the specific provisions that need to be amended.

RBH 7 seeks the same

amendments as RBH 6, filed in the Senate earlier.

The two resolutions both cover Article XII (Section 11), Article XIV (paragraph 2 of Section 4), and Article XVI (paragraph 2 of Section 11) of the Constitution.

They both seek to add the words "unless otherwise provided by law" to the provisions and the word "basic" before the words "educational institutions" in the first sentence of paragraph 2, Section 4 of Article XIV.

RBH 7, however, does not have the words "each House voting separately." g

Fil-Am runs for LA City Council seat in District

According to information Ayao sent to Asian Journal, his focus will be on solving the challenges the community faces and his number one priority will be to bring back clean, safe neighborhoods and schools to the community should he get elected. Included in his plans will be to provide funding for pilot projects that will immediately remove illegally dumped trash and clean graffiti; tap available resources from the government such as the low-income housing tax credit program and free money from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to address homelessness within the community, and work with community organizations that have a proven track record; remove homeless people off the streets and those camped in front of businesses; use resources to fund a dedicated and specialized Los Angeles Police Department unit to respond to calls that deal with the mentally ill and homeless; provide funding for deployment of CCTV cameras in crime-prone areas without invading residents’ right to privacy in order to identify and arrest criminals; and repair sidewalks and streets in the district, including trimming/removal of trees that pose as hazards.

Ayao also is proposing creating a Public Safety Committee comprised of members of neighborhood councils, the neighborhood watch, homeowners, renters, the faith-based community and the business sector which shall meet with Ayao and his staff once a month to share concerns and accomplishments, and discuss requested resources.

Ayao is a former native of Camarines Sur, Philippines who migrated to the United States in 1985 in search of a better quality of life. He has worked hard his entire life, starting at an early age when he worked as a janitor through high school in order to attend a privately-owned school. This continued in college where he worked odd jobs in order to support himself while earning a bachelor’s degree in Commerce. Prior to moving to the U.S., he was a unit manager of an international mutual insurance life company.

Ayao is married to Marilou Beltran, who worked as a nurse for 40 years. Ayao says that he has found that better quality of living here in the U.S. with his wife,

four children, 7 grandchildren (2 of whom actively serve in the military) and 1 great granddaughter.

A small business owner, Ayao worked as a real estate and mortgage broker for three decades before deciding to retire. He believes that his real estate and finance background will give him the tools to help accomplish his goals and vision.

According to Ayao, the main supporter of his campaign is the GOP, although he is running in a non-partisan race. He is also being supported by the LA Hispanic Republican Club, and his campaign volunteers include parishioners from St. Genevieve’s parish, the Knights of Columbus and longtime friends.

Ayao is hoping that Filipino Americans living in District 6, which includes the communities of Arleta, Lake Balboa, North Hills, North Hollywood, Pacoima, Panorama City, Sun Valley and Van Nuys, will support his campaign and help him get elected to the city council. His campaign will continue their door-to-door outreach/canvassing up to the eve of election day.

To learn more about Ely Ayao’s campaign for the District 6 seat for the LA City Council, go to AyaoForCityCouncil.com. g

California Gov. Newsom wants voters to...

PAGE 1

treatment beds to successfully attack the growing public health crisis. Health and law enforcement groups have lined up behind the initiative, as have the mayors of the state’s major cities. Homelessness statistics in California have risen a staggering 20% since Newsom took office in 2019, to more than 180,000 people — 68% of them on the streets and not in shelters. The numbers are growing despite Newsom’s unprecedented investment of more than $20 billion in homelessness programs, plus billions more for health and social services.

Yet many of the front-line workers implementing Newsom’s

initiatives fear that Proposition 1 would simply pour more money into a broken homelessness response system that is largely failing to house those in need.

Rather than focus on getting homeless people into mental health and addiction programs — and ultimately into housing — many caseworkers say they waste precious time and taxpayer dollars searching for their homeless clients after encampments have been cleared by state and local officials, a policy Newsom has encouraged, not only for the safety of homeless people but for those in surrounding neighborhoods.

Once they locate their clients, advocates must help them —

often repeatedly — obtain food, clothing, and medication refills, and replace official government documents like birth certificates and IDs. “You can’t get housing without that stuff,” said Afton Francik, an outreach worker with the Sacramento-based nonprofit Hope Cooperative, which is implementing several of Newsom’s homelessness and mental health initiatives.

Perhaps the biggest challenge they face, outreach workers and case managers say, is rebuilding the trust that took time to establish — and which they say is essential to getting people into treatment and housing.

PAGE 4

Ely De La Cruz Ayao, candidate for LA CIty Council District 6

Photo courtesy of Ely De La Cruz Ayao’s campaign website

California Gov. Newsom wants voters to...

“It

you already did,” Francik said.

Newsom says California has placed at least 71,000 people indoors — either in permanent or temporary housing — since he took office in 2019. State money flows to cities and counties, which have opened at least 15,000 housing units and 2,485 residential treatment beds, plus additional outpatient capacity, during his tenure.

Newsom has also revamped health programs to get people off the streets, including a massive $12 billion transformation of the state Medicaid health insurance program that provides some patients with housing and one-onone case management services.

As he promotes Proposition 1, Newsom is calling for stricter enforcement, saying he feels a deep responsibility to keep California’s streets clean and safe, and to respond to growing neighborhood concerns about trash, mental illness, crime, and drugs. He has acknowledged that sweeps can traumatize homeless people but argues that local officials who receive state money to clear encampments are supposed to find shelter or treatment for those displaced.

Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper, who supports Proposition 1, said sweeps are sometimes necessary for public health and safety.

“This is a huge drain on public resources and emergency services,” Cooper said. “Drugs are everywhere. There is so much mental illness. We’ve got to get these folks the help and treatment they need.”

But critics of the sweeps argue that it’s inhumane to forcibly move people without providing shelter or housing. “We’re seeing a ton of enforcement, but there’s literally nowhere to put people,” said Crystal Sanchez, president of the Sacramento Homeless Union.

Newsom acknowledged the state doesn’t have enough housing for everyone who needs it, and that Proposition 1 is part of the solution. The measure would expand his existing housing and treatment programs, which do not trigger the land use and environmental reviews that often delay or kill new projects.

“We are in a unique position to take what we have been promoting — these promises —

and make them real,” Newsom said in January. Like all of Newsom’s homeless housing initiatives, Proposition 1 would rely on outreach teams and caseworkers to help homeless people obtain services and housing.

But in boots-on-the-ground interviews from rural Northern California to San Diego, such workers said it would be difficult to get more people into housing if they must continue picking up the pieces after encampment clearings — a policy the U.S. Supreme Court will scrutinize in April. The question the court will consider is whether to allow criminal or civil penalties against homeless people living outdoors if no shelter or housing is available. Newsom said in an amicus brief that cities and counties should be allowed to clear encampments, signaling he has no plans to retreat from the policy.

“When encampments are being cleared by law enforcement, it totally upends people’s lives and violates that trust in a way that they’re going to be more resistant to help,” said Hannah Wesolowski, chief advocacy officer for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, whose California chapter supports the ballot initiative. “If someone has a mental illness and is unhoused, trust is the most important thing in trying to engage them in treatment and actually getting them into housing.”

