US Secretary Rubio set for PH trip to boost Indo-Pacific alliance
UNITED States Secretary of State Marco Rubio is planning to visit the Philippines next month to reaffirm the importance of the Philippines-U.S. alliance in the Trump administration.
Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez said there is no exact date for the visit as of yet but “probably by April” after the trip of U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to Manila next week.
“Again, the relationship between the Philippines and the United States is one that is extremely important for both our countries,” he said in an interview with ABSCBN News Channel on Tuesday, March, 25.
“We’re at the forefront of the situation that we face in the in the Indo-Pacific region and our alliance— I would assume that Secretary Rubio’s mission in the Indo-Pacific region is also similar to what Secretary Hegseth is going to do,” he added.
After these high-level visits, Romualdez
MANILA – American film equipment firm
Birns & Sawyer Inc. is investing an initial $100 million in a local movie production venture that will be launched in June.
In an online interview on Tuesday, March 25, Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque said Birns & Sawyer would set up a studio and a production company in Clark, referring to New Clark City in the province of Tarlac.
“Their focus will be on attracting foreign firms,” Roque said.
“We’ve given them incentives so they are actually very excited,” she added.
‘Expanding the Bridge’
Earlier this month, Roque told reporters in a chance interview that the government is offering grants of up to $180,000 (P10 million) to attract Hollywood filmmakers to shoot in the Philippines.
These incentives are part of the “Expanding the Bridge” initiative, a government-led effort designed to position the Philippines as a prime destination for major film and television productions.
The program aims to attract international projects and highlight the country’s diverse landscapes, skilled local talent and rich cultural heritage in global cinema.
Roque also said that the DTI alone has a budget of P300 million to give out as incentives for the local film industry.
She said that they intend to double the budget this year and to partner with the private sector to raise funding.
Beyond the financial grant, the initiative also provides additional benefits to filmmakers such as rebates. n
Undocumented Filipinos in US urged to legalize status amid deportations
by Gavin Martinez Inquirer.net
WITH deportations on the rise, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez is urging undocumented Filipinos in the U.S. to take immediate steps to legalize their status.
This comes in the wake of the U.S. government’s move to revoke the temporary protected status (TPS) of 530,000 nationals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela – a policy set to take effect on April 24 this year. As the crackdown intensifies, Romualdez warned that Filipinos without proper documentation could be swept up in broader immigration enforcement efforts.
In a recent interview with Super Radyo dzBB,
NBI: Foreign ‘spies’ used drones to monitor PH, US naval assets
by Gillian villanueva Inquirer.net
MANILA — Six alleged foreign spies arrested last week on Grande Island in Subic Bay pretended to be fishermen transporting bait while monitoring the movement of naval ships using high-tech drones, the National Bureau of Investigation said on Wednesday, March 26.
The bureau presented to the media the six foreigners—five Chinese and one Cambodian—who were taken into custody
on March 19 over supposed espionage activities in Subic Bay. Their Filipino bodyguard was also arrested.
“[I]n our surveillance, we observed that these personalities were there on the island in the guise of recreational fishers … We also noticed that they were flying drones at times when boats were passing by,” said Van Homer Angluben, NBI Cybercrime Division executive officer.
The five Chinese suspects were identified as He Peng, also known as Nan
No plans to rejoin ICC even
after Duterte’s arrest, says Malacañang
by Jean ManGaluz Philstar.com
MANILA — The Palace said on Tuesday, March 25, that there are no plans for the Philippines to rejoin the International Criminal Court, despite the government handing former president Rodrigo Duterte over to the tribunal.
In a media briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that when she spoke to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. about the matter, he simply smiled.
“We have not yet discussed any plan of rejoining the ICC. Iyong huli po nating nakausap ang pangulo, tinanong po natin iyan nang personal at siya’y ngumiti lamang at sasabihin ko daw dapat na wala
pa talagang napag-uusapan patungkol doon,” Castro said in a Palace briefing.
(We have not yet discussed any plan of rejoining the ICC. In our last conversation with the president, we also personally asked that and he merely smiled and told me to say that there are no talks yet on the matter.)
Castro also said that the Philippine government has not made any commitment regarding the potential issuance of a freeze order on Duterte’s assets in the country by the ICC.
In a previous briefing, the Palace said that the issue of freezing Duterte’s assets would be decided by the Anti-Money Laundering Council.
detains Filipino green card holder who has lived in US for 50
years
Lewelyn Dixon, 64, was detained while returning home to Seattle from a trip to the Philippines
LOS ANGELES – Lewelyn Dixon, a 64-year-old Filipino green card holder who has been a permanent U.S. resident for 50 years, was detained by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while returning home to Seattle, Washington, from a trip to the Philippines.
“She was (in the Philippines) for like a couple of weeks. And then she returned on Feb. 28. And she was stuck in customs,” Dixon’s niece, Emily Cristobal, told Hawaii News Now.
“We got the news, I think it was March 2, that she got taken by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and then detained in the Northwestern detainment facility.”
“We haven’t officially been told why she’s being held. They just keep saying that they’re waiting for documents,” added Cristobal, who works as the office
‘Quite a number’ of undocumented Filipinos in US detained – envoy
by Charie abarCa Inquirer.net
—
MANILA
“Quite a number” of undocumented Filipinos in the United States (U.S.) have been detained and processed for deportation, Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez said on Tuesday, March 25.
Romualdez noted that there is no definite count of detained and deported Filipinos, as authorities are trying to “keep it confidential.”
“Obviously, we don’t want it to be something that we would like to put out and these are the number[s],” said Romualdez in an interview with ANC.
“But quite a number have
already been detained and have been processed for deportation. The last one we reported was about 30 of them and I think there are quite a number that have already been put in detention in many parts of the United States that had already been considered to be undocumented and ready for deportation,” he added. Even before he was reelected, U.S. President Donald Trump had already promised to carry out an unprecedented mass deportation of undocumented foreigners in the country. In response, Romualdez had said that it would be better for undocumented Filipinos in the U.S. to leave voluntarily rather than face deportation. “If there is absolutely no chance
for you to legally stay, it is best that you just simply voluntarily leave. Why? Because then you’ll have the chance to be able to come back and you don’t go through that harrowing experience of being in a detention center,” said Romualdez then. In 2023, a report by the Migration Policy Institute in Washington D.C. showed that the Philippines is the sixth top source of undocumented (unauthorized) immigrants in the U.S. with a population estimated at 309,000 in 2021. The estimated unauthorized immigrant population in the U.S. was 11.2 million in 2021, up from 11.0 million in 2019, with a larger annual growth rate seen since 2015. n
No plans to rejoin ICC even after...
PAGE 1
While the Palace remains silent on whether or not the Philippines will rejoin the ICC, the arrest of Duterte and his turnover to the tribunal have shown that the administration can change its stance based on developments. No less than Justice Secretary Boying Remulla admitted that the administration can change its position over time.
In a Senate inquiry into Duterte’s arrest, Sen. Imee Marcos, the sister of President Bongbong Marcos and a staunch ally of the Duterte clan, presented Remulla with old comments from the president about how the Philippines would not join the ICC.
Imee questioned why that
position had changed, though she later admitted that she had not spoken directly to her brother about the matter..
“Our minds can change,” Remulla simply said, albeit speaking in general terms.
Whether the president will change his stance on the country’s membership in the ICC remains to be seen. n
Undocumented Filipinos in US...
PAGE 1
nagta-trabaho sila, nagbabayad
sila ng taxes, pero ‘yung status nila ay hindi klaro, pwede silang pumunta sa immigration lawyer at ngayon pa lang, ayusin na nila at meron silang chance na maging legal ang status nila,” the ambassador emphasized in the interview.
This policy change will end the parole entry program introduced by former U.S.
President Joe Biden, which allowed nationals from these countries to enter with the support of U.S.-based sponsors.
Although the program directly affects specific nationalities, Romualdez warned that undocumented Filipinos could also be targeted under broader immigration crackdowns.
He cautioned that individuals deported from the U.S. may face permanent bans on re-entry.
With thousands of Filipinos residing in the U.S. under uncertain circumstances, the ambassador’s appeal highlights the urgency of securing legal status before immigration enforcement efforts intensify. Romualdez encouraged affected individuals to act quickly and seek legal assistance to avoid the potential consequences of forced removal. n
ICE detains Filipino green card holder...
PAGE 1
manager for Hawaii State Rep. Tina Grandinetti.
Grandinetti, a critic of Pres. Donald Trump’s immigration policies, has supported a bill to provide legal representation for immigrants in Hawaii. She recently shared Dixon’s story on the House floor and denounced her detention, describing it as “part of a broader attack on immigrants – an attack on our families, our friends, and our community as a whole.” Grandinetti pushed for the passage of SB816, a bill that would provide state-funded legal representation for people going through immigration proceedings.
“SB816 is a step toward protecting our community, and I’m so grateful to the Filipino Caucus for championing this important legislation. Let’s get it passed,” she said.
“The targeting of our immigrant community is not just something happening on our phones and TV screens,” she said on the House floor. “This is a reality that’s impacting our staff, our friends, our families and our loved ones.”
The Northwest ICE Processing Center (NWIPC), where Dixon is detained, is privately owned by the GEO Group and holds over 1,500 detainees, according to Newsweek. Newsweek reported that it was able to confirm that Dixon was being detained at the ICE site.
Dixon
US Secretary Rubio set for PH trip to boost...
PAGE 1 said the two governments would already likely be able to firm up the “exact timing” of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr’s visit to the US.
Hegseth is embarking on a landmark trip to Manila on March 28, marking the first time that a Pentagon chief has included a stop in the country during his first visit to the region.
Romualdez said his visit comes at an opportune time just as Manila is also looking to further “bring forward” the new relationship that it has with the Trump administration.
The envoy said Hegseth and his Filipino counterpart Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. are expected to discuss “what it is that we will be needing for our armed forces to bring it up to speed on exactly what we want to achieve”.
“Basically, the United States under President Trump has always said that we have to have a strong deterrence to be able to avert any kind of conflict in the future,” he said.
“That is exactly what Secretary Hegseth is going to talk about with Secretary Teodoro and also perhaps a meeting with President Marcos the next day,” he added. (PNA)
NBI: Foreign ‘spies’ used drone...
PAGE 1 Ke; Xu Xuning; Ye Tianwu, also known as Qui Feng or Quing Feng; Ye Xiaocan; and Su Anlong. Also arrested were Dick Ang, a Cambodian, and Melvin Aguillon, a Filipino.
‘Vantage point’
It was discovered that Ye Tianwu had an outstanding warrant of arrest issued by a Tarlac City court for violating the Securities Regulation Code.
Angluben said the NBI has been conducting surveillance operations on Grande Island since last year, given how it might be used as a “vantage point” for espionage activities.
