041125 - San Diego Edition

Real ID deadline looms: What US air travelers need to know

If you’re headed to the airport soon, you might want to doublecheck your identification

IF you’re headed to the airport soon, you might want to double-check your identification. Starting May 7, 2025, every resident (18 years or older) of a U.S. state or territory attempting to board a commercial aircraft will need to present security with a Real ID license or identification card, or another acceptable form of identification such as a passport. If you’re not able to present a Real IDcompliant card to a Transportation Security Administration agent, you won’t be permitted through the airport’s security checkpoint.

Why the sudden change? Actually, this new requirement has been 20 years in

Overseas Filipino voters in the US urged to complete pre-enrollment ahead of May 2025 Philippine elections

by AJPress

WITH the 2025 Philippine national elections fast approaching, overseas voters can cast their ballots online for the first time ever—but only if they complete their mandatory pre-enrollment by May 7. Registered voters can now cast their ballots online for the upcoming 2025 Philippine national elections—no need for paper ballots or in-person visits.

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has officially opened the Online Voting and Counting System (OVCS) for registered overseas voters, including those under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Consulate General in New York. This historic shift means qualified voters can conveniently vote for senators and party-list representatives using their phones, tablets, or computers from anywhere in the U.S.

But before overseas Filipinos can cast their votes, all voters must complete their pre-voting enrollment no later than May 7, 2025. This essential step verifies a voter’s identity and grants access to the online system during the official voting period, which runs from April 13 to May 12, 2025.

Key Deadlines to Remember:

April 12, 2025: Last day to use the test voting feature and familiarize yourself with the online system.

May 7, 2025: Final deadline to complete online pre-enrollment at https:// ov.comelec.gov.ph/enroll (Note: The site is geo-blocked in the Philippines.)

April 13–May 12, 2025: Official overseas absentee voting period.

COMELEC has also released the following lists to confirm voter eligibility: National Registry of Overseas Voters (NROV) Certified List of Overseas Voters (CLOV) for those registered under the Philippine Consulate General in New York CLOV (Seafarer)

Eligible voters are encouraged to check

Negotiate not retaliate: Philippines open to cut tariffs on US imports

by Ian nIcolas P. cIgaral Inquirer.net

Duterte lawyers seek limits to victims’ role in trial

by Kathleen de VIlla Inquirer.net

MANILA — The defense team of former

President Rodrigo Duterte has objected to some of the items in the proposed mechanism for drug war victims seeking to participate in his trial before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

Led by defense counsel Nicholas Kaufman, the Duterte camp wants the PreTrial Chamber (PTC) 1 to “limit the range” of allowed documents to be submitted by

victims as proof of their identity to either only the national ID or an up-to-date Philippine passport, to “streamline proceedings” and adopt a “more stringent approach.”

In case both IDs are not available, the court should accept “in a staggered fashion” the valid IDs identified by the state insurer Social Security System (SSS), the defense counsel added.

“Limiting the range of identity documents enhances the reliability of the identity verification process and significantly reduces

Valor may be shown through little acts of kindness, says Marcos

by luIsa cabato Inquirer.net

PILAR — President Ferdinand Marcos

Jr. has reminded Filipinos that valor is not just about “strength and resolve in the face of adversity.”

He said this quality can also be shown through little acts of kindness that have a positive effect on people.

He gave this message for the observance of the 83rd Araw ng Kagitingan on Wednesday, April 9.

“I join the entire Filipino nation in commemorating the Day of Valor or Araw ng Kagitingan ,” Marcos said.

“In honoring our forebears, may we recognize that valor is not solely about

strength and resolve in the face of adversity but also about small acts of compassion, generosity, and kindness that create meaningful ripples of positive change in our communities,” he said.

Marcos noted that the remarkable stories of all Filipinos, who proved their patriotism during World War II, continue to inspire the present generation in “building a country worthy of their sacrifice.”

The president further said, “Indeed, this year’s commemoration shows that our country is a cradle of heroes and heroines—a home of noble men and women who, regardless of risk or cost, willingly gave a part of themselves and even their lives for the sake of their beloved nation.”

after she left for The Hague to check on her father following his arrest and detention by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity, Vice President Sara Duterte is back in the Philippines, where she will once again be faced with several issues, including her impeachment trial. Duterte arrived in Manila on Sunday, April 6 at approximately 9:56 p.m. via Emirates flight no. EK 334, according to the Office of the Vice President (OVP). She flew to the Netherlands on March 12, a day after the arrest of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.