Take Samuel Buckles, a longtime Sacramento resident who said he struggles with mental health and is addicted to fentanyl. Buckles, 53, lost his home in a fire and then his job early in the covid-19 pandemic. Since then, he has worked odd jobs as a handyman and purchased a recreational vehicle that he parked around Sacramento and called home.

When law enforcement officials cleared his camp in early February, they confiscated his RV because he had allowed the registration to lapse. He lost his birth certificate and Social Security card, all his medications for diabetes and high blood pressure, his extra clothing, and a fridge packed with groceries he’d recently purchased with his food stamp benefits.

“That was my home and everything I had in the world,” Buckles said on a cold February morning from his new form of shelter: a tent donated by outreach workers.

It was the first time in years he said he had truly felt homeless.

In mid-February, law enforcement cleared the encampment he had relocated to, forcing him to move again. Feeling despondent, he said he had given up on the promise of housing. “Please make this pain stop. I don’t know how much more I can take,” he said. Buckles was able to grab a few possessions from his RV after it was confiscated, but replacing the documents he needs for housing may take months and repeat visits by outreach workers, said Greg Stupplebeen, an outreach manager with Hope Cooperative.

Even if Buckles had his paperwork in order, “there’s nowhere to put anybody right now,” Stupplebeen told him.

(Angela Hart/KFF Health News)

This article was produced by KFF Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.

KFF Health News is a national 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.

Fil-Am lawyer Jed Leaño eyes seat in California...

PAGE 1

city’s second Filipino mayor.

He is a son of immigrants from the Philippines. His father grew up in Tondo, Manila, and served as a U.S. Navy serviceman. His mother immigrated to the US as a nurse and worked long hours for 35 years to put Leaño and his two siblings through school. Their lola and two titas helped raise the Leaño children because their father worked overseas and their mother worked the night shift.

Leaño was exposed to the immense sacrifice that immigrant parents make to give their children a chance to achieve the American Dream. This motivated him to become an immigration lawyer and help give other families a chance to succeed in America.

“The most vivid memory of my childhood and the most important moment of my childhood was in 1989. I was 9-years-old and my parents brought me back to the Philippines for the first time,” Leaño said. “Being there for the very first time, leaving (the) Aquino airport and traveling in a car seeing the abject poverty of the Philippines was the most impactful moment of my childhood.”

Leaño said it was hard for him as a young child to understand poverty. “But when I saw the level of poverty back home, it finally made me understand the sacrifices my mother and father made,” he said. That was

OVERVIEW

the moment that Leaño knew he wanted a career in law and government “to help lift people up out of poverty.”

“I decided to run for office the first time in 2018 because of one reason: homelessness. I looked around me and felt the policies and programming to address homelessness were inadequate,” he said.

“But more importantly, I saw our region needed a champion for the cause. By my second year in office, I reduced homelessness in Claremont by 41 percent.

Affordable housing developments are funded and approved because of my leadership in the face of immense adversity.”

As a state legislator, Leaño wants to continue to address housing affordability and

homelessness, support small businesses and ensure safe streets and community access to mental health care.

District 41 includes Altadena, Bradbury, Claremont, Duarte, Hesperia, La Cañada Flintridge, La Verne, Lytle Creek, Monrovia, Oak Hills, Pasadena, Phelan, Piñon Hills, Rancho Cucamonga, San Antonio Heights, San Dimas, San Pasqual, Sierra Madre, Upland and Wrightwood.

Meanwhile, Fil-Am community leaders Cynthia Bonta, mother of California Attorney General Rob Bonta, and former Mayor of Cerritos Mark Pulido have urged Fil-Ams to participate in the 2024 elections, to vote for candidates from the community and to hold them accountable while in office.

(Jun Nucum/Inquirer.net)

Program & Membership Manager

The Asian Business Association (ABA) is one of the largest Asian-American professional organizations in the Greater LA area with over 1,200 members strong, serving mainly Asian Pacific American small business owners, professionals and entrepreneurs all working toward the same goals. Our lean & mean team is backed by an incredible Board of Directors and distinctive Corporations who all support supplier diversity. Our efforts are exhibited in the numerous educational & fun networking events we put together throughout the year that help connect people and encourage business development. The association is looking into adding a new ambitious, talented, & vibrant individual to support the association’s existing members and more importantly, to secure new members that would benefit from ABA’s programs and events.

Program & Events

An ideal candidate will lead the organization’s events and programs that serve to both engage current members and to attract new members as well as to build relationships with sponsors/ corporations and key community partners. The candidate must be available to work some evenings. Some travel may be required. Along with the Executive Director, candidate will:

● Lead event logistics planning and event program planning which includes coordinating with the event venue, communicating with speakers, and supporting registration and creating the program book

● Speak on the behalf of the organization at internal and external events

● Create email marketing and digital / print marketing material for organization and events

● Perform general office duties including answering telephones and moving materials to and from events

Desired Skills and Qualities

● Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, organize multiple project deadlines

● Ability to take criticism and think collaboratively with multiple stakeholders

● Effective interpersonal, oral and communication skills to interact with a variety of diverse personalities

● Impeccable project management skills

● Proven ability to compose documents and communicate orally in correct English

● Proficiency working with: Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Database Software, email marketing, graphic design software and social media

● Show sensitivity and interest to multicultural issues

● Willingness to talk through disagreements and openly discuss ways to improve the organization

● Interest in all aspects of event planning is a plus

● Bilingual is a plus

● Sense of humor is the office is a plus

● Enjoys Asian food and boba is a must

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Salary range: $45,000 - $58,000 depending on qualifications and experience. Benefits include medical, paid holidays, sick and personal leave. This is a full time position. We offer an amazing opportunity to connect and support the local business community, a great work environment, and a warm, fun & supportive team environment. Flexible schedule.

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume and 3 references to Human Resources at hr@abala.org, emails only; doc. or pdf files. No phone

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HEROES’ HALL. The flags of the revolutionary group Katipunan are displayed in one of the rooms of the Bahay Nakpil-Bautista (Tahanan ng mga Katipunero or Home of Heroes of the Philippine Revolution) in A. Bautista Street, Quiapo, Manila, as photographed during a tour on Saturday, Feb. 24. The house-turned museum has rooms dedicated to Gregoria “Oriang” De Jesus, founder of the women’s chapter of the Katipunan and once married to Katipunan “supremo” Andres Bonifacio; a small library of Filipiniana books for researchers; a community center for Quiapo; and venues for exhibits of young and upcoming artists and photographers and meetings of advocacy groups. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc

Filipino American lawyer Jed Leaño is running for California’s 41st Assembly District. Contributed photo

California Gov. Gavin Newsom

Photo from Facebook/@GavinNewsom

Remembering, 38 years later

THE nation marks today the 38th anniversary of the people power revolt with new personalities organizing or participating in mass gatherings against the administration. At the EDSA Shrine, groups identified with the opposition during the 1986 peaceful revolt intend to gather to amplify calls to protect the Constitution from self-serving amendments.

Editorial

under the elder Ferdinand Marcos.

Opposition to Charter change, which is currently being pushed by the House of Representatives, is also the cause taken up by groups that are expected to gather in Cebu today, led by former President Rodrigo Duterte together with his family and supporters.

Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has admitted that the ouster of his father and namesake and their exile were “dark days” and “a very trying time” for their family. He entered politics, he said at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland last year, “to defend ourselves politically,” to protect his father’s “legacy” and for his family’s “own survival.”