On March 17, the NBI received
an intelligence report from the Armed Forces of the Philippines that a group of foreign nationals was conducting covert operations on an island in Subic Bay, later identified as Grande Island.
Through its investigation and eyewitness reports, the NBI found that the suspects were “frequently lingering at the wharves until the wee hours” and monitoring naval assets passing through the island, including those from allied nations.
“Due to its contiguity and strategic location, the island allows the group to monitor naval assets entering and exiting
Subic Bay during maritime patrols or joint naval exercises in the West Philippine Sea,” the NBI said.
Authorities recovered photos and videos, including pictures of a U.S. naval vessel, a naval operating base, as well as ships transporting cargo.
“What is notable in our operation, we recovered a piece of paper written in Chinese. And when translated, it noted the date, time and the boat which left and entered the Subic Bay port,” Angluben said. They also confiscated fake Bureau of Internal Revenue documents and identification cards. n
Undated photo shows facade of the International Criminal Court in the Hague, Netherlands. STAR / File
‘FISHING’
Workers prep to meet ICE officials at the health clinic door
In a memo to health care
by
A POLICY change by the Trump administration allows federal immigration officials to make arrests at or near sensitive locations, including health care facilities. To respond, some health providers are scrambling to give their staff legal training.
providers, Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown advises health workers that they need not record a patient’s immigration status unless it relates to insurance coverage and that they should ask for credentials if someone claiming to be an ICE official shows up. He also said providers should not interfere
with an investigation. KFF Health News reporting fellow Jackie Fortiér appeared on WAMU’s “Health Hub” on March 19. The segment included voices from Nicole Lamoureux, president of the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, and Matt Lopas, director of state advocacy for the National Immigration Law Center. n
Amid plummeting diversity at medical schools, a warning of DEI crackdown’s ‘chilling effect’
by Annie SciAccA KFF Health News
THE Trump administration’s crackdown on DEI programs could exacerbate an unexpectedly steep drop in diversity among medical school students, even in states like California, where public universities have been navigating bans on affirmative action for decades. Education and health experts warn that, ultimately, this could harm patient care.
Since taking office, President Donald Trump has issued a handful of executive orders aimed at terminating all diversity, equity, and inclusion, or DEI, initiatives in federally funded programs. And in his March 4 address to Congress, he described the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision banning the consideration of race in college and university admissions as “brave and very powerful.”
Last month, the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights — which lost about 50% of its staff in mid-March — directed schools, including postsecondary institutions, to end race-based programs or risk losing federal funding. The “Dear Colleague” letter cited the Supreme Court’s decision.
Paulette Granberry Russell, president and CEO of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, said that “every utterance of ‘diversity’ is now being viewed as a violation or considered unlawful or illegal.” Her organization filed a lawsuit challenging Trump’s anti-DEI executive orders.
While California and eight other states — Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Michigan, Nebraska,
New Hampshire, Oklahoma, and Washington — had already implemented bans of varying degrees on race-based admissions policies well before the Supreme Court decision, schools bolstered diversity in their ranks with equity initiatives such as targeted scholarships, trainings, and recruitment programs.
But the court’s decision and the subsequent state-level backlash — 29 states have since introduced bills to curb diversity initiatives, according to data published by the Chronicle of Higher Education — have tamped down these efforts and led to the recent declines in diversity numbers, education experts said.
After the Supreme Court’s ruling, the numbers of Black and Hispanic medical school enrollees fell by double-digit percentages in the 2024-25 school year compared with the previous year, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. Black enrollees declined 11.6%, while the number of new students of Hispanic origin fell 10.8%.
The decline in enrollment of American Indian or Alaska Native students was even more dramatic, at 22.1%. New Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander enrollment declined 4.3%.
“We knew this would happen,” said Norma Poll-Hunter, AAMC’s senior director of workforce diversity. “But it was double digits — much larger than what we anticipated.”
The fear among educators is the numbers will decline even more under the new administration.
At the end of February, the Education Department launched an online portal encouraging people to “report illegal discriminatory practices at institutions of learning,” stating that students should have “learning free of divisive ideologies and indoctrination.”
The agency later issued a “Frequently Asked Questions” document about its new policies, clarifying that it was acceptable to observe events like Black History Month but warning schools that they “must consider whether any school programming discourages members of all races from attending.”
“It definitely has a chilling effect,” Poll-Hunter said. “There is a lot of fear that could cause institutions to limit their efforts.”
Numerous requests for comment from medical schools about the impact of the antiDEI actions went unreturned. University presidents are staying mum on the issue to protect their institutions, according to reporting from The New York Times.
Utibe Essien, a physician and UCLA assistant professor, said he has heard from some students who fear they won’t be considered for admission under the new policies. Essien, who co-authored a study on the effect of affirmative action bans on medical schools, also said students are worried medical schools will not be as supportive toward students of color as in the past.
“Both of these fears have the risk of limiting the options of schools folks apply to and potentially those who consider
Alex Eala: Philippines’ smash hit on path toward tennis stardom
ALEX Eala is once again making headlines for the Philippines as she writes another Cinderella story in the world of tennis.
The homegrown Filipino tennis star has been turning heads in Miami after taking down two highly-ranked female tennis players in a row for her first-ever Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 1000 quarterfinal appearance.
Currently ranked 140 in the world, Eala is the youngest player in the 2025 Miami Open’s elite eight, which features Grand Slam winners and Olympic champions.
Before earning the attention of the world, she has been a source of pride for the Philippines for the past seven years since she started to carry the flag on the international stage.
At age 12, Alex Eala created a name for herself after ruling the 2018 Les Petit As. The following year, she moved to Mallorca, Spain, to start her training at Rafael Nadal Academy.
In her recent interview, Eala admitted that starting her tennis journey hasn’t been easy. She had to train exclusively abroad to get access to top-notch programs and tournaments that are not readily available in the basketballcrazy Philippines.
“Growing up, it was tough,” an emotional Eala said. “You didn’t have anyone from where you’re from to pave the way. Of course, you had many people to look up to around the world, but I think—I hope this takes Filipino tennis to the next step.”
Eala has been backed by eversupportive family every step of the way in her overseas journey.
The Filipino tennis prodigy is the daughter of Mike and former national swimming team star Rizza Maniego-Eala, who won a 1985 Southeast Asian Games bronze medal in the 100-meter backstroke.
Her brother Miko is also a tennis athlete and played for Pennsylvania State University.
Known as a family-oriented athlete, Eala offered her recent Miami Open victory to her family and gave a shoutout to her parents in the on-court victory.
Philippines’ first Grand Slam winner
While she’s now trying to make a name in the women’s division, Alex Eala made her mark in the girls division by being the first
Filipino to rule a singles Grand Slam tournament.
Eala ruled the 2022 U.S. Open girls after beating No.2 seed Lucie Havlickova in the final at USTA
Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. She was a former No.2 in the junior rankings after reaching the semifinals of the 2020 French Open.
Eala is also a two-time Grand Slam doubles champion after winning the 2020 Australian Open girls’ doubles with Priska Nugroho of Indonesia and the 2021 French Open with Oksana Selekhmeteva of Russia.
Eala said that her ultimate goal is to win a grand slam title as a pro, and her recent run in Miami is proof that she can hang with the big names in women’s tennis.
“I think every single player here has envisioned themself as a successful tennis player. This is the goal to do well on the WTA tour and the end goal is to win slams, to get the rankings, and I think this is a good step towards where I want to be,” said Eala during her interview after upsetting World No.5 Madison Keys.
“It’s a big thing to take in and I feel it’s important for me to take it in step by step. I’m super proud of what I’m able to accomplish but it definitely fuels me more.” Alex Eala’s national team
stints
While Alex Eala may already be representing the country through her stints in the WTA and International Tennis Federation tours, but wearing the Philippine team colors remain an ultimate honor for her.
She made her Southeast Asian Games debut in the 31st edition in Vietnam two years ago where she racked up three bronze medals.
Eala, as a 16-year-old, settled for bronze in the singles division, another bronze in the mixed doubles with Treat Huey and one as part of the women’s team event. In the 2023 Asian Games, Eala also suited up for the Philippines and brought home two bronze medals.
She delivered the country’s first Asian Games medal since 2006 despite falling to Zheng Qinwen of China in the semifinal.
Eala also earned a podium finish in the mixed doubles with Francis Alcantara. Jumping into the pro circuit
Alex Eala decided to turn pro four years ago and has now won five ITF singles and three doubles title since her leap.
The young Filipino netter won her first ITF singles title in the 2021 W15 Manacor in Spain followed by another one in the
Jackie Fortiér KFF Health News
Alex Eala: Philippines’ smash hit...
2022 W25 Chiang Rai in Thailand.
In 2023, Eala won a pair of ITF championships in W25 Yecla in Spain and W25 Roehampton in the United Kingdom. Her latest ITF singles’ run was in W100 Open Araba en Femenino in Spain last year.
The doubles ITF titles may have been elusive in her early years, but in 2024, Eala won three: W50 Pune in India, W75 Open de Seine-et-Marne in France, and W100 in Spain.
But An appearance in the main draw of the women’s Grand Slams tournaments remain elusive for
Eala. Eala appeared in several Australian Open qualifiers in the past three years but has yet to overcome the first round of qualifiers. In last year’s Wimbledon, U.S. Open, and French Open qualifiers, she came within a game away from reaching the main draw, but fell short.
Eala has a career-high ranking in the WTA at World No.138, which she is expected to surpass after this dream run in the Miami Open.
Alex Eala’s dream Miami Open run
Alex Eala turns emotional after stunning 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko to advance to the Miami Open Round of 32.–Photo from the Tennis Channel
Alex made her WTA 1000 debut in the Miami Open in 2021, losing to Viktoria Kuzmova as a wildcard entry.
Now, her career has come full circle at 19, becoming the first Filipino to take down a top 10 player since the WTA Tour rankings for women’s tennis were published in 1975.
Eala opened her Miami Open tilt with her first main draw win after taking down World No.73 Katie Voleynets, 6-3, 7-6 (3) in the Round of 128.
She stunned World No. 25 and 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia with a 7-6 (2), 7-5 triumph to continue her dream run.
And pulled off her biggest win yet with an upset of the WTA No. 5 Madison Keys in the Round of 32. She is now set to play the biggest match of her life as she battles five-time Grand Slam champion and World No.2 Iga Swiatek in the 2025 Miami Open quarterfinal.
Swiatek was a guest of honor during Eala’s graduation ceremony at Rafa Nadal Academy two years ago.
Eala is among the youngest of the players in the Elite Eight, which also features Aryna Sabalenka, Qinwen Zheng, Jasmine Paolini, Magda Linette, Emma Raducanu and Jessica Pegula. (Lance Agcaoili/Inquirer.net)
Trump signs executive order requiring proof of citizenship for federal elections
by AJPress
WASHINGTON, D.C.