In an interview on April 4, while she was still in The Hague, VP Duterte said her task was done since “everything [had been] organized” for her father’s defense.

“I’m excited to go home. I’ll just book the travel arrangements to go home,” she added.

by luIsa cabato Inquirer.net

by demPsey reyes and Jeannette andrade Inquirer.net

Sen. Ronald `Bato’ Dela Rosa Senate photo

Valor may be shown through little acts of kindness...

“Through acts of genuine

VP Duterte back in PH, ready to face...

Her arrival coincided with the release of another batch of apparently made-up names of people who supposedly received some of the P612 million worth of confidential funds issued to her office, as well as the Department of Education (DepEd) while she was still its secretary.

Reporters covering the OVP sought its comment on the recent statement of House Deputy Majority Leader Francisco Paolo Ortega V, who said some of the names they found resembled that of celebrities and other high-profile personalities.

Made-up names?

They included “Honeylet Camille Sy,” which resembled the name of her father’s common law partner Honeylet Avanceña; three “Fionas” but with different spellings, such as “Feonna Biong,” “Feonna Villegas,” “Fiona Ranitez”; a socalled “Ellen Magellan”; Erwin Q. Ewan; Gary Tanada; and Joel Linangan.

“The vice president is expected to address any pertinent matters in the coming days,” the OVP said in a statement announcing Duterte’s arrival from the Netherlands. Ortega, meanwhile, said in a press briefing on Monday, April 7 that he will conduct a “miniinvestigation” to determine if the 942 supposed recipients with actual birth records, as certified by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), had indeed received confidential funds.

Of the number, 670 were purported recipients of the OVP’s P500-million confidential funds while the rest signed acknowledgment receipts for payments taken from the DepEd’s P112.5 million confidential funds.

List ‘bloaters’

“What we are sure of is those with fictitious names didn’t receive [money]. They might have only been used to bloat the list [of recipients],” Ortega said.

“This is why we would be

looking into those names with [PSA] records, because maybe then, we would be able to talk to or invite persons who could tell us if they received money or how the confidential funds were used,” he added. He said that most of the questions about the use of the P612.5 million confidential funds will likely only be answered in Duterte’s impeachment trial.

Ortega welcomed Duterte’s return from The Hague and probable preparation for the trial, citing her assertion of answering in an impeachment court questions regarding her use of public funds.

“It’s easy to explain [the use of confidential funds]. It’s very simple if we abide by the guidelines (Joint Circular 202501) on utilizing confidential funds. They could have explained it during the hearing,” Ortega said, referring to last year’s inquiry held by the House committee on good government and public accountability on the matter. n

Negotiate not retaliate...

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“We all work together as Asean,” she said, referring to the regional bloc, of which the Philippines is a founding member.

Rushing to negotiate

The latest remarks from the trade chief mean the Philippines is joining the rest of the world in rushing to the negotiating table to seal a deal with Trump.

In the region, Bloomberg reported that Vietnam was willing to remove all tariffs on U.S. imports after Trump had announced that Vietnamese products entering America would be slapped with a punitive 46 percent levy.

On the other hand, China announced on Friday a 34-percent retaliatory tariff against U.S. imports.

But many analysts believe that Manila is in a better position

to negotiate with Washington after Trump unveiled a milder 17-percent tariff on Filipino goods, among the lowest in Asia. This was still lower than the 34 percent that the Philippines charges on inbound shipments from the United States, including the estimated cost of non-trade barriers. Only Singapore was slapped with just a 10-percent tariff — the baseline figure cited by Trump in his “Liberation Day” announcement that fanned global recession fears and sent global markets into turmoil.

Bilateral talks

Moving forward, Roque said she expected to finally meet her American counterpart in a “few days” to kick-start the trade talks.

Based on data from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), the United States incurred a

merchandise trade deficit with the Philippines amounting to $4.9 billion in 2024, up by 21.8 percent from the previous year.

According to the USTR, which cited the latest available data as of 2022, the Philippines’ average Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) applied tariff rate was 6.1 percent.

The Philippines’ average MFN applied tariff rate was 9.8 percent for agricultural products and 5.5 percent for nonagricultural products in 2022.

“The lower tariff rates imposed on the Philippines compared to neighboring countries can be an advantage for us, as our goods traded to the United States will become more competitive, boosting our exports,” said Reinielle Matt Erece, an economist at Oikonomia Advisory & Research Inc. n

Duterte lawyers seek limits...

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the risk of fraud,” Kaufman said in an April 7 filing of “observations” to the ICC Registry’s suggested procedures for victims.