Following his election to the nation’s highest office, marking his family’s dramatic political comeback, Marcos has often called for unity.

Babe’s

AS I have repeatedly said on several occasions, the unprecedented interest in the Philippines has grown exponentially, particularly from the Western world, ever since Ferdinand Marcos Jr. became president. The president’s interactions with leaders through state and official visits have put the Philippines on the radar screen, consequently giving revitalized interest in the country as a smart investment destination. We also cannot deny the fact that the president’s courageous pushback on Chinese aggression in our territorial waters has given him high international leadership status. I cannot overemphasize that all the trips that have been undertaken by the president are starting to bear fruit. We are seeing tangible results in data coming from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showing that net foreign direct investment inflows in November 2023 rebounded by 27.8 percent amounting to $1

Unlike the Lunar New Year or other special events, however, he has not declared a holiday for the EDSA anniversary commemoration. But Marcos Junior is showing so far that he is no autocrat like his father.

In the human rights department, he is also seen as a major improvement from his predecessor. Former senator Leila de Lima, who is finally out on bail, sees the current Marcos administration as a “breathing room” from the “authoritarian regime” of Rodrigo Duterte. Filipinos may have lost their appetite for people power, but this should not diminish the significance of the event 38 years ago that inspired other democracy movements around the world. The event showed what Filipinos united behind a worthy cause can achieve. This spirit can be harnessed for the many reforms that are still urgently needed to strengthen democracy, promote inclusive growth and realize the promise of an unfinished revolution. (Philstar.com)

billion, bringing the 11-month FDI inflows to $7.6 billion. A report from the Philippine Statistics Authority also disclosed that foreign investment pledges surged 127.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2023 to P394.45 billion, while 117 projects worth P2.5 trillion between the government and the private sector are now in the pipeline. The unemployment rate also went down to 3.1 percent in December – the lowest level since 2005 – better than the 3.6 percent recorded in November. Analysts are also optimistic for 2024, among them Fitch Solutions’ unit BMI saying it expects the Philippine economy to grow at a faster rate of 6.2 percent this year, higher than the 5.6 percent in 2023. The Bank of the Philippine Islands meanwhile projects the economy to expand by 6.3 percent. As noted by our economic team, “the presidential visits have been impactful for the economy, signaling to both local entrepreneurs and foreign investors alike the government’s commitment to fostering a conducive environment for economic prosperity. The Philippines has become a

premier investment destination for foreign businesses in Asia.”

Sadly, there are still people looking at things from the old Filipino mentality of “instant gratification” – expecting instant results, refusing to acknowledge that these things don’t just come or happen at the click of a finger. But I can honestly say from where I am sitting, there is absolutely no doubt there is a renewed interest in the Philippines from many American business groups. In fact, the newly reinvigorated U.S.Philippines Society is arriving with a big delegation to Manila this week, with new members composed of executives from U.S. companies, especially after reorganizing their board of directors.

Founded in 2012, the U.S.Philippines Society is a private sector initiative that seeks to elevate the profile of the Philippines in the United States. Its members are composed of former diplomats and U.S. government officials, and top businessmen from the U.S. and the Philippines. The group has been reinvigorated with a lot of new members, with Ambassador John Negroponte as co-chairman for the U.S. side.

Formerly the U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Negroponte also served as Deputy Secretary of State and was appointed by president George W. Bush as the first ever Director of National Intelligence. Businessman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala has taken over as co-chairman for the Philippine side, vice Manny Pangilinan who has opted to be a board member instead since he is busy with many other businesses. During the most recent SGV Knowledge Institute Briefing, Jaime Augusto shared his confidence that the Philippines will be able to “maintain its position as one of the region’s fastest growing economies this year,” sharing his optimism that “inflation will continue to slow down and catalyze the return of much more robust consumer spending, which has long been the driver of the economy, as well as higher investments from both the public and private sectors.”

Earlier this week, a delegation from the Honolulu City Council, the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii and the Hawaii Philippines Business

Economic Council paid a courtesy call on President Marcos and expressed interest in exploring opportunities in trade, tourism and agriculture.

But the highlight of all these investments is the big business delegation organized by President Joe Biden himself. They will be arriving mid-March led by Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, whom I met with in Washington recently to get a brief on the plans for that extremely important undertaking. Secretary Raimondo will be bringing top CEOs who will be looking at the Philippines for potential investments in many sectors that include innovation economy, connective infrastructure, clean energy transition, critical minerals sector and food security, among others. A big impediment in attracting foreign investors are the restrictive economic provisions in the Constitution which President Marcos correctly described were “not written for a globalized world.” According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s foreign direct investment regulatory restrictiveness index (FDI Index), the Philippines in

2020 ranked as the third most restrictive out of 84 countries, with most of the restrictive laws directly enshrined in the 1987 Constitution. I know there has been a lot of controversy surrounding the issue of economic Charter change, but this is something that cannot be done overnight either. As I repeatedly said, it must be properly debated on, with the pros and cons thoroughly discussed in a transparent manner because we will be changing laws that are enshrined in the Constitution –so we have to be careful about this. This is something that should not be simply shoved down people’s throats. There’s an old saying –“patience is a virtue” – and clearly, we should have enough sense and patience to know where we all want our country to go: economic prosperity means economic security. (Philstar.com)

* * * 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.

* * * babeseyeview@gmail.com

THE election of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to the presidency in 2022 has been jarring enough to Filipinos who thought the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution was the final deliverance from authoritarian rule. It had come at a great sacrifice, not only for the whole nation but for those thousands who chose to stand up against the dictator, notably Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. who was brutally murdered in 1983. From the mammoth 12-hour funeral display of the people’s anger to the people power revolt, it took the Filipino people just three years to gather the storm that would sweep the Marcoses from Malacañang.

It is clear we are now waging an EDSA 2. This is a battle for the memory of EDSA and against historical revisionism, of upholding the meaning of all the sacrifices the nation suffered and the risks the people took. The return of the Marcoses during the term of President Fidel V. Ramos was the Trojan horse moment. From then on, the Marcoses squeezed all that the 1987 Constitution offered by way

of civil, political, economic, and social rights to rehabilitate their name and restore their political power. It was not a difficult task—they had all the plundered wealth to invest in the grand scheme.

For the financial support the Marcoses provided, Rodrigo Duterte allowed the burial of Marcos Sr. at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani in 2016, a mental dissonance of epic proportions. Chased out of the country, the dictator is now ensconced in the pantheon of Filipino heroes. EDSA 2 is about protecting our memory of EDSA, of our people voicing their abhorrence of authoritarian rule. It is about pushing back against the Marcos administration’s gambit to consign EDSA to the dustbin of insignificance and oblivion.

Beyond the symbolism and significance of EDSA, however, there are patterns of collective will and action that have taken root because of EDSA. No matter that some glib-tongues talk about “EDSA-pwera,” it remains true that EDSA has brought back formal democratic institutions, with functioning institutions such as a free press, an independent judiciary, a multiparty system, and three co-equal branches of government kept by a checks and balances system.

The Philippines has witnessed significant economic growth since 1986 even though poverty and inequality have festered. Civil society has been vibrant and the media free despite herculean efforts during the Duterte administration to muzzle it. Sure, Philippine democracy has visible dents and signs of corrosion, but it has worked. There was even enough political elbow room to experiment with dangerous outliers like Joseph “Erap” Estrada and Duterte.