–
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order requiring voters to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in order to register for federal elections.
The order, signed Tuesday, March 25, directs states to verify the citizenship status of all new voter registrants using official documents such as birth certificates, passports, or naturalization papers.
It also mandates that all ballots be received by the close of polls on Election Day to be counted, eliminating the use of postmarkbased deadlines in states that currently allow them.
Additionally, the order instructs federal agencies to assist states by providing access to citizenship data, prosecuting electionrelated offenses, and potentially withholding federal funds from states that fail to comply.
It further directs the U.S. Election Assistance Commission to prioritize paper-based voting systems in a push for greater transparency and security.
Historical context and rationale
The order marks a continuation of Trump’s longstanding focus on voter fraud, particularly his repeated—though widely disputed—claims that noncitizens have been casting ballots in U.S. elections.
These concerns have been central to Trump’s political messaging since his 2016 campaign.
During his first term, Trump attempted to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census and created a commission to investigate voter fraud, both of which were ultimately dismantled or blocked in court.
Earlier this year, he signed Executive Order 14160 to end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants, which was swiftly halted by legal challenges.
The current order builds on those efforts by targeting the voter registration process.
Supporters argue the order is a necessary safeguard to ensure only eligible American citizens participate in federal elections.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), a longtime advocate for stricter voting laws, introduced the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act in 2024, proposing similar proof-ofcitizenship requirements.
Criticism and legal challenges ahead
Voting rights advocates argue the order seeks to solve a problem that virtually doesn’t exist.
Multiple studies—including from the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice—have found that noncitizen voting is extremely rare. A 2017 study identified only 30 suspected cases of noncitizen voting among 23.5 million ballots cast, a rate of 0.0001%.
Critics also warn that the order could disenfranchise millions of eligible voters, particularly those without immediate access to documents such as passports or birth certificates.
The Brennan Center estimates that roughly 9% of voting-age citizens may fall into this category, with low-income individuals, elderly voters, and natural-born citizens among the most affected.
Legal experts predict the order will face swift constitutional challenges. While federal
elections fall under federal purview, the U.S. Constitution grants states primary authority over election administration.
The potential for withholding federal funds adds another layer of complexity that courts are expected to examine closely.
Setting the stage for the 2026 midterm elections
As the 2026 midterm elections approach, Trump’s executive order has become a lightning rod in the broader debate over voting rights and election integrity.
With control of Congress at stake and voter turnout expected to play a decisive role, the executive order may influence both the accessibility of the ballot and the political messaging of candidates.
Legal battles, public response, and the degree of state-level resistance or compliance will all shape whether and how the order impacts the midterms.
Beyond 2026, the order could set a far-reaching precedent— testing the boundaries of federal authority over elections and redefining how the nation balances citizenship verification, access to the ballot, and democratic security. n
Amid plummeting diversity at medical schools...
PAGE 3
medicine as an option at all,” Essien said, adding that the “lawsuits around equity policies and just the climate of anti-diversity have brought institutions to this place where they feel uncomfortable.”
In early February, the Pacific Legal Foundation filed a lawsuit against the University of California-San Francisco’s Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland over an internship program designed to introduce “underrepresented minority high school students to health professions.”
Attorney Andrew Quinio filed the suit, which argues that its plaintiff, a white teenager, was not accepted to the program after disclosing in an interview that she identified as white.
“From a legal standpoint, the issue that comes about from all this is: How do you choose diversity without running afoul of the Constitution?” Quinio said. “For those who want diversity as a goal, it cannot be a goal that is achieved with discrimination.”
UC Health spokesperson Heather Harper declined to comment on the suit on behalf of the hospital system.
Another lawsuit filed in February accuses the University of California of favoring Black and Latino students over Asian American and white applicants in its undergraduate admissions. Specifically, the complaint states that UC officials pushed
campuses to use a “holistic” approach to admissions and “move away from objective criteria towards more subjective assessments of the overall appeal of individual candidates.”
The scrutiny of that approach to admissions could threaten diversity at the UC-Davis School of Medicine, which for years has employed a “race-neutral, holistic admissions model” that reportedly tripled enrollment of Black, Latino, and Native American students.
“How do you define diversity?
Does it now include the way we consider how someone’s lived experience may be influenced by how they grew up? The type of school, the income of their family? All of those are diversity,” said Granberry Russell, of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education.
“What might they view as an unlawful proxy for diversity equity and inclusion? That’s what we’re confronted with.”
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, recently joined other state attorneys general to issue guidance urging that schools continue their DEI programs despite the federal messaging, saying that legal precedent allows for the activities. California is also among several states suing the administration over its deep cuts to the Education Department.
If the recent decline in diversity among newly enrolled students holds or gets worse,
it could have long-term consequences for patient care, academic experts said, pointing toward the vast racial disparities in health outcomes in the U.S., particularly for Black people.
A higher proportion of Black primary care doctors is associated with longer life expectancy and lower mortality rates among Black people, according to a 2023 study published by the JAMA Network. Physicians of color are also more likely to build their careers in medically underserved communities, studies have shown, which is increasingly important as the AAMC projects a shortage of up to 40,400 primary care doctors by 2036.
“The physician shortage persists, and it’s dire in rural communities,” Poll-Hunter said.
“We know that diversity efforts are really about improving access for everyone. More diversity leads to greater access to care — everyone is benefiting from it.”
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 indepth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.
The executive order directs the U.S. Election Assistance Commission to prioritize paper-based voting systems in a push for greater transparency and security. Pexels.com photo by Sora Shimazaki
ILLEGAL POSTS. Political campaign posters hang from electric posts at the corner of Dapitan and Ma. Cristina Streets in Sampaloc, Manila
on Monday, March 24. As the campaign period for local candidates starts March 28, the Commission on Elections reminded anew of the rules on common poster areas to avoid infractions.
Dateline PhiliPPines
Duterte kin press habeas petition, cite OSG recusal
by Jane Bautista Inquirer.net
MANILA
—
The three children of former President Rodrigo Duterte are pressing the Supreme Court to grant their habeas corpus petitions for his immediate release from the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC), with Veronica Duterte citing the Office of the Solicitor General’s (OSG) recusal as proof that his “abduction” and transfer to The Hague were “illegal and indefensible.”
In separate traverses, or pleadings denying the facts alleged by the opposing party, siblings Veronica, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte and Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte reiterated on Monday, March 24 that their father’s arrest was illegal, that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the Philippines following its withdrawal from the Rome Statute, and that the government violated the Constitution by enforcing the ICC warrant without judicial review and due process.
The traverses, made public by the Supreme Court on Tuesday, respond to the consolidated compliance of the Department of Justice (DOJ), which assumed the role of state lawyer after the
OSG recused itself from the case.
Duterte was flown to the ICC headquarters in The Hague past 11 p.m. on March 11 after the government assisted the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) in serving the arrest warrant.
A day after their father was turned over to the ICC, Duterte’s children asked the Supreme Court to compel the government to bring him back to the Philippines.
On March 13, the high court issued a show-cause order directing the government to explain why the petitions for a writ of habeas corpus separately filed by Veronica (G.R. No. 278768), Sebastian (G.R. No. 278763) and Paolo (G.R. No. 278798) should not be granted.
In a manifestation and motion filed on March 17, the OSG asked the Supreme Court to take note of and/or favorably consider its recusal, emphasizing that it had long maintained that the Philippines’ case was inadmissible before the ICC and that the tribunal failed to exercise its jurisdiction promptly.
The DOJ, representing government officials named as respondents in the
petitions—including Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rommel Marbil, and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III—argued that the habeas corpus petitions should be dismissed as moot since Duterte is already in ICC custody in the Netherlands and no longer within Philippine jurisdiction.
Citing Section 2, Rule 102 of the Rules of Court, the DOJ stressed that a writ of habeas corpus is enforceable only within the country and does not apply when a valid arrest warrant has been issued.
The DOJ also invoked Republic Act No. 9851, which allows the Philippines to defer to an international tribunal and surrender suspects under extradition laws and treaties.
Remulla’s UN speech
In her response, Veronica noted that Justice Secretary Remulla had said in a 2023 speech before the United Nations Human Rights Council that the ICC had no jurisdiction since the Philippines had a “working justice system.”
She said it was “unsurprising” that the OSG, which is legally mandated to serve as legal counsel for the Philippine government and represent the country in pretrial proceedings before the ICC, recused itself from representing the respondent government officials, who, she argued, had “suddenly” adopted an “irreconcilable view on the ICC’s jurisdiction.”
“The OSG’s recusal is therefore clear indication that [Duterte’s] abduction and transfer to The Hague pursuant to the ICC warrant of arrest is illegal and indefensible,” Veronica said. Paolo’s reply tackled how the former president’s arrest was carried out through a diffusion by Interpol of the ICC-issued arrest warrant rather than through a formal notice.
Citing Interpol’s Rules on the Processing of Data, Paolo explained that Interpol notices
Marcos ‘slightly affected’ by fake news, says Palace
by helen Flores Philstar.com
MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family have been the targets of fake news following the rift between the chief executive and Vice President Sara Duterte, according to a Malacañang official.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro made the remarks on Tuesday, March 25 when asked to comment on supposed edited photos of Marcos and First Lady Liza Marcos on Facebook over the weekend, as claimed by some social media users.
“Ever since, they have been the target of fake news. There’s nothing new. Ever since VP Sara’s relationship with the Marcos family has turned sour, the fake news has started,” Castro said at a press briefing.
Asked how the president feels about social media posts about the country’s political situation and whether he is
concerned by the widespread misinformation, Castro said Marcos is “slightly affected.”
“In a way he is slightly affected, that’s why they asked the PCO to do its job to counter fake news not only for himself but for the country,” Castro said.
Recently, social media posts alleged that the first lady had been “detained” in the U.S. Castro also dismissed the allegations that she is directly accusing the vice president or the Duterte family of being behind the propaganda.
“I am not accusing anybody, but a lot of people are propagating misinformation against the president and the country,” she said.
She also branded as fake news claims that the first lady held a grudge against former President Rodrigo Duterte after her husband was not appointed agriculture secretary during the previous administration.
Citing a study by a certain journalist, the Palace press officer said there is a
network in the country that propagates negative news or misinformation specifically against the president while favoring the vice president.
She was referring to an investigative report presented at the House of Representatives, which found 107 suspicious accounts systematically publishing content supporting Duterte while attacking Marcos.
It was in April last year when the rift between the Marcoses and Dutertes became public, when the first lady admitted to having ill feelings towards the vice president after the latter allegedly laughed at a drug addict claim against her husband during a rally led by the Dutertes in Davao City.