He argued that the use of varied and insufficiently verified identity documents “could lead to misidentification, doublecounting and the inclusion of false victims.”

These, he noted, could trigger “unnecessary and timeconsuming litigation.”

Unrealistic demand

The observations of the defense were in response to the April 2 notice by the ICC’s Registry, which provides judicial and administrative support to the court, on its suggested process and modes for admission, type of identification documents, and legal representation in order for the victims to engage with the tribunal.

Citing a backlog in the distribution of national IDs in the Philippines, the Registry recommended a wide range of Philippine government-issued IDs and documents, including the senior citizen card, persons with disability card, National Bureau of Investigation clearance, and voter’s certification with dry seal.

But the defense dismissed the backlog issue as a “vague assertion” for the expanded list of proposed IDs.

Kristina Conti of Rise Up for Life and Rights, one of the lawyers assisting victims in the ICC proceedings, said the defense’s observations were “out of touch and harsh” and “obviously intended to exclude the majority of the victims of Duterte’s war on drugs.”

“Their insistence on the use of national IDs is unrealistic, with the obtention and issuance of the cards plagued with consistent issues of delay. Their suggestion to produce passports is antipoor, as only the socially mobile have the luxury to avail [themselves] of cross-country travel,” Conti said in a statement to the Inquirer.

Burden on defense

Aside from the type of IDs, the defense also disagreed with the Registry’s proposal that the longtime lawyers of victims be allowed to serve as temporary legal representatives “to safeguard their right to participate” until the court designates their actual counsel.

This suggestion was backed by the ICC’s Office of Public Counsel for Victims (OPCV), which stressed the need to protect the interests of the victims while awaiting the appointment of their common legal counsel to avoid “any gaps in their legal representation.”

But the defense insisted that the pretrial court recognize only the OPCV as the sole legal representative of the victims to avoid “slowing down the proceedings” by numerous submissions of their individual lawyers.

The OPCV, which provides legal assistance, research, and court representation to victims, works independently from the ICC.

“Permitting submissions by individual lawyers for some, but not all, applicants while simultaneously appointing the OPCV for others will result in twice the number of submissions before this Chamber,” Kaufman claimed. “It will be unwieldy [and] unnecessarily encumber the

defense… This will impact on Mr. Duterte’s right to a speedy judicial process.”

New defense team member This developed as the PTC also announced that seasoned international defense lawyer Dov Jacobs has joined the legal team of Duterte as an associate counsel.

The 45-year-old French lawyer has at least 15 years of experience in international law and international criminal law, both as a practitioner and as an academic, information on his personal website showed. Jacobs was part of the defense team of former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo who was acquitted in 2019 of charges of murder, rape and other crimes against humanity in the ICC. He is also a defense counsel for Mahamat Said, a former highranking militant leader in the Central African Republic currently on trial at the ICC for war crimes and crimes against humanity. In Malacañang, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace press officer Claire Castro said on Tuesday that Kaufman might have more things to worry about other than what he called “political manipulation” of arguments as the only potential hurdle in the former president’s legal woes. In a press briefing, Castro pointed out that Kaufman’s client “admitted his acts of killings.”

Duterte has also repeatedly taken full legal and moral responsibility for the bloody war on illegal drugs that killed more than 6,000 mostly poor drug suspects in alleged shootouts and vigilante-style killings. (With a report from Julie M. Aurelio)

Palace: No reason for Senate to...

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(ICC) in investigating, arresting, or prosecuting a “protected person” without the consent of their country of origin.

`Protected person’

A “protected person” refers to a U.S. national or military personnel or any individual who is a lawful resident of a U.S. NATO ally or a “major nonNATO ally,” a designation the Philippines holds.

But during Monday’s briefing, April 7, Castro rejected dela Rosa’s suggestion by citing a portion of the same EO that the senator was referring to:

“The United States remains committed to the accountability and to the peaceful cultivation of international order at the ICC. And the parties to the Rome Statute must expect the

decisions of the United States and other countries not to subject their personnel to the ICC’s jurisdiction consistent with their respective sovereign prerogatives.”

Castro explained in a mixture of Filipino and English, “So, this means that through this executive order, the United States respects the prerogatives of countries that are considered its allies. Therefore, whatever prerogative our country exercises, the U.S. will respect it.”

Chartered plane Castro, in a briefing on March 14, confirmed that the Office of the President paid for the chartered plane that brought Duterte to ICC headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands.

She said this was part of the administration’s commitment to

comply with the International Criminal Police Organization. This was not the first time that Dela Rosa criticized the Marcos administration over Duterte’s arrest. The senator had previously accused President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of breaking his promise not to cooperate with the ICC on Duterte’s case.