Perhaps the best legacy of EDSA is Marcos Jr., who, defying preconceived notions he will be as dictatorial and kleptocratic as his father, has surprisingly abided by the available political, legal, and other controls of the Constitution. Even his “New Philippines” does not spell the imagined malevolence of his father’s New Society. The Charter change attempt initiated by his minions was checkmated, even if it meanders looking for an extra-legal pathway to fruition.

Malacañang’s official bypass of the commemoration of EDSA did not prevent the resounding ridicule of the EDSA-pwera salvo that initiated the media campaign to change the Constitution.

Most of all, the Marcos Jr. victory in May 2022, no matter how grotesque to many, can still

be seen as the normal functioning of a democratic system where voters are free to choose their leaders, notwithstanding the imperfections of the Philippine electoral system.

But the best legacy of EDSA is how it has eventually returned the military to the barracks.

Those uncertain days of six successive coups under Cory Aquino’s presidency tapered off after the Oakwood Mutiny against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2003. The military today singlemindedly

finds pride and meaning in its role of protecting Philippine sovereignty from both external and internal threats.

The legacy of EDSA is how the military, even with blandishments from Duterte, refused to join his war on drugs without a legal written order, in stark contrast to the Philippine National Police which went along for the ride with nothing more than verbal urgings. When one looks at nations, including in Asean, experiencing excruciating turmoil as the

military takes over democratic governments, one realizes that the legacy of EDSA is the Filipino people doggedly stumbling, fumbling, and jostling peacefully toward the possible dream of a Philippine democracy of all, for all, because by all. (Inquirer.net) * * * 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. * * * doyromero@gmail.com

DATELINE PHILIPPINES

Pres. Marcos signs Expanded Centenarian,

by HELEN FLORES Philstar.com

MANILA — Responding to clamor to extend benefits to Filipino octogenarians and nonagenarians, President Ferdiannd Marcos Jr. signed on Monday, February 26 a law providing P10,000 cash gift to citizens who reach 80, 85, 90 and 95 years old.

Marcos said Republic Act 11982 or “An Act Granting benefits to Filipino Octogenarians and Nonagenarians” is a homage and an expression of gratitude to the Filipino elderly.

“To our active 80-somethings and lively 90-somethings, the expanded Centenarians Act confers upon you the thanks of a grateful nation that you have made strong and stable through your labors,” Marcos said in his speech during the ceremonial signing of the law at Malacañang.

RA 11982 amended RA 10868 or the “Centenarians Act of 2016,” which grants P100,000 cash gift to those who reach 100.

“The expansion of the coverage of the Centenarians Act is a homage to the Filipino trait of compassion and in our culture, none are showered with more kind and loving care than our elderly,” the president said. Under the new law, Filipinos, upon reaching the age of 80, will receive a cash gift of P10,000

Tatak Pinoy laws

and every five years thereafter upon reaching the ages of 85, 90 and 95.

“We do, after all, stand on the shoulders of these giants,” Marcos said.

Apart from the financial incentive, the chief executive also pushed for senior citizenfriendly infrastructure in the country.

“They deserve more than cash in an envelope. What they should get is a support infrastructure that every society owes to its greying population,” he said.

Based on 2020 data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, there are 9,242,121 senior citizens or those aged 60 and above nationwide.

“But as this demographic enlarges, the societal facilities that attend to them should be expanded as well,” the 66-yearold Marcos said.

“When we think of the future, it is not just about, as Hubert Humphrey once said, ‘those who are in the dawn of life, our children,’ but also ‘those in the twilight of life, our elderly.’ ”

As a senior citizen himself, Marcos joked that he and the proponents of the law might be suspected of having passed the bill for themselves.

Among those present during the signing of the expanded Centenarian Law were Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, Speaker Martin Romualdez,

senators, including the president’s sister, Sen. Imee Marcos, members of the House of Representatives and Cabinet secretaries.

As the new law is not covered by the 2024 national budget, House committee on appropriations chair and Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co proposed the use of savings or unprogrammed funds for the cash gifts.

“But the national budget is not inflexible. Savings can be tapped, but with proper authorization from DBM. The unprogrammed funds can also be a funding source, provided the rules on these funds are followed, so that DBM can properly authorize access to the unprogrammed funds,” Co said, referring to the Department of Budget and Management.

Senior Citizens party-list Rep.

Rodolfo Ordanes said the funds could also be sourced from the savings of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

“Now that the amendments to the Centenarian’s Act are approved, the Senior Citizens party-list shifts its focus to its funding and implementation, including the implementing rules and regulations to make sure the new law is faithfully and effectively executed,” Ordanes said, noting a need to clarify if the new law also applies to those who turned 80, 85, 90 and 95 before the law took effect. 

Metro Manila Subway project now ‘40% complete,’ says DOTr

by JAMES RELATIVO Philstar.com

MANILA — The Philippines' first-ever underground mass transport system is almost halfway through completion after it recorded an overall project implementation progress rate at 40% as of January 2024.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) shared the news during the site inspection of the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP), together with Finance Secretary Ralph Recto and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Chief Representative to the Philippines Takema Sakamoto on Monday, February 26.

"We have shown to Secretary Ralph Recto the ongoing development and briefing on what the project is all about, and with the support of JICA we are implementing this project on time for completion in 2029,"

said Bautista.

The MMSP is currently being financed by two active loan agreements and is expected to enter into a third tranche of loan worth ¥150 billion by March 2024.

The project includes the construction of a deport and a 33-kilometer railway line made up of 17 stations that will connect Valenzuela City to Pasay City with a spur line to Terminal 3 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Parañaque City. Through the project, state officials aim to reduce travel time from Valenzuela to NAIA from 1 hour and 30 minutes to just 35 minutes while servicing 519,000 passengers on a daily basis.

Completion by 2029

Bautista said that the DOTr is currently in discussion with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)

and the Department of Finance (DOF) for review of draft documents pertaining to the loan deal provided by JICA and the government of Japan.

"With the support of JICA, we are implementing this project on time for completion in 2029," Bautista continued.

Recto has also expressed support to ensure the project is completed on time, while the DOTr addresses the right-ofway issues.

It could be remembered that the MMSP only resumed its actual construction in January 2023 following the right-ofway issues after some property owners refused to surrender their land to the state.

"The Department of Finance is fully committed to securing the funding for this project," said Recto. "We aim to finalize the loan agreement for the 3rd tranche of financing by March 2024." 

Senate OKs bill de ning Philippines maritime zones

by CRISTINA CHI Philstar.com

MANILA — The Senate has passed on final reading a bill that defines the maritime zones under Philippine jurisdiction in a bid to eventually fend off entities that seek to challenge the 2016 arbitral ruling on the West Philippine Sea. Senate Bill No. 2492, which was approved on Monday, February 26 draws the exact meters and bounds of the Philippines’ maritime entitlements under UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and other international laws. This includes the internal waters and exclusive economic zones (EEZ) over which the Philippines exercises sovereignty and jurisdiction.

In a press conference on Monday, Sen. Francis Tolentino, sponsor of the measure, said that the bill also considers the artificial islands and installations within the country's EEZ as part of its jurisdiction. Even if the Philippines did

not build the artificial island, it is considered “owned” by the country under the measure, Tolentino said. The Permanent Court of Arbitration under the United Nations ruled in 2016 that China's nine-dash line claim and other activities in Philippine were unlawful. Since then, the arbitral ruling has been repeatedly invoked by the Philippines and other nations with overlapping claims in response to Chinese maritime aggression. Beijing has largely dismissed the international ruling, claiming it has no legal basis.