In November last year, the vice president launched attacks against her former running mate, revealing that she had ordered a member of her security team to kill the president, the first lady and Marcos’ cousin, Speaker Martin Romualdez, in the event of her own assassination. n
Former President Rodrigo Duterte Screengrab from ICC
PREVENTION. The Metro Manila Center for Health Development intensifies its measles catch-up immunization program through “Bakunahan sa Purok ni Juan” in Binondo, Manila on Tuesday, March 25. The program highlights the importance of vaccination and emphasizes the commitment of health leaders to protect communities and vulnerable population from vaccine-preventable diseases. PNA photo by Yancy Lim
In aid of election
THE proliferation of fake news and disinformation is deeply concerning, and the injection of politics into the issue is complicating efforts to address the problem. Studies have shown that many Filipinos can’t tell fake from accurate news.
One way of addressing the problem without dragging politics into the response is through an intensified promotion of digital literacy. This can be incorporated into the regular curriculum beginning in grade school.
Editorial
At what grade the subject will be introduced can be left to the jurisdiction of school administrators, since the capacity to understand the subject could depend on the availability of digital gadgets and connectivity. In this aspect, children from underserved communities are obviously at a disadvantage. Many of them may even be living in areas with no internet access.
In more developed communities, the typical child is a digital native. Many play with adult cell phones or tablets as soon as their fingers are strong and nimble enough to manipulate gadget screens or keyboards. In such communities, digital literacy can be introduced early in elementary school.
Digital literacy includes understanding
the ways of mainstream media and journalism. Public trust underpins the viability of print and broadcast media, which adhere to journalistic ethics and have firewalls against the dissemination of fake news, disinformation and malicious commentary. Unlike posts on social media, news and commentary on mainstream media must go through layers of filters for accuracy and adherence to those ethics.
One problem in making digital literacy part of the regular curriculum is whether there are enough educators who can teach the subject. As part of its upskilling program, the Department of Education can get experts from various sectors to provide training to a core group of teachers, who can then cascade what they have learned to their peers across the country.
For adults especially in underprivileged communities, the government can also provide digital and media literacy sessions to go handin-hand with ayuda programs.
JFK files: Reopening of old wounds
Babe’s Eye View
BaBe Romualdez
IT was the early morning of Nov. 23, 1963 when my mother – a conservative closed Catholic or “cerrada Catolica” as they say in Spanish – woke me up saying with fervent urgency: “reza tu para el presidente de America” (pray for the president of the United States). JFK was a Catholic himself – in fact, the first Catholic president of the United States – perhaps the reason why it is not surprising many Filipinos continue to remember JFK to this day. For many reasons, the assassination of John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963 has always been etched in my mind, even if I was only in my teens when it happened. When I visited an aunt in Washington, D.C. during the summer of 1972, she brought me to the late president’s gravesite at the Arlington
National Cemetery in Virginia. After I became ambassador to the United States in 2017, we opened our new Philippine consulate in Houston, Texas. I then had the chance to pass by Dallas and visit the Dealey Plaza Museum (formerly the Texas School Book Depository). I went up to the sixth floor and peered from the southeast corner window where the sniper fired shots at the open presidential limousine slowly traversing Elm Street with JFK, his wife Jackie and Texas Governor John Connally. It was really poignant to see the exact spot on Elm Street –marked by an “X” – where an assassin’s bullet ended the life of the president whose term in office was retrospectively referred to as the “Camelot era,” marked by the youthful idealism and high hopes associated with the Kennedy administration. During an official call in 2019 to JFK’s grand-nephew, thenCongressman Joseph “Joe” Kennedy III at his office in Newton, Massachusetts, I visited the JFK Presidential Library and Museum. While watching a documentary narrated by
JFK himself, I was surprised to hear a lady seated beside me sobbing the entire time – clearly still mourning the death of the charismatic president.
I could only relate to what the lady was feeling because every time I get invited to the White House and happen to pass by the East Room where president Kennedy was laid to rest, there is that heavy feeling of deep sadness – remembering passages from a book I read describing the private moment shared by JFK’s widow Jackie and his brother Bobby as they gazed at the slain leader’s remains – the one and only time, according to the book, that Mrs. Kennedy allowed the casket to be opened.
“Why, God? Why?” repeatedly murmured Bobby, inconsolably weeping for almost 35 minutes. The scene was so heart wrenching that even the honor guard from the Army’s Special Forces could not hold back their tears. One can only imagine the grief and sorrow that must have enveloped the East Room at that moment.
To this day, the brutal murder of the very popular U.S.
president continues to be the subject of conspiracy theories, with many believing that Lee Harvey Oswald was not acting alone when he shot JFK during a motorcade in Dallas, Texas. Among the conspiracy theories include the involvement of the Mafia and the Soviet Union, fueled by the fact that Oswald, a former marine, defected to the USSR in 1959 and eventually married Marina Nikolayevna, living there for two years and a half before returning to the U.S. Every year, countless documentaries, special features and books are produced during JFK’s death anniversary. Which is why President Trump’s order to release over 80,000 pages of declassified records related to the assassination – a fulfillment of the promise he made during his campaign – has earned praise from experts and historians who see it as an encouraging step towards transparency. The redacted documents had been a source of confusion as well as frustration.
The release was announced by President Trump himself on Monday, March 17 during a visit to the John F. Kennedy
Center for the Performing Arts in Washington. In her post on X, National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard said “President Trump is ushering in a new era of maximum transparency.” According to the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration that posted the files on its website, the release would include “all records previously withheld for classification,” but some groups claim that the released documents are only one third of the promised files and did not include around 2,400 new records discovered by the FBI. There are supposedly still up to 3,500 files that have yet to be released in whole or in part. Although some experts opine that the release will not likely change the official conclusion that Oswald acted on his own, the sheer volume of records is not a deterrent to the serious and the curious who believe the availability of over six million pages of handwritten and typewritten notes, memos, reports, photographs, audio recordings, motion pictures and artifacts will eventually provide more clues on the JFK
Stopping fake news
IT’S a debate that has raged worldwide since the dawn of social media: how do you strike a balance between freedom of expression and regulation of the willful spread of disinformation and malicious content online?
Public attention has been drawn to the issue following the explosion of fake news online since the arrest of Rodrigo Duterte and turnover to the International Criminal Court (ICC) through the Interpol.
Last month, 17 vloggers asked the Supreme Court to stop a tri-committee of the House of Representatives from compelling their attendance at a hearing of the panel on fake news and disinformation.
But following Duterte’s arrest, an eruption of vitriol online against President Marcos, his government and his allies prompted the tri-committee to threaten with contempt and detention 11 vloggers and social media personalities who are based in the Philippines, if they continued snubbing the House hearing.
When the 11 finally faced
the tri-comm last week, some of them were compelled to apologize for spreading what they admitted to be unverified and false news as well as for describing lawmakers as stupid. Among the fake news was the alleged mass resignation in the Armed Forces in protest over Duterte’s arrest.
The proliferation of unfiltered information on social media is one of the reasons why people should rely on mainstream media – where stories go through several layers of vetting and fact-checking before public dissemination – for news and information on current affairs. This is what separates journalists from social media influencers and vloggers. But even journalists find it disturbing to see vloggers being compelled to apologize for calling public officials stupid. All rights come with responsibilities, and the exercise of civil liberties must be balanced with the rights of others. Chief presidential legal counsel Juan Ponce Enrile weighed in with the view that “truthful information” underpins the exercise of freedom of expression.
“[This is] so that our people can make the right decisions on
matters that affect them, instead of being manipulated to serve the interest of others,” Enrile said in a Facebook post.
Even this view, however, has raised concern among civil libertarians – perhaps partly because Enrile, the architect and enforcer of martial law under dictator Ferdinand Marcos, is not one to champion human rights.
In the case of print media, truth is not a defense in libel, which is a criminal offense in our country. Malice is the culprit; the absence of malice is the defense in the publication even of erroneous information.
* * *
Broadcast media have stricter rules on content, which are covered by their franchise. Penalties can be imposed for violations of the franchise regulations, which include prohibitions on pornographic or seditious materials or information.
The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) exercises regulatory powers over content in films and TV.
Broadcasters can also face a criminal complaint for slander or oral defamation under the Revised Penal Code. The RPC
also has provisions against unlawful publication of false news, unjust vexation and inciting to sedition.
For online content, we now have laws against cyberlibel.
Having faced dozens of libel suits, nearly all of which were dismissed (with one or two still crawling along the legal mill), I can say that libel laws are generally skewed in favor of journalists; malice can be difficult to establish. There have been only a handful of convictions for libel in our country.
But litigation is tortuous and can be ultra-expensive.
More important than avoiding a lawsuit, journalism is a public trust, and the trust is anchored on truthful reporting. Delivering accurate and fair information in a timely and interesting way is our constant mission, and the only way we can ensure the long-term survival of journalism, regardless of the platform.
The existence of libel laws is being raised as a reason to clamp down on the willful spread of fake news and disinformation online. The argument is that if individuals can seek legal redress for unfair reporting and commentary, there must be accountability for sowing public
confusion and social instability through false information –whether the motivation is political or financial gain.
But what can be done?
* * *
One suggestion, apart from tightening cyberlibel laws and promoting digital literacy, is to hit the malicious influencers where it hurts: in their pockets. Since they monetize their content, the Bureau of Internal Revenue can go after them.
This approach is also being eyed in compelling greater cooperation from the social media platforms, although this may be feasible only if they have offices in the Philippines.
Another suggestion is the crafting of a code of conduct for social media, which can then practice self-policing. All I can say is good luck on this.
Tri-comm member Jude
Acidre says that among other things, the panel is considering setting up an oversight committee for social media, which can function like the MTRCB.
assassination.
Time magazine’s online report says, “Historians are hoping for details fleshing out Oswald’s activities before the assassination and what the CIA and FBI knew about him beforehand,” including a trip made by Oswald to Mexico City in September 1963 with an intention to contact the Soviet embassy there.
As President Trump remarked, “We have a tremendous amount of paper. You’ve got a lot of reading.”
Although the release of the JFK files can also be likened to reopening of old wounds, perhaps it can also help Americans and many others who have long been engrossed by the life – and death – of the 35th U.S. president come to terms with their grief and finally dry the tears that have long been shed. (Philstar.com)
* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
* * *
Email: babeseyeview@gmail.com
Another suggestion is to flag fake news and false information as such – although who’s going to do this can be contentious.
The National Bureau of Investigation is not waiting for new legislation. It is going after the possible financiers and brains of what it sees as coordinated disinformation over the arrest and turnover of Duterte to the ICC.
Acidre told Storycon that the tri-comm wants to promote the responsible use of socmed and “create an ecosystem that builds on the strengths of social media.”
Even civil libertarians are expressing dismay over the flood of disinformation and other malicious content on social media. But we’re entering uncharted territory in trying to curb fake news. Let’s just remember to be careful what we wish for.