“He told me before: ‘Don’t worry, I will never cooperate with the ICC because after you, who’s next? It might be us.’ That’s what he told me,” dela Rosa told reporters in Filipino in a phone patch interview with Senate reporters. This allegation was shrugged off by Castro, pointing out that dela Rosa could easily defend himself before the ICC if he is indeed innocent. n

With U.S. students struggling, educators rethink the school day

by selen ozturK

A growing number of educators are reshaping the school day — and what it means to be a successful graduate.

In the face of chronic absenteeism and low performance among students nationwide, these initiatives include a restructuring of yearly credit hours, or Carnegie units — developed by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in 1906 — to include career goalbased learning, work experience internships and early college classes.

“One of the positive things that came out of the pandemic is that everybody wanted to get back to school … then we saw chronic absenteeism rates reach record levels,” said Louis Freedberg, former editor of EdSource and current executive producer of education reform podcast Sparking Equity, at a Friday, April 4 American Community Media briefing.

“This reinforced that our current learning opportunities are not sufficient for young people to get up every morning and want to go to school,” he added.

In the 2021-22 school year, 29.7% of U.S. students — nearly 14.7 million — were chronically absent, compared with 16% in 2019, before the pandemic; in 2022-2023, 27.9% were chronically absent.

The 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as the “nation’s report card”, also saw that for the first time, a third of eighth grade students scored below “basic” in reading levels, being 5 points lower on average compared to 2019; math scores were 8 points lower compared to 2019.

“Keeping kids engaged in school presents a crisis for all forms of education,” said Freedberg. “The notion that we should shoehorn learning into these six-hour daily bites doesn’t work for all kids.”

“Many other skills may be more important for how students succeed in the workplace and in life after they graduate, like critical thinking, being able to work collaboratively or independently, being able to stick with a task,” he continued,

adding that many states are now “figuring out how to measure these durable skills.”

In Indiana, Nevada, North Carolina, Rhode Island and Wisconsin, the same Carnegie Foundation that had developed credit hours nearly 120 years ago is now working with the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to create pilot projects testing students’ skills.

Last October, for instance, North Carolina was awarded nearly $4 million from the U.S. Department of Education to pilot a Skills for the Future assessment project.

North Carolina, alongside at least 16 other states, are also outlining these skill goals in “graduate portraits” that are influencing education policies across the country’s school districts.

“This is something that’s definitely picking up steam across the country,” said Freedberg: “What do we want our graduates to leave school with? Not just whether you got A’s or B’s, but broader descriptions of a variety of skills” including networking abilities, communication, cultural competence, civic engagement and conflict navigation.

“When modern public schools were started, Carnegie developed credit units to fuel the workforce. But in order for people to be really good workers, they need to be well-rounded,” said Shalonda Gregory, principal of Metwest High in Oakland, California — a non-traditional school which has implemented this skillsbased models through Big Picture Learning (BPL).

BPL, a network of over 140 schools nationwide and over 100 more worldwide, encourages students to learn skills for the careers they want through field internships and mentorships up to two days a week — Tuesdays and Thursdays at Metwest — alongside core curriculum classes the rest of the school week.

Every student entering ninth grade at Metwest creates an Individual Learning Plan with actionable goals not only for “careers or education beyond high school, but also for who the person is that you want to be, how you want to show up in this world,” Gregory explained.

“If a student is really interested in wanting to become an architect, even in standard classes like English, math and science, for instance, we try to find ways to engage them by connecting the content to that interest … while also helping them find internships with architect firms,” she continued, “so they’re not just graduating with their diploma but career-ready life skills, and some of our students have graduated with their associate’s degree as well.”

One current graduating senior, Johnny, “is really passionate about skateboarding. He’s been interning at a skateboard shop, and in prior years, at auto shops, doing collision repairs and regular fixes,” Gregory explained. “Because of those opportunities he’s going to work at the skateboard shop in May, and work on cars as a side hustle to fuel his future.”

Although Metwest is only 23 years old, its work-based educational approach — also known as Linked Learning — have already spurred similar initiatives across the Oakland Unified School District, including internship programs, pre-college support and a year-long graduate capstone program.

“High school is not the end game,” said Anne Stanton, president of the Linked Learning Alliance (LLA). “In the very recent past, we had a very bifurcated ’50s model where students were sorted into vocational or college tracks … but young people at this period in their lives, as their brains are continuing to develop, can contribute in so many ways, and in our country, we think a lot less of what a 16-year-old can do than we should.”