Maritime expert Jay Batongbacal said that the passage of the measure marks a “significant milestone in the country’s long and difficult quest toward effectively managing our seas.”

“Foreign States will be obliged to ensure that their flag vessels comply with the laws and regulations of the country enacted in accordance with international law,” Batongbacal said.

The proposed Maritime Zones Act is also legislation that is “40 years in the making,” said Julio Amador III, senior adviser at Waypoints, a group of maritime security specialists, practitioners and experts.

“Since UNCLOS was adopted, the Philippines needed to align its national laws with international norms and laws. This historic act underscores the Philippines’ commitment to defend its rights in its waters,” Amador said.

The House version of the bill was passed on final reading in May 2023.

If the measure is passed into law, it may help the Philippines implement the 2016 tribunal ruling that invalidated China’s sweeping claims in the West Philippine Sea, Tolentino said in a radio interview in December.

Tolentino said that once the proposed Philippine Maritime Zones Act becomes law, the Philippine government will submit this to the United Nations to be recognized by other countries, which will solidify the country’s maritime claims. 

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This is what it takes to take on Alzheimer’s.

It’s not easy to accept that memory loss that disrupts daily life could be a sign of Alzheimer’s. Or that two-thirds of people diagnosed are women, including Asian American and Pacific Islander women. But we can watch for signs in ourselves and others. And reduce our risk by staying active and lowering blood pressure. Because we have what it takes to take on Alzheimer’s.

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DThe wrestler-turned-actor is set to reprise his role as Glossu “Beast” Rabban Harkonnen in “Dune: Part Two,” joining returning stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, and Javier Bardem with new additions to the cast that include Florence Pugh and Austin Butler. The highly anticipated film is scheduled to hit theaters on March 1, 2024.

In an interview with the Asian Journal, Bautista reflects on his journey, diversity in the industry, and the joy of playing the bad guy.

Inspiring diversity and inclusion Bautista, considered a role model for aspiring actors with diverse backgrounds, emphasizes the importance of inclusion and diversity.

“Diverse is my love language,” he told us, reflecting on his own struggles to find role models growing up. His journey, shaped by being a person of mixed race raised by a lesbian single mother, fuels his commitment to breaking barriers in the entertainment industry.

“I know a lot of my life I never really knew where I fit in. It was hard for me to feel like I fit in because I didn’t have those role models,” he shares. Bautista believes that focusing on inclusion and representation is not just a social responsibility but a personal one, resonating with his own experiences.

In an interview with GQ, Bautista, whose mom is Greek and dad is Filipino, shared his pride in three tattoos. One on his upper left arm are the flags of the Philippines and Greece placed side-by-side. On his left elbow, he has three yellow stars and the sun from the Philippine flag. The black-colored Philippine sun surrounds an Eye of Providence on his chest.

DUNE’S BEAST RETURNS

Dave Bautista: Unleashing beast mode on and off the screen

by MoMar G. Visaya / AJPress

AVE Bautista, a towering presence both on-screen and in real life, has carved his path in Hollywood with an unapologetic embrace of his Filipino-Greek heritage.

From hero to villain: Embracing the dark side

Having portrayed both heroes and villains, Bautista finds playing the antagonist more fun and challenging as a performer. He draws parallels between his wrestling career, where he embraced the role of the “bad guy” to enhance the hero’s narrative, and his love for portraying villains on the big screen.

“I think, you know, the root of me. I’m a good person, I’m a nice person. I’m a kind person, and I take pride in that. But it’s fun playing the bad guy,” he shares. Bautista’s journey in Hollywood showcases his versatility and willingness to explore different facets of his craft.

Dune: A Timeless Tale with Timely Themes Discussing his role in “Dune Part Two,” Bautista emphasizes writer and director Denis Villeneuve’s dedication to staying true to Frank Herbert’s science fiction novel and the fan base. He encourages audiences to appreciate the storytelling and visual representation while acknowledging that political interpretations are inevitable.

“People shouldn’t lose sight of the entertainment

Gloc-9 reflects on hit song ‘Sirena,’ regards it as gift to his gay son

By Anne PAsAjol Inquirer.net

GLOC-9 spoke about life’s “hints of magic” as he recalled how he wrote and released the gay anthem “Sirena” in 2012, without knowing at the time about his son Daniel being gay.

The rapper said this in an exclusive interview with ABSCBN on Monday, Feb. 26, after he was asked on his reaction to the LGBTQIA+ community “fully embracing” his song.

Yung song na ‘yan, nung ire-release namin ‘yan, takot na takot ako. Takot na takot dahil ayaw kong makainsulto ng tao,” he admitted.

Alam ko kasi nung sinulat ko ‘yan, hindi ko tsinelas o sapatos ‘yung suot-suot ko. Ako’y nagsuot ng ibang sapatos o tsinelas,” he continued. “Kaya ako natatakot kasi ayaw kong may naisulat ako dun na baka: ‘E sira ulo pala ito, hindi naman ‘to ganyan e.’”

Despite his initial fears, Gloc-9 seemed to have felt relief after receiving positive responses and even messages of gratitude from individuals who have gay loved ones. “‘Yung mga songs, binibigay lang ‘yan e. I believe pinapahiram lang ‘yan. Pag

binitawan namin ‘yan, hindi na amin ‘yan; hindi na kami ‘yan,” he told the news outlet. “May mga songs na binigay sa akin na…,” the rapper said as he took a pause and broke into tears. “My son is gay. Nung sinulat ko ‘yun, hindi niya pa sinasabi sa amin. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko sasabihin sa anak ko na, kung gaano ko siya kamahal. Gloc-9 underscored how he felt overjoyed because in retrospect, he was blessed with a song that served as a “gift” not only for him but also for his son. “Hindi naman ako mashowbiz pero I think para sabihin ko ito now, ako ay proud na proud sa anak ko. Ako ay excited sa kung ano

value of this and look at this as just beautiful storytelling,” he urges. Bautista credits Villeneuve’s commitment to the source material, creating a cinematic experience that aligns with the novel’s essence. “Dave is excellent. We spend more time with Beast Rabban—let’s just say, he does not have a good time in ‘Part Two!’” Villeneuve said. “He’s humiliated, he’s struggling with the Fremen, and we see this is a character who is reaching his limit, panicking and losing control of Arrakis.”

Collaborating with Austin Butler and Filipino Martial Arts

Austin Butler, a new addition to the cast said, “I had a blast playing villainous characters with Stellan Skarsgård and Dave Bautista, they are both such sweet and funny guys and they welcomed me with open arms.”

Bautista on the other hand describes the experience of working with Butler as a blessing. He praises the younger actor’s talent and genuine nature, emphasizing the importance of feeling at ease with co-stars.

Viewers will experience an adrenaline-fueled cinematic showdown as Timothee

Chalamet’s Paul Atreides confronts Butler’s treacherous and bloodthirsty Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen in an epic duel, a highlight that’s more than worth the price of admission. The intensity builds the moment the actors utter the words, “May thy knife chip and shatter.” This nail-biting scene isn’t just a spectacle; it’s a heart-pounding experience that elevates the entire movie as the choreography unfolds like a mesmerizing dance, capturing the intricacy and intensity that makes this duel truly unforgettable.