(Philstar.com)
* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
Mindful of community standards on the socmed platforms, the tri-comm is also eyeing civil and criminal liability for the willful spread of fake news that maligns the integrity of individuals and national institutions, foments social instability and compromises national security, Acidre told “Storycon” on One News.
The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection
e-mail: info@asianjournalinc.com
http://www.asianjournal.com
Tels: (818) 937-9981 • (818) 937-9982
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Getting accurate information is critical in many aspects of life, from health care to job hunting and making choices in elections.
Promoting digital and media literacy must be treated with urgency by all stakeholders. (Philstar.com)
AFP on reports US sent another Typhon missile: ‘The more the merrier’
by Faith argosino Inquirer.net
MANILA
— The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has welcomed reports saying that another Mid-Range Capability (MRC) Typhon missile from the United States Indo-Pacific Command (Indopacom) is already on its way to the country.
According to AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla, this would help their personnel train more effectively.
“This is a welcome development for the Armed Forces of the Philippines. We can say that the more the merrier. So the more assets that we have, the more also that we are able to train more personnel on our part. So we accept this willingly,” Padilla said in a press briefing on Tuesday, March 25.
“We welcome events like this because this would help our personnel train faster. So we welcome if it will arrive,” Philippine Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said.
If this happens, it will be the U.S. Army’s second such missile system to enter the region, according to the report.
The first U.S. Typhon missile arrived in the Philippines on April 11, 2024 and was first used during the Balikatan exercises. It has stayed in the country since and was last spotted in Ilocos Norte, a coastal province facing Taiwan, deemed by China as a renegade province subject to reunification.
AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said he wanted
Defense News, a leading global publication specializing in defense journalism, reported last week that the U.S. Army’s 3rd Multidomain Task Force unit is readying its Typhon battery for deployment in the Pacific theater.
the Typhon missile to stay in the country “forever” and that he hoped the Philippine government could acquire its own.
In February this year, the Philippine Army conducted the next phase of its Combined Arms Training Exercise for MRC missiles in their drills.
The Catex Katihan is in preparation for the annual Salaknib Exercise between the armies of Manila and Washington, which already kicked off in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija on Monday, March 24. n
Duterte kin press habeas petition...
are international alerts or cooperation requests issued at the request of a National Central Bureau (NCB) or an international entity, or initiated by Interpol’s General Secretariat.
A red notice, he pointed out, is specifically issued for arrest purposes and must undergo a legal review by Interpol’s General Secretariat to ensure compliance with its constitution and rules.
A diffusion, on the other hand, is a direct request sent from an NCB or an international entity to selected recipients without requiring General Secretariat review. Diffusions share intelligence or request assistance in criminal investigations but do not mandate legal scrutiny, he noted.
“Hence, the legality of the warrant of arrest issued by the
ICC was not subjected to the legal review of the General Secretariat of Interpol, thus resulting in its procedural infirmity,” he said.
‘Personal interest’
In his reply, Sebastian similarly questioned the execution of the arrest, arguing that it was based on a “less formal and nonbinding mechanism of international police cooperation.”
The Davao mayor cited a Senate hearing on March 14, where Philippine Center for Transnational Crime Executive Director Anthony Alcantara confirmed that Interpol had issued only a diffusion, not a red notice, on the day of Duterte’s arrest.
“If it was a Philippine law enforcement agency that diffused the ICC’s request, this strongly suggests that the Philippine government,
under the color of Interpol cooperation, executed and arranged the rendition itself,” Sebastian said.
“In such a case, the diffusion was merely a pretext—a procedural facade to conceal what was, in essence, a unilateral and political surrender of a Filipino citizen to a foreign tribunal, outside the scope of law,” he added.
He claimed that the Philippine government “orchestrated” the arrest out of “personal interest” rather than genuine Interpol cooperation.
The enforcement of the arrest warrant without prior court approval, he said, suggested a “possibility of politically motivated action, which could constitute illegal detention or, even more concerning, statesponsored kidnapping, all under the guise of international cooperation.” n
REFLECTION GARDEN. Concrete casts of arms and hands depicting the first of the 14 Stations of the Cross that commemorate the Passion,
and Resurrection of Jesus Christ at the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice grounds, University of the Philippines-Diliman, Quezon City,
Monday, March 24. They are creations of Maria Laura Ginoy, expected to attract devotees during the Holy Week in April. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc
The armies of the U.S. and the Philippines conducted a subject matter expert exchange about the U.S. Typhon midrange capability missile on June 27, 2024 in Laoag, Ilocos Norte. Contributed photo
LEGAL SERVICES
NOTICE OF INITIAL PETITION
FOR PROBATE ESTATE OF
Bette L. Robbins
CASE NO: 24PE002401C
To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of: Bette L. Robbins
A Petition for Probate has been filed by Mark Robbins in the Superior Court of California, County of SAN DIEGO
The Petition for Probate requests that Mark Robbins be appointed as personal representative to administer with will annexed the estate of the decedent.
The petition requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.
The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.)
The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.
A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows:
Date: 05/01/2025
Time: 01:45 P.M. Dept.: 503 Address of court: 1100 Union Street, San Diego, CA 92101
Branch Name: Central, Probate
If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing.
Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.
If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.
Evane K. Abbassi, Esq. (SBN 335491) Abbassi Law Firm c/o
of Bette L. Robbins 6320 Canoga Ave, Suite 1610 Woodland Hills, CA 91367 818-585-3872
For
Dates: 03/14, 03/21, and 03/28/2025 AJ 1644 AJSD 1644
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FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2025-9002560
San Diego E-Bikes located at 1189 E Main Street, El Cajon, CA 92021. Registrant: Wissam Gibo, 1189 E Main Street, El Cajon, CA 92021. This business is conducted by An Individual. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 02/05/2025.
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REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 03/10/2025
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AJ 1648 03/14, 03/21, 03/28, 04/04/2025. AJSD 1648
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2025-9004301
247 Royal Movers located at 720 Edgewater Dr #F, Chula Vista, CA 91913. Registrant: 10X Estate Movers, LLC, 720 Edgewater Dr #F, Chula Vista, CA 91913. This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company.
REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 10/01/2024.
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AJ 1638 03/07, 03/14, 03/21, and 03/28/2025. AJSD 1638
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2025-9002951
Busy Ladybug Daycare located at 840 Pamela LN, El Cajon, CA 92020.
Registrant: Methak Alzerkany Family Child Care LLC, 840 Pamela LN, El Cajon, CA 92020. This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company.
REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 02/01/2025.
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a. INI HOLDINGS located at 2701 Midway Dr #81992, San Diego, CA 92138.
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REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 01/01/2025.
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AJ 1649 03/14, 03/21, 03/28, 04/04/2025. AJSD 1649
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NAME STATEMENT NO. 2025-9005342
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a. Martin Movers LLC. located at 2701 Midway Dr. Unit 81992, San Diego, CA 92138.
b. Martin Movers located at 2701 Midway Dr. Unit 81992, San Diego, CA 92138.
Registrant: Martin Movers LLC., 2701 Midway Dr. Unit 81992, San Diego, CA 92138. This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company.
REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 08/16/2013.
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AJ 1639 03/07, 03/14, 03/21, and 03/28/2025. AJSD 1639
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WOLMAN
CONSTRUCTION located at 16950 Via De Santa Fe, Suite 5060-173, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067.
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NAME STATEMENT NO. 2025-9004613
Urban Teri Kitchen located at 1680 S. Melrose Dr. #101, Vista, CA 92081. Registrant: Young & Shin, Inc., 1680 S. Melrose Dr. #101, Vista, CA 92081 This business is conducted by A Corporation. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 03/06/2025. Signature: Sung Wook Chung. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 03/06/2025. AJ 1654 03/21, 03/28, 04/04, and 04/11/2025. AJSD 1654
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2025-9003304
JN Construction located at 4214 Lois Street, La Mesa, CA 91941. Registrant: Matchless Corporation, 4214 Lois Street, La Mesa, CA 91941. This business is conducted by A Corporation.
REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.
Signature: Noemi-Maria P. Quirino. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 02/18/2025. AJ 1640 03/07, 03/14, 03/21, and 03/28/2025. AJSD 1640
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2025-9004807
Casi’s House Cleaning located at 12970 Hwy 8 Business, El Cajon, CA 92021. Registrant: Casimira Arias Valle, 12970 Hwy 8 Business, El Cajon, CA 92021. This business is conducted by An Individual. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 04/28/2014. Signature: Casimira Arias Valle. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 03/10/2025. AJ 1646 03/14, 03/21, 03/28, 04/04/2025.
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2025-9003023
Manila Munchies located at 3102 6th St, San Diego, CA 92102. Registrant: Esperanza Rodriguez, 3102 6th St, San Diego, CA 92102. This business is conducted by An Individual. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 02/13/2025. Signature: Esperanza Rodriguez. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 02/13/2025. AJ 1651 03/21, 03/28, 04/04, and 04/11/2025. AJSD 1651
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT NO. 2025-9004866
Hiraya Flowers located at 425 S Meadowbrook Dr. Unit 150, San Diego, CA 92114. Registrant: Hiraya Flowers LLC, 425 S Meadowbrook Dr. Unit 150, San Diego, CA 92114. This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company.
REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 02/01/2025. Signature: Shaena Denize C. Dilayre. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 03/10/2025. AJ 1655 03/21, 03/28, 04/04, and 04/11/2025. AJSD 1655
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2025-9004527
Mel’s Makerspace located at 2326 Dragonfly St, Chula Vista, CA 91915. Registrant: Melanie Tulagan, 2326 Dragonfly St, Chula Vista, CA 91915. This business is conducted by An Individual.
REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 02/23/2025. Signature: Melanie Tulagan. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 03/05/2025. AJ 1641 03/07, 03/14, 03/21, and 03/28/2025. AJSD 1641
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2025-9004686
The Beauty Lounge Bonita located at 3030 Plaza Bonita Rd, National City, CA 91950. Registrant: Edna Karelia Meza Meza, 2792 Morningside St, San Diego, CA 92139. This business is conducted by An Individual.
REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.
Signature: Edna Karelia Meza Meza. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 03/06/2025. AJ 1647 03/14, 03/21, 03/28, 04/04/2025.
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT NO. 2025-9004986
Cactus Towing located at 4324 Lynwood Dr, Chula Vista, CA 91910. Registrant: Patricia Munoz Sahagun, 4324 Lynwood Dr, Chula Vista, CA 91910. This business is conducted by An Individual. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 03/11/2025. Signature: Patricia Munoz Sahagun. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 03/11/2025.