In California alone, the San Francisco-based LLA is implementing work-based learning initiatives in 80 school districts and 250 schools serving 330,000 youth statewide thanks to $500 million that the state legislature invested in Golden State Pathways, a college and career readiness program.

Across its total 977 school districts, California has approximately 5,496,271 students.

“We’d like to get 600,000

‘DEATH BY A THOUSAND CUTS’ Protestors turn out en masse to denounce Pres.Trump, Musk

BERKELEY — Thousands turned out Saturday, April 5 in front of the North Berkeley Bart station in protest over what they decry as the Trump administration’s “hostile takeover” of their rights and freedoms.

“Our country and the world are at stake,” said Julia Bavar from her wheelchair with a sign leaning against it that said, “Death By a Thousand Cuts.”

Bavar was among the estimated 2,200 men, women, and children on hand for the April 5 protest, part of a series of similar protests across the country. “If we don’t speak up now, there may not be a later,” she said.

“I, as a disabled person may not survive this administration because of their drastic cuts and their disregard for most human life,” said her friend, Peni Hall, 76, who was also in a wheelchair beside Bavar.

The “Hands Off” protests marked the biggest day of demonstrations yet against the policies of Pres. Donald Trump and his biggest campaign donor and the world’s richest man, Elon Musk.

Signs denounced Trump’s actions threatening health care, Social Security and education,

and accused the president of making it harder for the average American to live, while benefiting his richest friends.

The demonstrations were organized in more than 1,200 locations in all 50 states by more than 150 groups, including civil rights organizations such as the Invisibles, LGBTQ+ advocates, labor unions and election activists.

The Berkeley protests stretched for blocks along Sacramento Street.

Through chants and raised fists, protestors expressed anger over Trump’s steps to eliminate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs in the workplace and other institutions, steps experts warn will threaten a range of sectors, healthcare among them.

Advocates of DEI programs say they have provided a framework for the fostering of a more just and equitable society.

Protestors also denounced Trump’s mass deportation of immigrants, including those in the country as legal permanent residents, and of students stripped of their visas and detained by ICE because of their First Amendment activities.

Musk, a Trump adviser who runs Tesla, Space X and the social media platform X, has played a significant role in the downsizing as the head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). With Trump cheering him on, the chainsaw wielding tech entrepreneur has made recommendations to those in charge of federal agencies as to who should be laid off and who should remain. Thousands of federal employees have been shown the door in the last several weeks.

Trump insists he is saving taxpayers billions of dollars, though reporting by the New York Times has found numerous accounting errors in DOGE’s public ledger.

“All of my outrage can’t fit on this sign,” said one protestor and a Hands-Off organizer, pointing to her emoji-filled sign of angry faces. “They are tearing down the pillars of our democracy.”

Some voiced anger over the Trump administration’s scaled back protections to transgender people. In his first days in office, Trump ordered the removal of any mention of transgender people on government websites and passports.

RAISE TAXES. Doctors, medical professionals and health advocates gather at the Lung Center of the Philippines auditorium in Quezon City on Tuesday, April 8 to call on election candidates to support higher taxes on alcohol, cigarettes and vape products. The event presented the

“Health Tax Heroes and Hazards” gallery to identify candidates’ voting records on the Sin Tax Law of 2012, Sin Tax Reform Law of 2020, and the so-called Sin Tax Sabotage bill which proposed lower tax rates supposedly to curb illicit trade. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc

Alex Eala continues career rise, climbs to world No. 73

by lance agcaoIlI Inquirer.net

MANILA — Fast-rising Alex

Eala continued her ascent in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) ranks.

The 19-year-old Eala on Monday, April 7 jumped to world No. 73, climbing two spots in the latest rankings.

“It sounds amazing. You know, at this level, every spot forward count. So I’m super blessed to be in this position. And I never expected it maybe a month ago that I would be here right now. So surprised, but in a good way and motivated, definitely,” said Eala in a virtual press conference on Tuesday, April 8.

Eala made the top 75 after her historic campaign in the Miami Open, where she reached the semifinals after taking down three Grand Slam champions despite entering the tournament as a wild card.

Her dream run ended with a semifinal loss to Jessica Pegula, pushing the current

world No. 3 to her limits in a grueling three-set duel. “Being in the top 100, higher ranking means that you have more possibilities to get into higher tournaments. So the thousands and more main draws. So hopefully, in the next few slams, I’m able to get into the main draw directly. So those are the opportunities I was talking about,” said Eala. “But of course, with that comes tougher opponents and more problems, obstacles, like I said in my post. So I’m also learning how to manage that now that I’ve done a great week. I think I have a good standard. There’s a new standard for me.”