“It was really about trying to find Feyd’s fighting style, and if Paul has training in the Atreides and Fremen way of fighting, how does Feyd’s differ? And I trained vocally as well. And once I saw myself in the mirror and I didn’t have any hair, and I had the black teeth... You start to see the transformation, and that just becomes a blast, because then you can lose yourself in it,” Butler said.

“I knew the fight scenes were going to be really taxing, and I wanted them to feel powerful, so we trained a lot. We did a lot of Kali, which is Filipino stick fighting, and a lot of knife work,” he added. Reflecting on Butler’s training in Kali, Bautista expressed his love for it, highlighting its presence in Hollywood for decades.

“I love it. Now people are actually recognizing it for what it is,” Bautista noted, emphasizing that Filipino Martial Arts have been contributing to cinematic fight scenes for years. His personal favorite is Kali, appreciating its versatility with empty hand or knife techniques.

Notes from Denis: A validation of trust Receiving notes from his director is a source of immense joy and genuine excitement,

making Bautista feel validated in his career choices. This validation is particularly significant, considering the challenges he faced in earning the trust and belief of others in the industry. Reflecting on their collaborative journey, he acknowledges the initial challenge of earning Denis’s approval for a character in their first film together. Despite Denis not seeing him for the role initially, Bautista persevered, earning the trust and subsequently gaining robust support from the acclaimed director. “To feel like I’m collaborating with him, we’re

investing, we’re talking about a character, it just feels like… I feel validated,” Bautista shared. As Dave Bautista steps back into the shadowy realms of villains in “Dune Part Two,” he carries with him more than just the weight of Beast’s ferocity. He’s a beacon for aspiring actors, an advocate for diversity, and a testament to the transformative power of storytelling. With his unapologetic approach to life and craft, he continues to leave an indelible mark on Hollywood embracing challenges and bringing authenticity to every role he undertakes.

Troy Laureta on working with Ariana, Katy, Bocelli, other A-list international singers

By Boy ABundA Philstar.com

CONTRARY to the title of Vol. 3 of his OPM album, Dalamhati” (the Tagalog word for grief or grieving), FilipinoAmerican musical director, songwriter, and performer Troy Laureta is in a celebratory mood for several reasons.The Hawaii-born, full-blooded Pinoy is ecstatic about the goingson in his life – both personally and professionally. Troy initially made a name for himself in the international music scene as the Fil-Am musical director of famous artists in the U.S. He has worked with such A-list international singers as Ariana Grande, David Foster, Katy Perry, and Andrea Bocelli.

Filipino music enthusiasts have known Troy since he began to co-produce songs with ABSCBN Music and work with local singers like Ogie Alcasid, Jed Madela, Regine Velasquez, to name a few.While his career was booming, Troy was hurting inside for not being able to show to the whole world who he really is. It was two years ago when he made a revelation about his sexual orientation and gender identity through his Instagram.“Dalamhati (full title is Dalamhati: A Troy Laureta OPM Collective, Vol. 3) is my most special album because it’s the first album that I produced as an openly gay man.

The Hawaii-born, full-blooded Pinoy is ecstatic about the goings-on in his life --- both personally and professionally. Troy initially made a name for himself in the international music scene as the Fil-Am musical director of famous artists

Being open about myself is something that I wanted for so long, so, to be able to put all those emotions, all those feelings finally, openly and freely, into a body of work, it’s something I dreamt about,” he offered. It’s a follow-up to Kaibigan: A Troy Laureta Collective Vol.1 and Giliw: A Troy Laureta OPM Collective Vol. 2, released in 2020 and 2021, respectively.I recently met with Troy for a one-on-one for Batalk Channel’s The Interviewer. Below are excerpts.

What have been changed so far in your life now?

“A lot of things have changed. I released my third and final album and I’m just starting to step into a different era of

my artistry and my life. I’m just happy to be here.”

This third collective is a celebration of your being gay. How did it impact the choice of songs and the singers?

“Those songs have kind of become a beacon of hope for me during my process of coming out and with the singers, they are the people who have been with me through it all.”

Let’s talk about the songs in Dalamhati. I know Martin Nievera released one – Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika. Morissette did Huling El Bimbo, and aside from that, you also have Jonathan Manalo’s Gusto Ko ng Bumitaw performed by Pia Toscano and Loren Allred.

“They are good friends of mine. Ogie (Alcasid) was also part of Dalamhati. He did an acoustic version of Pangarap Ko ay Ibigin Ka.”

Your Collectives – Kaibigan, Giliw and Dalamhati – are your tribute to OPM. You’ve made a mark abroad. You just made this country proud. Having achieved what you have achieved, why are you doing all this?

“For so long, I wasn’t able to formally give Filipino music and the Filipinos the recognition for molding me into the musician that I am today. It’s something very heavy on my heart and it’s for my family, too. I see how hard they work and what they had to do for me to get here and it

was my way of saying thank you. And for the youth especially, it’s something to be proud of, something to be seen and heard because when I was growing up, there wasn’t Filipino music other than what I saw on TFC. But if someone in the States or someone in the province can listen to our music being sung by the world, I’m hoping that it would give them the courage to step into their light because I would have loved that back when I was a little younger.”

Did you come with David Foster when he did his concerts in Manila?

“It was his manager who called me up on a random Tuesday or something and said, ‘Hey, David needs a musical director,’ and I tell you, Tito Boy, I got scared that I almost didn’t do the audition. I wasn’t sure if I was ready but I did it. He’s been following my career with Ariana and all the other artists that I’ve worked with through the years.”

Let’s talk about Ariana.

“I got to work with Ariana through auditions in L.A. I became her musical director on her first world tour, The Honeymoon Tour (2015).”

How’s it working with Ariana?

“Amazing. I’m a fan of singers so when I was able to work with someone who’s not only famous and beautiful but also fulfills my musical heart.”

Dave Bautista Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

(L-R) Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides and Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen in Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ action adventure “Dune: Part Two,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photos by Niko Tavernise

Dave as “Beast” Rabban Harkonnen in Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ action adventure “Dune: Part Two,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.

in the US. He has worked with such A-list international singers as Ariana Grande, David Foster, Katy Perry, and Andrea Bocelli. Photo from Instagram/@troylaureta

Gloc-9 Photo from Instagram/@glocdash9

What to do when facing debt problems

Minding Your Finances

ATTY. RAYMOND BULAON

MOST people who are struggling with debt problems for the first time are often confused and don’t know what to do. They’ve never been in this situation before. They have always paid their bills on time.

For the first time in their life, they are finding it difficult to fulfill their debt obligations. Bill collectors may be calling and they’re afraid to answer the phone or even go to their mailbox. They’re feeling embarrassed, desperate, or even angry. This can happen to anyone. Sometimes, it is the result of making bad financial decisions.

But more often than not, it is caused by reasons beyond your control. For instance, these days I am seeing a lot of small business owners who are simply not making enough to even meet their payroll needs. Every month is a struggle, and they are not even paying themselves because there is not enough money in the business after paying their employees, suppliers, vendors, and other business expenses. What should they do?