AJ 1652 03/21, 03/28, 04/04, and 04/11/2025. AJSD 1652
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2025-9005373
Ranch And Coast Living located at 1237 Camino Del Mar, Ste C, Del Mar, CA 92014. Registrant: Marilyn Christopher, 1237 Camino Del Mar, Ste C, Del Mar, CA 92014. This business is conducted by An Individual. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE. Signature: Marilyn Christopher. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 03/17/2025. AJ 1656 03/21, 03/28, 04/04, and 04/11/2025. AJSD 1656
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT NO. 2025-9005115
Ingelow Apartments located at 2934 Ingelow St., San Diego, CA 92106. Registrant: PL Investments LP, 244-A Palomar St., Chula Vista, CA 91911. This business is conducted by A Limited Partnership. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 05/10/2018.
Signature: Robert Pennell. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 03/12/2025. AJ 1657 03/21, 03/28, 04/04, and 04/11/2025.
SAN DIEGO
Lea Salonga takes on a guest role in The Cleaning Lady; returns to Broadway with Old Friends
LEA Salonga is stepping into a new role that audiences may not expect. While the Broadway icon is currently preparing for her latest stage endeavor, Old Friends, Salonga also revealed details about her upcoming guest appearance on the FOX TV series The Cleaning Lady
“I get to play someone who isn’t very nice,” she told the Asian Journal in a recent interview, sharing insights into her character, Rose Alonto, a woman whose polished exterior hides a cutting demeanor. “She seems nice enough when you meet her, but as the episode keeps going, you see that she really isn’t. Her niceness is put on.” Rose Alonto is the executive director of the Filipino Center
by MOMar G. Visaya / AJPress
and a former acquaintance of Fiona, played by Martha Millan. Now married into wealth, Rose takes every opportunity to flaunt her status under the guise of generosity. In one scene, she casually mentions heading to a dinner with the mayor—”some charity thing for the underprivileged”— before handing Fiona cash for cleaning services, quipping, “I’m assuming that cash is preferred, no paper trail for the TNT.” When she learns that the cleaning business is legitimate, she scoffs, “The rich get rich because they hire good, cheap labor.”
The Cleaning Lady returns for its fourth season and continues its exploration of the experience of undocumented immigrants
and the hurdles they face in this country. The series tells their stories of resourcefulness in the face of institutional adversity and the sacrifices they must make to achieve their American Dream.
Salonga noted that Rose’s character is an all-too-familiar figure in the Filipino diaspora. “People like her exist in the real world,” she said. “Filipinos abroad have definitely met someone like Rose, for darn sure.” Her episode will air next Tuesday, April 1 on FOX at 8-9 PM ET/PT.
Beyond television, Salonga is also making her return to Broadway through Old Friends which began its previews at the Samuel J. Friedman Theater on March 25 (and opening on April 8). The show features more than
Kaila Estrada honors ‘strong’ mom Janice de Belen this Women’s Month
by chArmie Joy PAgulong Philstar.com
KAILA Estrada defines an empowered woman as “someone who is confident, resilient, stands firm on her families, knows her worth and faces challenges with grace.”
In keeping with the celebration of Women’s Month this March, the actress-model offered a piece of advice for young girls.
“I guess another piece of advice that I recently heard as well, which stuck with me was don’t shy away from claiming your seat at the table. And if you don’t feel like you have a seat at the table, bring your own chair. So, I feel like that no matter how you interpret that or no matter how that fits your current situation, or in life, that’s definitely something that stuck with me,” she shared at the press event of local skincare brand Barefaced where she was introduced as the brand ambassador.
The STAR asked Kaila of her message to her mom Janice de Belen in observance of Women’s Month. And she expressed, “I wanna say thank you for being the best mom I could ever ask for, for being a strong example of a strong woman in my eyes. I owe my mom a lot for the person that I am today. I love you, Ma.”
Kaila turned 29 last March 16. Among the long list of birthday wishes she has for this year are more showbiz projects, good health and opportunities to spend more time with her family.
“Good health is something that I really want to focus on. Spending time with my loved ones (also). Time is so valuable and I feel like sometimes when we’re busy, we tend to neglect them and that’s something that I really want to focus on — spend time with my family as much as possible.”
Kaila was grateful to be tapped as the endorser of Barefaced, a brand that was founded in October 2022 by Arriane Reyes-Recella and Eleanor Casao-Roma. They presented new skincare musthaves during the launching event, such as, Sunkissed Tinted Light Sunscreen and the Melt Away Facial Cleanser.
“It’s such an honor to be part of a brand that is headed by
beautiful, strong empowered women who are not only business owners but also mothers. At the same time, they take care of their family. I think that resonates closely to me because I also have a strong, empowered, independent mom,” Kaila told the attendees. Growing up, she admitted she had certain skin insecurities but she was able to overcome them, citing how the beauty standards have evolved over the years.
“When I was growing through puberty siyempre that’s the time na grabe yung pimples,” she recalled. “And also my sisters have amazing skin. They’ve always had amazing skin so, of course, I did feel a lot of insecurities in my teenage years.
“And also kasi sa amin ng sisters ko, ako yung morena Although when I look at somebody, gandang-ganda ako sa kanila and for some reason, when I look at myself parang hindi ako masaya. That’s why I’m so happy now that the beauty standards have evolved so much.
“Now, a lot more people, a lot more Filipinas are proud to be morena and I’m one of them. I’m really, really happy about that. And I feel like it definitely shapes and just changes the mentality of young girls now.”
Meanwhile, Kaila welcomed the positive reviews of her role as the hacker and cyber ops specialist Max Alvero in the action-drama series “Incognito.”
“I feel like there is beauty in turning pain into power,” Kaila on her character as Max, who’s dealing with grief following the demise of her fiancé.
“Grief is a very difficult thing to go through whether it be loss of a loved one or a heartbreak, in general. We all experience grief in life. And I feel like there is beauty in using it to empower yourself.
“I feel that it’s possible and I feel like that shows resilience also. That’s a great way to make use of it and to grow from it. And also to heal, to find power in that and to use it for good.”
Can the viewers expect healing for Max as well?
“Without saying too much, I feel like slowly, gradually mapapansin niyo kay Max, yung healing journey niya,” replied Kaila.
“As of right now, she is still experiencing grief. You can still see her grieving at this point of the story. But gradually, you will be able to see how she copes with it.”
She hoped that the viewers who could relate to Max could see her heal and get inspired by her.
three dozen songs from some of Sondheim’s biggest musicals, including “West Side Story,” “Gypsy,” “A Little Night Music” and “Into the Woods,” weaving together highlights from his vast repertoire. “There are songs where it’s just one from a show, or two verses another, but then there are full sections where we do multiple songs from one particular musical. It’s a hybrid of doing a musical and a concert, and I love traversing both of those worlds,” she explained.
Salonga, who recently wrapped a four-week run in Los Angeles, will be performing for another 12 weeks on Broadway. “By the time it’s all said and done, the run will be 16 weeks in total,” she said.
Looking ahead, her schedule remains packed. “After Old Friends, I start working on Into the Woods in Manila. Then I come back to the U.S. for a tour, where I finally get to premiere the show I performed in the UK and Manila, Stages: Everything in Between. I have a very busy last third of 2025,” she said. “But I can’t complain. This is exactly what I wished for.”
While her packed schedule keeps her moving, Salonga still finds joy in the small moments, including a recent viral singing video she filmed in a New York kitchen with Anthony Gargiula and Jonathan Tilkin. “It was just fun,” she said. “I wasn’t overthinking it. We just wanted to enjoy singing and have a good time.” n
Lea Salonga
In celebration of Women’s Month, Kaila Estrada thanks her mom, Janice de Belen, for being a strong example of a strong woman.’ The actress-model was recently launched as the celebrity endorser of local skincare brand Barefaced.
My P.E.P. (People, Events,Places)
rogelio
ConstAntino MedinA
MARCH is the Women’s Month. I will feature women from all walks of life. I asked female respondents (1st batch): What is the significant role of women in our society?
Their replies are as follows:
Singer-songwriter Yeng Constantino, Philippines’ Pop Rock Royalty and one of the biggest hitmakers in the Philippine music industry: “Women in music bring so much more than just our talent – we bring diverse perspectives, emotion and creativity. Women have been instrumental in shaping genres and pushing boundaries. We’ve brought unique experiences to our work, enriching the music world with our diverse voices.”
Noted writer-editor Margie T. Logarta: “Like in our homes, they make excellent managers and provide a listening ear even when facing challenges of their own.”
Oregon-based Megan Acelar, an alumna of Washington State University, who loves her mother Paula Powers, the strongest, kindest and biggest person who will ever be in your corner: “Our roles are diverse, essential, and necessary for all communities worldwide.”
Vallejo City-based nurse Anna Toribio Isip, a product of Western Governors University in Utah: “Women by nature have a nurturing, caring, compassionate, protective, prayerful and supportive character. Mothers, wives, grandmothers, aunts, sisters and girlfriends are the backbone of a family unit. Women play a very significant role in society. When there is no father
Singer Yeng Constantino’s view of women in music
or men in the family unit, women step up to the plate and take on two roles, a father and mother, dual role. I salute all women!”
Quezon City resident Regina Benitez, a University of the Philippines Diliman alumna: “Women are the catalysts in our society.”
Former Solid Gold Dancers
member Ma. Bella Bonito Bautista: “The role of women is to obey God’s direction, to rear children with fear and obedience to all God’s order to be a good person.”
Vallejo City-based April Joy Samantha Ayson, a UP alumna:
“As a newly born-again Christian, my relationship with the Lord has helped me realize the true role of women in society. As a mother to a toddler, I now understand that being a ‘good mother’ isn’t just about ensuring my child excels in school. It is about teaching them morals, guiding them toward righteousness, and, most importantly, helping them build a personal relationship with Jesus. Proverbs 22:6 reminds us, ‘Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.’ When we raise children with strong values, we help build a better society — one that is guided by honesty, compassion, and responsibility. Women play a crucial role in shaping society through their faith, love, and commitment to raising godly children. By nurturing and guiding the next generation, women contribute to a strong moral foundation that benefits everyone. Our role is not just to care for children but to prepare them to be positive influences in the world, ensuring a brighter future for generations to come.”
Former overseas Filipino worker Teresita Santos, who was married to Reynaldo Santos
(a relative of the late Las Pinas City Mayor Filemon Aguilar): “Women have many roles in our society that men could not be able to do. One of these roles is being a mother to give what the children and husband need. Women are flexible especially during these hard times because we can do tasks or professional works that they say are only for men. We need to earn an income for our family.”
*
* * U.S. First Lady Melania Trump said during the Be Best Roundtable on A. I. and Deepfakes: “I am here with you today with a common goal – to protect our youth from online harm. The widespread presence of abusive behavior in the digital domain affects the daily lives of our children, families, and communities.”
* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
* * * rogeliocmedina@yahoo.com
‘Hotel room tax’ to increase starting May 1 in San Diego
Higher transient occupancy tax will generate millions of dollars for street repair and tackling homelessness
SAN DIEGO – Starting May 1, 2025, the City of San Diego will increase the transient occupancy tax (TOT) – approved by voters as Measure C in 2020 – bringing in additional revenue for street repair, addressing homelessness and improving the San Diego Convention Center.
By increasing the TOT, a tax on hotel rooms, the city expects to generate approximately $82 million in fiscal year 2026. In the first 10 years, the increased TOT is expected to generate approximately $1.04 billion in additional revenue.
Following voter approval of Measure C in 2020, implementation was delayed due to legal challenges. The city has prevailed in trial court and is moving forward with increasing the TOT, currently at 10.5%, to be paid by hotel guests, and visitors staying in RV parks and short-term rental properties.
Measure C establishes three tax zones with corresponding rates (11.75%, 12.75%, and 13.75%), related to the lodging facility’s proximity to the Convention Center. Properties within the zone closest to the Convention Center will be taxed at the highest percentage, and those furthest away will pay the lowest rate.
For the first 5 years, the additional TOT revenue will be allocated as follows:
• 59% to finance Convention Center improvements and otherwise support Convention Center operations.
• 41% to City efforts to address homelessness, including shelter and support programs, permanent supportive housing and associated costs.
For years 6 through 10, the additional TOT revenue will be allocated as follows:
• 59% to finance Convention
Center improvements and otherwise support Convention Center operations.
• 31% to City efforts to address homelessness, including shelter and support programs, permanent supportive housing and associated costs.
• 10% to support street repairs included an array of street-related infrastructure improvements.
The city’s Office of the City Treasurer will begin sending letters next week to lodging operators, property management companies, and online hosting platforms notifying them of the TOT rate increase. Lodging operators can look up their zone location and tax rates on the city’s interactive tax zone map, access the TOT online payment portal, and receive up-to-date information on the city’s website (www.sandiego.gov).
(City of San Diego Release)
County, state, labor leaders celebrate workers, give wage theft progress report
MORE wage theft victims in San Diego County are getting the pay they’ve earned.
County, state and labor leaders delivered that message as they gathered to celebrate workers, and report advances on addressing wage theft.
Wednesday’s (March 26) breakfast event took place at the Employee Rights Center as part of a Week of Action honoring labor rights activist César Chávez. Workers in the region lose nearly $6 million every year to unscrupulous employers.
County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer told attendees too many workers are paid poverty wages, see their tips skimmed, are denied overtime or their pay. Justice-impacted workers who have paid their debt and want self-sufficiency aren’t given a fair chance at employment.
“It’s not just unfair and it’s not just indecent,” said LawsonRemer. “It makes it harder for workers to take care of their families, it makes it harder for honest employees to compete, and it’s illegal.”
One of the newest efforts to hold employers accountable is the Workers’ Rights Enforcement Program. It gives the County the authority to prosecute employers who are engaging in unlawful labor practices.
“Since August, the Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement has handled over more than 400 inquiries related to wage theft and workplace violations,” said County Ethics, Compliance and Labor Standards Director Branden Butler. “Our office is currently investigating 40 cases with the goal of recovering unpaid wages.” And that is just one C]county program designed to help people
County makes speaking at board meetings easier than ever
HAVE you ever wanted to speak about an issue at a San Diego County Board of Supervisors meeting?
Well, the county is introducing changes to make it easier to do than ever before.
Until now, anyone who wanted to speak at a board meeting had to fill out a speaker slip before the meeting started — either a written slip in person at the board meeting, or electronically online if they wanted to talk by phone.
Starting April 2, no more paper slips, no more waiting in line and no more waiting until the day of the meeting to request to speak.
Anyone can submit a simplified speakers’ slip online using their phone, laptop or other device, at any time before the board starts taking public comment on the item during the meeting. If you’re speaking by phone, the new system will even call you when the meeting starts and give you real-time notifications about where you are in line to talk on the item or items you’ve selected to speak about.
who have lost their pay.
The Good Faith Restaurant Program recovered more than $106,000 in lost wages for restaurant workers.
The Workplace Justice Fund helped 34 applicants receive financial relief totaling $100,000 last year. This year, the County expects to help another 80 people. The fund helps workers who won legal judgments for lost wages but are still waiting for the money from their employers.
The DA’s Workplace Justice Unit was one of the first in California to investigate and prosecute criminal wage theft cases.
“We continue to file case after case. I think we’re up to about 16 cases now and they’re growing, of felony wage theft cases, recovering thousands of dollars to employees who need that money to put bigger shoes on their kids, to put food on the table,” said District Attorney Summer Stephan.
“In California, we have some of the strongest laws. These laws have not changed,” said State Labor Commissioner Lilia García-
Brower. “A person labors, and they are to labor under certain conditions. And if they are not laboring under those conditions, then we have an obligation to hold them accountable.”
The county regularly works with both the State Department of Industrial Relations and the Employee Rights Center, and together they get results.
“It’s the most important thing that we can do, is come together as a group rather than think you’re facing this by yourself or that there is no one out there who is aware or wants to help people confront those issues,” said Employee Rights Center Director Alor Calderón. “So, community and the legacy of César Chávez is our main message this week.”
Employers and workers who want more information about workers’ rights, wage theft or how to file a complaint, can visit the Office of Ethics, Compliance and Labor Standards website or call the office at 619-531-5129.
(Tracy DeFore/County of San Diego Communications Office)
To make the new changes even easier for the public to use, the County Clerk of the Board of Supervisors will be hosting three informational webinars on Zoom to demonstrate how the system works and to take any questions people may have.
• Saturday, April 5 at 10 a.m. (Via Zoom – https:// sdcounty-ca-gov.zoom. us/webinar/register/WN_ nDua0oqETQCTb7tN55ytxw#/ registration)
• Monday, April 7 at 7 p.m. (Via Zoom – https://sdcountyca-gov.zoom.us/webinar/ register/WN_M07EpWF4TT0A2q_hEvYqw#/registration).
And of course, county staff will also be available at board meetings to provide on-site assistance and help people if they need it to sign-up to speak.
Simple system, how it works
• Go online to “San Diego County, CA Meetings” webpage: The new speakerrequest system is easy to use. Use your smartphone, computer, laptop, or other device to go to the webpage at https://PublicComment. SanDiegoCounty.gov.
• Click on the meeting you want to speak at: Click on the meeting date for the meeting you want to comment at. That will provide information about the meeting.
• Click “Register”: Click on the blue “Register” box at the bottom of the page.
• Fill out the form: Clicking the “Register” button will bring up a set of instructions, the online submittal form, and the list of agenda items for you to select one or more items that you want to speak to. The submittal form can be translated into multiple languages. Simply fill out your information, mark the item or items you wish to speak to, and whether you’re attending “In Person” or “Virtually” by phone.
• Scroll to request
interpreter if needed: Scroll to the bottom of the submission form to request an interpreter if English is not your first language.
• Check the box to ask to be called when the board meeting starts: You can also check a box to subscribe to updates on the Board of Supervisors.
• Click “Register” again at the bottom: And you’re all set. You’ll receive an email confirming your request to speak.
Improved customer service; Take part in county government Making it easier for people to engage with county government is of the utmost importance to us. This new public comment system is designed to do just that. We know that government of the people and for the people works best with the people’s input. So, take part by sharing your thoughts at County Board of Supervisors’ meetings. It’s easier than ever. For detailed instructions about using the new system, more information about County Supervisors’ Board meetings, how to find Board agendas or more general information, go to the County Clerk of the Board’s website at https:// www.sandiegocounty.gov/cob/ bosa.html.
An additional video to help you learn more about the speaking at the Board of Supervisors meetings and about the new speaker online slip process can be found on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=BbLAdm6Iw7M).
(Gig Conaughton/County of San Diego Communications Office)
Megan Acelar (right) with her mom Paula Powers.
Regina Benitez with her brother Atty.
Bienvenido Benitez, administrator of Parole and Probation Administration.
U.S. First Lady Melania Trump (3rd from left) during the recent Be Best Roundtable on A. I. and Deepfakes.
Writer-editor Margie T. Logarta
April Joy Samantha Ayson with her family.
Nurse Anna Toribio-Isip
Former OFW Teresita Santos with her favorite pet.
Former Solid Gold Dancers member Ma. Bella Benito Bautista
Singer-songwriter Yeng Constantino Photos compiled by Rogelio Medina
Screengrab from YouTube video
Gloria administration proposes reforms to ADU Density Bonus Program, invites public feedback
Reforms aim to continue providing affordable homes while ensuring neighborhood compatibility
SAN DIEGO – Mayor Todd Gloria is bringing forward reforms to the City of San Diego’s Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Density Bonus Program that will continue its success in expanding affordable home options while ensuring projects are consistent with the scale and character of San Diego’s neighborhoods.
The reforms address community concerns related to unintended impacts of the ADU program. The city regularly monitors its housing programs to ensure they are achieving the desired results and often makes adjustments based on feedback from the community and home builders.
ADU homes are secondary housing units built alongside a primary single-family residence and can play a key role in addressing San Diego’s critical housing shortage by producing home options for people of all incomes.
Established in 2020, the ADU Density Bonus Program allows additional ADU homes to be built on a property when a portion of the homes will be provided to people with moderate or low incomes. In 2024, the program was recognized as a top housing innovation in the country.
The City Planning Department regularly monitors development regulations and recommends updates to the City Council as needed – either to remove unnecessary or burdensome regulations or to ensure that new development
will be compatible with San Diego’s neighborhoods. Feedback from members of the public is a key part of this process.
To address concerns raised regarding neighborhood scale, infrastructure and fire safety, city staff began preparing changes to the ADU Density Bonus Program in the fall and is incorporating feedback from the City Council earlier this month in its proposed revisions. City staff will present a comprehensive package of ADU reforms to the City Council this summer.
“Our city’s housing programs are most successful when they provide housing options for people of all incomes and when new homes are consistent with the scale of existing neighborhoods,” said City Planning Director Heidi Vonblum. “Ensuring that the ADU Density Bonus Program continues to provide more housing options for people with moderate and lower incomes is critical. However, this must be achieved in a manner that fits with our existing communities. We look forward to working with the public to achieve this.”
Proposed changes to the ADU Density Bonus Program currently include:
• Address infrastructure needs: Ability to collect an optin fee from ADU Density Bonus Program home builders to fund community improvements, in accordance with state law.
• Development scale: Amend the applicability of the ADU
Density Bonus Program by applying base zone height and overall allowable building area of a property in a manner that ensures ADU Density Bonus homes are similar in scale with the surrounding neighborhood.
• Parking: Apply parking requirements to ADU Density Bonus Program development outside of the Transit Priority Area. State law prevents the city from requiring parking inside the Transit Priority Area.