Fresh off a breakthrough, the Rafa Nadal Academy graduate is gearing up for a gauntlet in the next several weeks starting with a WTA 125 tournament, Oeiras Ladies Open in Portugal, on April 14.

Eala then competes in another WTA 1000 in the Madrid Open on April 21, followed by WTA 125 in Vic, Spain. The Filipino prodigy will head

to Italy next month as she plays in the WTA 1000 in Rome and WTA 125 in Parma on May 6 and 12, respectively. “I haven’t been on clay in roughly a year. So it’s been a while since I’ve stepped on clay, but that’s really how it goes. The grass plus the hard season is very long. So I’m just trying to adjust my game, like feel around the court and feel comfortable with the clay,” she said. n

Overseas Filipino voters in the US...

As part of its commitment to ensuring a smooth and inclusive electoral process, the Philippine Consulate General

in New York is undertaking a mass enrollment and information campaign within its jurisdiction to assist kababayans in understanding and accessing the OVCS. Visit the Philippine Consulate’s overseas voting webpage for the latest updates: tinyurl. com/nypcgovs. The Philippine Consulate General in New York will conduct the Final Lockdown and Sealing of the Automated Counting Machine to be used for overseas voting in the 2025 Philippine National and Local Elections.

All interested parties are invited to witness the proceedings on Friday, April 11, 4:00 p.m. at the lobby gallery of the Philippine Center on 556 Fifth Avenue, in accordance with COMELEC Resolution No. 11079. For more information and detailed instructions, visit https://info-ov.comelec.gov. ph. You may also contact COMELEC directly at ov.concerns@comelec.gov.ph for any support you need on pre-voting enrollment. n

With U.S. students struggling...

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young people in California

having these experiences,” said Stanton. “But for young people to apply their academic learning in the real world requires a deeper engagement in that social contract by the employers

providing these opportunities.”

“Even school district superintendents often turn over every two years,” she continued. “It’s about who owns this vision of engaging youth. If it’s owned by students, families, communities, employers, you can’t

Protestors turn out en masse to denounce...

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Some of the signs were funny.

One said, “I’ve seen smarter cabinets at Ikea.” Another said, “Fight Truth Decay.”

A number of Pro-Palestinian supporters who began their protest rally from the El Cerrito Plaza Bart station parking lot

joined the Berkeley protestors.

Some of them carried the Palestinian flag. Some wore the black-and-white Palestinian checkered scarf. “Today, we are in solidarity with the various struggles,” said El Cerrito resident Leslie Adams. She said she opposed the idea of her tax dollars being used to fund the war on the Palestinian people. (Viji Sundaram/American Community Media)

Viji Sundaram is a San Francisco Bay Area free-lance reporter. She covers domestic violence and family court issues for the San Francisco Public Press.

Real ID deadline looms: What US air...

PAGE 1 the making. In 2005, congress passed the Real ID Act, which enacted the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the federal government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses.” After numerous delays, the act is a way to raise the minimum national standard of security, preventing access to certain federal facilities, commercial aircraft, and nuclear power plants unless you have an enhanced, state-issued license or identification card.

In a recent interview with Axios, a TSA spokesperson explained that travelers who don’t possess a Real ID by the deadline are highly encouraged to bring their passport or another accepted document with them when flying domestically. Still, it’s likely some travelers will forget to bring them, and the new requirements will lead to longer lines, which is why “TSA also recommends that these passengers arrive a little earlier than normal to allow time for the identity verification process.”

Arriving in an era of enhanced and more scrupulous security – a trend that includes contactless, multimodal (face and fingerprint recognition), and machine-learning biometrics –the Real ID’s primary purpose is to decrease fraud. As such, all Real ID licenses and cards are typically marked with a star (or encircled star) in the upper right-hand corner, though some states have slight design variations. The Real ID also requires your full legal name, including your middle name, for the purpose of aiding background checks.

These new requirements, however, can provide challenges for people with varied naming structures, specifically when it comes to middle names. Typically attached to one’s ethnicity, culture, or marital status, middle name conventions aren’t always consistent across different forms of documentation and have caused problems in an increasingly digital world.

In anticipation of the May 7 deadline, Spokeo used research and government resources to explore how these different middle name conventions may complicate the process of getting a Real ID.