Or you can be someone whose work hours just got reduced or perhaps got laid off by your employer. I feel bad when I hear of people being terminated from their job of 10, 20 or sometimes even 30 years. The job is the only job

they’ve had and known for years- and it is what they’ve considered to be their financial security. Then one day they get a notice from their boss saying that they are no longer needed by the company. They suddenly find themselves with no income and they are not prepared to deal with the fact that they may need to go back to school to learn new skills to find a new job or switch careers in midlife.

If you rely on a paycheck or your business to feed your family, missing even one paycheck or one slow month (if you’re in business) can be devastating. This is when people find out that with no savings in the bank, they are literally just one month away from bankruptcy because without the income, they are unable to pay their bills. The ideal situation is to have a few months’ worth of living expenses tucked away in a savings account, but the truth is that most people don’t even have $1,000 in the bank. It’s true because as a bankruptcy attorney, I see it every single day. Even people who earn high incomes, most of the time, have no savings. They spend it all every month. It seems like the higher the income, the higher the expenses. It’s not how much you make that matters. It’s what you get to keep.

Once you fall behind on your debt obligations, it is easy to ignore the situation and hope that things will get better on their own. But that will never happen until you do something about it. That means you should be always aware how much money you

have coming in, how much money you have going out, and spend within your means.

Borrowing when you are already in debt is not a good idea. I see a lot of people who resort to payday loans when their income is short, hoping this can be a quick fix. But they are not, and they will only put you in a bigger financial hole every month. When I see the interest rates that these payday loan “thieves” are charging, I get angry. Who in their right mind will pay more than 1000% interest on a $300-500 loan? You read that right: more than 1000% APR is what most of these pay day loan companies are charging and this should be a crime! But desperate people fall for it all the time and that’s what keeps them in business.

Don’t wait until you get to a point of desperation before you start tackling your debt problems. In some cases, you can still avoid bankruptcy if you know what your options are. If you wait until your situation becomes a financial emergency, you will find that those options are extremely limited.

* * *

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.

* * * None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation.  Atty. Ray J. Bulaon has successfully helped over 6,000 clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call RJB Law Offices at TOLL FREE  1-866-471-8272. (Advertising Supplement)

Troy Laureta on working with...

From Page 8

How about Katy Perry?

“I worked with Katy on a couple of gigs. It was through David and we did this like corporate events and we did a full set of her songs. It was so much fun. It was short but I was able to play Fireworks and you know, all the hits and it was super fun. She was very nice.”

Let’s talk about your experience working with Bocelli.

“It was special because we all know Bocelli from singing songs like The Prayer and I grew up

with that song so when I got to work with him, it was a moment that I’ll always remember because it was a full circle moment. My first gig with Bocelli was actually in Italy. We performed at the Colosseum and it was one of my first David Foster gigs.” Your third collective is your opus as a gay man. Tell me the story. “I was closeted for a long time because I didn’t want to disappoint my family. I thought within myself that if I was able to do good in music

Continued on Page 10

The tax bene ts of estate planning: A guide by an experienced trust and estate attorney an unlimited number of people without incurring gift taxes, effectively reducing the size of one’s estate while avoiding the gift tax. Lifetime gifts can also qualify for educational and medical exclusions, further enhancing the tax benefits. By carefully planning these gifts, individuals can transfer substantial wealth to their heirs tax-free.

ESTATE planning is often viewed through the lens of ensuring that one’s assets are distributed according to their wishes after passing. However, an equally important aspect that merits attention is the potential for significant tax benefits. As an experienced trust and estate attorney, I’ve guided numerous clients through the complexities of estate planning, emphasizing not only the peace of mind it brings but also the financial advantages, particularly in tax savings.

Minimizing estate taxes

One of the primary tax benefits of comprehensive estate planning is the reduction of estate taxes. The federal government levies taxes on the transfer of the estate of a deceased person if the value exceeds certain thresholds. Through strategic planning, such as the use of trusts, individuals can significantly reduce the size of their taxable estate, thereby decreasing or even eliminating estate taxes. For example, irrevocable trusts can be used to remove assets from the estate’s taxable value, offering a dual advantage of asset protection and tax savings.

Gift taxes and lifetime transfers

Another aspect of estate planning that offers tax advantages is the strategic use of gifts. The IRS allows individuals to give a certain amount per year to

Generation-Skipping

Transfer Tax (GSTT) planning

For those looking to benefit multiple generations, understanding and planning around the Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax (GSTT) is crucial.

The GSTT is a tax on transfers to individuals two or more generations below the donor. Through the use of generationskipping trusts, individuals can pass assets directly to grandchildren or even greatgrandchildren, avoiding the taxes that would be incurred if the assets first passed to the intervening generation.

Income tax benefits

Estate planning can also provide income tax benefits. Certain types of trusts, like charitable remainder trusts, allow the grantor to receive a partial tax deduction for the value of the gift to charity, along with potential income for a term of years. Moreover, by carefully selecting which assets to transfer into trusts, individuals can shift income-producing assets into lower tax brackets, reducing overall income tax liability.

State-specific considerations

It’s important to note that estate planning strategies must also take into account statespecific laws and taxes. Some states impose their own estate or inheritance taxes, with thresholds

that can be significantly lower than the federal exemption. Proper planning with a knowledgeable attorney can help navigate these variances, ensuring optimal tax efficiency across both federal and state levels.

Estate planning offers more than just the orderly distribution of assets after one’s passing. It presents a critical opportunity to minimize tax liabilities, ensuring that more of one’s hard-earned assets are passed on to their loved ones. By engaging in thorough estate planning with an experienced attorney, individuals can achieve both peace of mind and substantial tax benefits.

* * * 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.

* * *

Atty. Marivel Zialcita has been an attorney for over 20 years and is the founder of MMZ Law, A Professional Corporation.

Atty. Zialcita is a frequent speaker on trust and estate matters for the National Business Institute and contributing editor to Continuing Education of the Bar. She currently sits on the Board for her alma mater, California Western School of Law Alumni Board, the Estate Planning Council of Pomona Valley, and Aging Next. In 2018, Atty. Zialcita brought in Atty. Soo Myland as Partner at MMZ Law. MMZ Law offers a variety of services which includes trust and estate, elder law, MediCal asset protection planning, veterans’ affairs benefits, conservatorship, special needs, trust administration, and probate. To contact MMZ Law, call (909) 2566702. Visit www.mmzlawyer.com for more details. None of the information presented above should be considered as establishment of a lawyer-client relationship and is not intended to give legal advice for specific situations.

(Advertising Supplement)

Gloc-9 re ects on hit song ‘Sirena,’...

From Page 8

man ang kaya niyang maachieve sa buhay niya,” the artist emphasized. Minsan iniisip ko, it’s how life gives you hints of magic

here and there,” he added. Nung natapos ko ‘yung ‘Sirena’ hindi ko naman alam e, and I don’t mind. Anak ko ‘yun e.” Concluding his remark on

the matter, Gloc-9 reiterated, Ako’y proud na may anak ako na tulad ni Daniel. Mahal na mahal ko ang mga anak ko at gagawin ko ang lahat para sa kanila.”

Iza Calzado shares parenting style, relationship with husband Ben Wintle

By Kristofer Purnell Philstar.com

ACTRESS Iza Calzado is cherishing the time she’s been a mother, even though at first she was unsure what kind of mom she would turn out to be.

In an exclusive interview organized by The Farm which the actress endorses, Iza shared with Philstar.com how she balances taking care of her infant daughter Deia Amihan while strengthening her relationship with her husband Ben Wintle.