• Compliance: Increase fines for violations of the deed restriction for affordable rents on units created through the ADU Density Bonus Program.
• Adequate evacuation routes: Eliminate the ADU Density Bonus Program’s applicability in High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones unless adequate emergency and evacuation routes exist.
• Fire code: Apply fire code requirements for multifamily buildings to ADU Density Bonus Program developments, including fire sprinkler requirements.
• Setbacks: Align all ADU home setbacks to be consistent with fire code regulations related to brush management. The public is invited to provide feedback on these proposed reforms and learn more at the Land Developlment Code update webpage at https:// www.sandiego.gov/planning/ work/land-development-code/ updates-in-process.
(City of San Diego Release)
California doubles down to protect communities from wildfire with 25 key deliverables for 2025
SACRAMENTO – Following the devastation of the Los Angeles firestorms and with escalating risks of catastrophic wildfires, the Governor’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force on Monday, March 24 released a list of 25 key deliverables that will protect communities and natural landscapes statewide.
The list builds on Governor Gavin Newsom’s emergency proclamation to expedite wildfire prevention projects across the state, and the extensive work of the Task Force to date. (Full list of 25 key deliverables available to view by going to https:// wildfiretaskforce.org/task-forcereleases-2025-key-deliverablesto-outline-californias-toppriorities-underway-toincrease-wildfire-resilience/.)
The deliverables outline the highest priority actions underway this year to achieve the commitments in California’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan, launched in 2021, and to advance key new initiatives that will be highlighted in the forthcoming update of the Action Plan to be released later this year. Many of the deliverables are already underway.
“The Los Angeles firestorms put another exclamation point on the need to use every tool we have available to protect communities from wildfire. These deliverables pull from the state’s already nation-leading toolbox of solutions and push California to move even faster,” Gov. Newsom said in a release from his office.
This comes at a critical time, building on the unprecedented actions Governor Newsom has already taken in response to the Los Angeles fires and advancing the governor’s emergency proclamation to cut red tape and fast-track wildfire prevention projects.
“The Task Force has made strong progress to protect Californians from catastrophic wildfire,” said California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot. “But much more work is needed. These deliverables chart out critical solutions we will put in place to protect people and their homes, restore the health of our landscapes, and continue to build out a longterm comprehensive approach to strengthening our resilience to wildfire.”
What are the top priorities of the 2025 Key Deliverables?
The deliverables strategically prioritize community safety, forest health, and rural economies through actions that will:
• Improve home and community wildfire resilience.
• Streamline regulatory processes.
• Expand landscape-scale resilience programs.
• Scale-up beneficial fire.
• Increase post-fire restoration programs.
• Create forest sector jobs and a sustainable wood products market.
• Build a science-based framework for measuring progress.
Building on nation-leading progress
The 2025 Key Deliverables are the next advancement made by California to increase wildfire response and forest management in the face of a hotter, drier climate. From day 1, Governor Newsom declared California’s firefighters and wildfire resilience as a top priority of his administration. Since taking office, the governor has committed more resources and investments than ever before to significantly boost wildfire response capabilities while tackling root causes of the wildfire crisis head-on. A full list of California’s progress on wildfire resilience is available at https://wildfiretaskforce.org/ progress-on-wildfire/. Historic investments — Overall, the state has more than doubled investments in wildfire prevention and landscape resilience efforts, providing
DID you know California is in a Tsunami zone? In the case of a major earthquake, tsunami waves could be generated off the coast of California. While the probability of a tsunami is lower than in other parts of the world, the hazard does exist, and it is important to know what to do in case of emergency.
Seismic events can occur in one location and have an impact in another, faraway location.
On Jan. 15, 2022, a volcanic eruption at Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai in the southwest Pacific Ocean generated a tsunami that affected several harbors. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tide gauges all showed rises. San Diego County reported a .60 inch max wave height, while Arena Cove in Mendocino County had 2.14 inches max wave height. Tsunamis can result in damage to some harbors and vessels.
Beyond a tsunami in Southern California, it is important to know what to do in the event of one as it can happen when visiting other countries, and because it could save your life.
In San Diego County, it is important to be prepared by registering with AlertSanDiego, the county’s notification system, and know the signs of a tsunami and what to do.
• If a tsunami warning is issued: Don’t panic but make your way AWAY from the coast, at least a mile inland and upward, ideally 100 feet above sea level, when possible. It is
Tsunami Zone Awareness Week Governor
SACRAMENTO –
Safeguarding Californians from hate-motivated incidents that have surged nationally, Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday, March 24 announced $76 million in grants, made in partnership with the state Legislature, to 347 community groups across the state to protect nonprofits and houses of worship from violence, the most that’s ever been awarded.
“Today more than ever, our state stands together to support our communities. Californians deserve the right to worship, love, and gather safely, without fear of violence,” Gov. Newsom said in a release sent out by his office.
Nearly doubling previous award amounts, this year’s California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program awardees received funding due to their high risk for violent attacks and hate crimes due to ideology, beliefs or mission with funding for security enhancements.
“Despite facing significant budget challenges, the California Legislature will continue to stand firm in our commitment to supporting vulnerable communities targeted by hate,” said Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino) and Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), the Budget Chairs of the California Legislature. “We are particularly grateful to Governor Newsom for his longstanding leadership in funding the Nonprofit Security Grant Program and for his efforts to
File photo/www.gov.ca.gov
more than $2.5 billion in wildfire resilience since 2020, with an additional $1.5 billion to be allocated from the 2024 Climate Bond.
On-the-ground progress —
More than 2,200 landscape health and fire prevention projects are complete or underway, and from 20212023, the state and its partners treated nearly 1.9 million acres, including nearly 730,000 acres in 2023.
Increasing transparency — The Governor’s Task Force launched an Interagency Treatment Dashboard to display completed federal, state, local, and private vegetation management projects across the state. The Dashboard, launched in 2023, provides transparency, tracks progress, facilitates planning, and informs firefighting efforts.
Protecting communities — Since 2019, CAL FIRE has awarded more than $450 million for 450 wildfire prevention projects across the state and conducts Defensible Space Inspections on more than 250,000 homes each year.
Leveraging cutting-edge technology — On top of expanding the world’s largest aerial firefighting fleet, CAL FIRE has doubled its use of drones and the state is utilizing AI-powered tools to spot fires quicker.
(CA Governor’s Office Release)
not safe to stay in the area and wait to see the effects.
• If you are near the water and feel a strong earthquake, or hear a roar from the water, see a fast-rising flood, a wall of water or the water draining away from the ocean floor exposing rocks and fish, this is your warning that a tsunami may be coming.
• Drop, cover and hold on for the earthquake, then when it is safe to do so, move inland and upward when possible.
• Remain at the safe location and monitor official emergency information as it may take a tsunami several hours to generate.
Education is key to saving lives. Tilly Smith, a 10-year-old from Britain was vacationing in Phuket, Thailand in December 2004 when she saw the water recede and froth. She had recently learned the warning
signs of a tsunami in school and told her parents who alerted other beach visitors and resort staff. Her warning saved lives on that beach.
The state Office of Emergency Services, the California Geological Survey, AECOM Technical Services and the Tsunami Research Center at the University of Southern California are tasked with creating tsunami maps for all 20 coastal counties and they are available to view on the California Department of Conservation website. AlertSanDiego.org also has the 10 coastal cities maps on AlertSanDiego.org. Learn more at The TsunamiZone (https://www. tsunamizone.org) and talk to your family and work about it.
expedite the disbursement of these vital grants. We have no doubt that this funding will continue to make a major difference in protecting the Jewish community and all communities targeted by hate.”
Of the 347 awardees, 269 are ideology and spiritually-based organizations. More than 1,600 organizations applied during this round of funding, totaling over $325 million in requested support. The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) administers these funds which directly support physical security measures such as reinforced doors, gates, highintensity lighting, access control systems, development and enhancement of security plans and protocols.
Since the inception of the program in fiscal year 2015, the state has awarded $228,750,000 in state funding to 1,271 highrisk organizations.
Funds are awarded through a competitive grant application for organizations that are targeted on the basis of race, religious affiliation, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, immigration status. Applications are graded using specified criteria set out in the request for proposal.
Fighting hate and protecting all communities California is taking nationleading measures to improve the safety, health, and well-being of the state’s diverse communities.
Since 2019, the state has invested over $400 million in
(Yvette Urrea Moe/County of San Diego Communications Office) funding to increase community resources and address hate, including $217 million in state and federal grants to fund security infrastructure for faithbased and other non-profit institutions and $196 million in anti-hate investments to support community services for victims and survivors of hate acts.
Amidst the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and recent haterelated incidents throughout the nation, earlier this year, Governor Newsom released the Golden State Plan to Counter Antisemitism to address increasing attacks on California’s Jewish communities, and wrote a letter to California’s Muslim, Palestinian American, and Arab American communities denouncing hate-based attacks and the loss of innocent lives. Last year, the governor signed legislation that established the Commission on the State of Hate and improved the tracking of hate crimes. The governor also signed an executive order in 2022 to further protect communities against hate violence and discrimination. California launched CA vs Hate in 2023, a multilingual statewide hotline and website that provides a safe, anonymous reporting option for victims and witnesses of hate acts. Reports can be made anonymously by calling 833-8-NO-HATE. For individuals who want to report a hate crime to law enforcement immediately or who are in imminent danger, please call 911. (CA Governor’s Office Release)
Anne Curtis explores beauty of Siquijor: ‘Island of healing’
by JeSSicA Ann evAngeliStA Inquirer.net
ANNE Curtis captivated onlookers during her recent trip in Siquijor, where her beauty seemed to perfectly mirror the nature around her.
Curtis gave a glimpse of her trip to the island through her Instagram page, where she sported a multicolored two-piece bikini, effortlessly blending with the island’s lush tropical and turquoise waters at the base of a waterfall.
“Magical,” she captioned the post.
In a separate post, the “It’s Showtime” host gave a peek of the activities she did on the trip including visiting a centuries-old banyan tree and experiencing “tuob,” a traditional herbal steam believed to keep off negative energy.
“Isla del Fuego & the island of healing,” she wrote alongside the photos.
Curtis also amazed with her strength after trying the largest rope swings at Cambugahay Falls. In the clip, the actress effortlessly swayed around the waters with just one hand on the rope. In the comments section, netizens and fellow celebrities praised the “BuyBust” actress for her core stability.
“She can walk on water!!!”
said host Tim Yap.
“Grace and strength,” added broadcast journalist Karen Davila.
As of writing, the actress’ video accumulated 106 million views and almost 2 million likes on Facebook. Curtis is in the middle of
filming her new series “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay,” which is shot in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, an island close to Siquijor.
The 40-year-old actress stars alongside Joshua Garcia and Carlo Aquino in the Philippine adaptation of the said drama.