The origins and evolution of middle names and their conventions

It’s hard to believe, but middle names weren’t always a common part of naming conventions. According to author Stephen Wilson, the custom of giving middle names likely started in 13th-century Italy, where it became common among elites before spreading to other social classes. The majority of the middle names, which took another century to reach the outer countryside, were those of saints, “with the idea that those saints would protect the children who bore

their names.” The custom soon migrated to France and Spain, then to most of Europe and the early United States by the beginning of the 19th century. The idea behind them?

Experts believe the most prominent reason stems from concerns over lineage and inheritance, and attempts to preserve family or community names. But that’s not the case in all countries and cultures. Throughout Hispanic countries, the concept of a middle name doesn’t exist. In Spanish culture, people either have one or two given names— like Pedro or José Luis— and two surnames (the first belonging to the father and the second to the mother), a way to honor both lineages. More recently, to avoid confusion with anglophone countries, it’s become more popular for Hispanic people in the U.S. to add hyphens between their surnames. Traditional naming conventions in China and Russia also have their own unique patterns. Chinese names typically consist of three characters, with a singlecharacter surname followed by a one or two-character given name. In some families, children are given the same middle character as a way to identify their generational place in the family. Meanwhile, Russian names have three parts: a first name, a patronymic, and a surname.

The patronymic is based on the father’s first name (with a suffix that signifies “son of” or “daughter of”) and is often used with the first name to represent someone’s gender, familial link, and regional background.

Within the US, a majority of middle names for girls are monosyllabic. In a 2016 study from now-defunct genealogy site MooseRoots, 7 out of the top 10 girl middle names from the years 2010 through 2015 (the most recently studied years) had only one syllable, while boy names tended to be more traditional (Michael, James, Lee) throughout history. In addition, plenty of parents buck traditions with middle names, opting for ones inspired by pop culture or that imbue certain traits.

Regardless of the convention, women are most likely to have issues squaring away their middle names over various documents. According to the Center for American Progress, an estimated 69 million American women and 4 million men don’t have birth certificates that match their current legal name. Whether someone has changed their middle name because of marriage, assimilation, or gender identity, many will face the consequences of new and proposed laws and regulations, like the recent SAVE Act, which would require people to present a passport, birth certificate, or alternative citizenship document when they register to vote or update their voter information. Critics say a voting rights bill like this can discriminate based on

discrepancies in identification paperwork, making it even more difficult for married women to vote, reports the 19th. What to know about getting a Real ID In order to obtain a Real ID, you’ll need to check your state’s driver’s licensing agency website to determine the exact documents you need. However, according to the Department of Homeland Security, you’ll need at minimum documentation showing: full legal name; Social Security number; date of birth; two proofs of address for principal residence; and lawful status. Still, middle names can make this process more challenging. One of the more common problems can involve married women who have swapped out their middle name for their maiden name. When Concord, New Hampshire, native Patricia Kamel switched her maiden name (Eaton) to her middle name, she ignored the middle name on her birth certificate (Joyce). The new name was accepted by credit cards, banks, and even the DMV, but when she applied for her Real ID in 2019, clerks told her she needed a birth certificate or marriage license that matched those other documents.

That initial requirement has since been relaxed in New Hampshire, but the majority of other states like New Jersey still require secondary document names to match primary ones. The rigidity even provoked a Change.org petition to be posted regarding discrimination against married New Jersey women. For some who now use their maiden name as a middle name and changed their Social Security accordingly, the only option to get a Real ID is to go probate court (a $250 expense) to legally change their full name, or use their birth middle name and change their Social Security name, which won’t match any other documents. There are similar issues that Hispanic people and others without a middle name should consider. Many times, when these recorded names are digitized, U.S. clerks don’t grasp the naming conventions and assume the second given name is actually a middle name, or that both last names should be hyphenated. If one’s first name is “Juan Pablo,” then that should be reflected across all documents, not “Juan” in some and “Pablo” in others.

In any event, it’s crucial to have the correct paperwork (or proper changes to it) as you prepare for the nationwide switch. Once you’re set with the right documents, the easiest way to get a Real ID is to schedule an appointment at your local DMV. The changes can provide logistical hurdles, but if you follow instructions and make the switch as soon as possible, you may save yourself a lot of time and hassle down the line.

REMEMBRANCE. The Philippine flag is lowered to half-staff at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier memorial at Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Tuesday, April 8. The Philippines observes the 83rd Day of Valor (Araw ng Kagitingan) on April 9 in honor of World War II heroes. PNA photo by Yancy Lim

Alex Eala Photo from Instagram/@alex.eala

Dateline PhiliPPines

1 Filipino confirmed dead from Myanmar earthquake

MANILA

— One of four Filipinos missing after last month’s devastating Myanmar earthquake has been found dead, the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Wednesday, April 9.