The actress began by pointing out her relationship with Ben was stronger than ever before, even during moments where they are not on the same page, and it’s because of Deia.

“It all goes back to what is best for Deia. So even if we don’t see eye to eye on a lot of

things, nagkakainisan... well ako, kalmadong-kalmado ‘yung asawa ko lagi,” Iza added. Iza also said she and Ben still manage to go on dates and spend time together, but admits she is still learning as a first-time mother.

“Wanting to be there all the time and yet you have your life also — you’re not just a mother, you are everything all at the same time,” Iza continued. “I

guess you have to give yourself permission to not do everything kasi baka mag-crumble ka.”

The actress emphasized asking for help and support in order to be the best parent to one’s child, agreeing that everyone should be kind to themselves.

Iza even admitted she had low standards for being a mother because she never expected to enjoy and love motherhood, “There are a lot of moments where I’m tough on myself, pero ‘di ako nagd-dwell on them.”

She ended by describing herself as a grateful mom and wants to be the kind of mother that enjoys the mundane things.

Last January 26, Deia celebrated her first birthday with Iza hosting a party for Buklod Kalinga girls in Mano Amiga Academy.

Navigating the child custody move away process in California

Barrister’s Corner

Atty.

THE high cost of living in California and over regulation has made a lot of parents evaluate whether to move out of state. The most common states that people move to are Texas, Arizona, Nevada, or Florida where the cost of living is lower and taxes are less or nonexistent. However, if a parent with shared custody wants to move away with the children, they must follow a specific legal process to ensure the move is in the child’s best interests. The move has to be allowed by the court through a court order because it will affect the non-moving parent’s custody/ visitation rights. A parent cannot simply decide to move with the children without a court order. With the distance between the parents, the existing custody and visitation orders will no longer work out.

If a child custody order is in effect, the moving parent must notify the other parent that they intend to move, and oftentimes, they must often bring a request to modify the child custody and visitation order to court. The parent planning to move must provide written notice to the other parent at least 45 days before the intended move date. The notice should include the new address and contact information, the reason for the move, the proposed new custody and visitation arrangements. The parents can try to reach an agreement on the move and the new custody/ visitation schedule can be tuned into a court order by signing a stipulation and order for the move away containing the new custody/visitation orders. This would be the best case scenario where the parents are working together on deciding whether the child gets to move with the other parent and what the new custody schedule is going to be.

If the parents cannot agree, the moving parent must file a Request for Order (RFO) to relocate with the court. The RFO should explain the reasons for the move and how it is in

the child’s best interests. The Court will set a hearing on the move away request. Often, the Family Court in Los Angeles would order a Parenting Plan Assessment (PPA2) in which a custody evaluator will evaluate the facts of your case and make a recommendation to the Court whether to allow the move away and what the new custody/ visitation order is going to be. The parties will have a chance to examine the evaluator in court and present their own witnesses.

The legal analysis in a moveaway situation depend on the current custody arrangement. A parent with sole physical custody of a child has the presumptive right to change the child’s residence, subject to the court’s ability to prevent a relocation that would “prejudice the rights or welfare” of the child, pursuant to Family Code 7501, which states: (a) A parent entitled to the custody of a child has a right to change the residence of the child, subject to the power of the court to restrain a removal that would prejudice the rights or welfare of the child. (b) It is the intent of the Legislature to affirm the decision in In re Marriage of Burgess (1996) 13 Cal.4th 25, and to declare that ruling to be the public policy and law of this state. Moreover, under California child custody law the custodial parent does not have to show that the move is “necessary,” assuming the parent is moving in good faith. (See Marriage of Burgess (1996) 13 Cal.4th 25) The non-custodial parent can then challenge the relocation by requesting a custody modification based on a showing of changed circumstances and detriment to the child. As discussed in Burgess, the non-custodial parent must show a substantial change in circumstances rendering it “essential or expedient for the welfare of the children” that there be a custody change. Family courts are given the widest discretion to fashion orders and make determinations under these circumstances because each case is unique and these orders determine where, and with whom, minor children will live based on the La Musga factors. The LaMusga Court provided California family judges with a roadmap for deciding whether to modify a custody order in light of a parent’s proposal to change

the residence of the child. The following is a checklist of the LaMusga factors family courts will consider:

• The child’s interest in stability and continuity in the custodial arrangement.

• A significant change in circumstances.

• The distance of the move.

• The age of the child.

• The social impact of the move on the child.

• The impact on the child’s education.

• The child’s relationship with both parents.

• The relationship between parents.

• The wishes of the child.

• The reason for the move.

• The extent to which the parents are currently sharing custody.

Move-aways are generally “all or nothing” matters, since there is very little middle ground when one parent proposes to move the child to another state and the other parent is requesting the opposite. The distance becomes a real limitation in crafting a custody arrangement that would be in the best interest of the child. This process can be complicated thus parties are best served having experienced and highly skilled legal representation.

* * *

Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice.  The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information.  This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed.  The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you.  This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APC.  This article is not a solicitation.

* * *

Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. He is founder and Managing Partner of LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APC located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com.

Troy Laureta on working with...

From Page 9

they wouldn’t care about you — you know, me being gay. “But then it started to take a toll on me where I was kind of hiding who I was and I didn’t see myself anymore and it wasn’t until my grandfather died in 2016 that kind of made me come up with the decision to just start to come out slowly and it wasn’t until last year that I officially came out to the world and it was so hard.”

How did it happen?

“I was sitting with my mom at breakfast and she was just wondering, ‘Why are you so quiet? Why are you being weird?’ She kept badgering me and finally, I just started crying and I fell to the floor and I told her that I’m gay and I’m tired, I’m very tired. She just hugged me and she said that it’s okay. That part was probably the most hurtful part of coming out because I realized I could have come out sooner and there was a lot of regret like we could

have made more memories, we could have done this or that for the longest time but I wasted so much time.” What was your Dad’s reaction?

“My dad didn’t care. That was the one I was worried about my dad, a Filipino from Quezon City like, you know, ‘bro,’ ‘tol.’ But he was cool with it. It just made my heart jump.”

I know I already asked you this but again, now at a different phase in your life, if there’s one song that defines who you are, what is it?

“The one song that always brings back memories and makes me feel happy or sad, depending on the moment, is this beautiful Bisaya song called Usahay. I’m a very proud Cebuano, (I’m a) very proud Bisaya so, to be able to showcase that to the Philippines and the world, is a great accomplishment for me.”

What do you want to tell the Filipino people?

“The past couple of years

EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT FOR RENT

have been so beautiful for me.

To the Filipino people, to be able to connect with you guys on a musical level is something that I’ve been wanting all my life and I just want to say thank you, guys so much for embracing me and my music these past couple of years and I also want to say on just a personal level when it comes to OPM (Original Pilipino Music), God has taken me to such beautiful places but there’s nothing like coming home.

“We can like Ariana. We can like Journey. We can love Whitney Houston but it’s still amazing and beautiful to celebrate Pilita Corrales, Martin Nievera, to celebrate our music because our music is so beautiful.

“A lot of people ask me, ‘Why are you so passionate about it?’ It’s because OPM literally saved my life. Dalamhati is a story about how I was able to get through the mental stuff that I was going through and I used Filipino music to get me through those times.”