“The remains of one of the four missing Filipinos in Mandalay have been positively identified,” the DFA said in a statement released on Wednesday. The department withheld further details, citing the family’s privacy during their time of grief.

Though officials did not disclose the victim’s identity, Alvin Aragon confirmed in a social media post Wednesday morning that his brother Francis had passed away — days after their family awaited updates from rescue and recovery

operations in Myanmar.

“We would like to inform everyone that our brother has been found, and though it is painful for us to accept, he is now with the Lord. We are currently mourning and grieving the loss of our youngest brother,” Aragon said in a Facebook post.

DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega said the government is still searching for the three other Filipinos who remained unaccounted for following the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck central Myanmar on March 28.

A team from the National Bureau of Investigation has been helping identify victims in Mandalay by comparing DNA samples from recovered remains with those provided by

families of the missing.

The death toll from the earthquake has reached 3,645, according to Myanmar-based news outlet Myanmar Now.

The United Nations estimates that over three million people have been affected by the 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar, many now homeless as the crisis compounds existing hardships from the country’s four-year civil war.

Even ten days after the initial tremors, thousands remain in makeshift camps across the affected regions, afraid to return to damaged structures as aftershocks continue. Those whose homes still stand often sleep outdoors, fearing sudden collapses that claimed so many lives in the quake’s immediate aftermath. (Philstar.com)

Kanlaon Volcano erupts, maintains Alert Level 3

by Ian laquI Philstar.com

MANILA — Kanlaon Volcano in Negros erupted early Tuesday morning, April 8, producing a massive ash plume and pyroclastic flows, the state volcanology bureau Phivolcs reported.

US takes down old travel advisory vs Manila

by Franco Jose c. Baroña ManilaTimes.net

Prevailing winds are carrying the plume southwest, according to Phivolcs.

The “explosive eruption” began at 5:51 a.m., prompting Phivolcs to maintain Alert Level 3 over the volcano. This indicates heightened unrest and the possibility of further eruptions. The eruption generated a towering plume of ash and volcanic gases that reached an estimated height of 4,000 meters.

Monitoring systems, including IP cameras and thermal imaging, detected pyroclastic density currents descending the southern slopes of Kanlaon Volcano. Such currents are fast-moving flows of hot gas, ash, and volcanic debris that move close to the ground during explosive eruptions.

MANILA — The United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on Sunday, April 6 removed an outdated 2018 travel advisory mistakenly displayed at Sacramento International Airport, following swift intervention by Philippine transportation officials.

long complied with international aviation security standards, and we acted swiftly to correct this misinformation to protect our reputation and reassure travelers.”

Phivolcs continues to monitor Kanlaon’s activity closely as it warns nearby communities to remain vigilant against potential hazards. n

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) confirmed no new U.S. advisories have been issued against Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) or any other Philippine airport, dispelling confusion caused by the resurfaced notice.

On Sunday, a social media post circulated showing a U.S. advisory cautioning travelers about “security concerns” at NAIA, a notice originally issued in 2018 but rescinded in 2019 after the Philippines implemented major security upgrades.

DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon immediately contacted TSA officials in Manila, demanding clarification and urging the advisory’s removal to prevent unnecessary alarm.

By 9 a.m., the TSA confirmed the erroneous posting had been taken down.

“This outdated advisory does not reflect the current situation,” Dizon said in a statement. “The Philippines has

In August 2019, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) lifted the advisory after validating NAIA’s enhanced security measures. Since then, no new warnings have been raised against Philippine airports.

“This

continue working closely with international partners to ensure seamless and secure travel for all passengers.” n

The DOTr and the New NAIA Infra Corp. reiterated their commitment to maintaining the highest safety and security standards at NAIA and all Philippine airports.

incident underscores the importance of accurate information,” Dizon said. “We will

PARTNERSHIP. Trade Secretary Cristina Roque (left) and Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco show the memorandum of agreement on convergence programs after the ceremonial signing at the DOT head office in Makati City on Monday, April 7, 2025. The collaboration seeks to integrate tourism initiatives with trade opportunities, benefiting local micro, small, and medium enterprises and enhancing the country’s global appeal. PNA photo by

Mt. Kanlaon Screenshot from a Philstar.com video from Phivolcs

Why we must fear Trump’s tariffs

WHEN United States President Donald Trump unleashed last week new tariffs on American imports from dozens of countries, the Philippines included, Canada immediately vowed to institute countermeasures, while China and the European Union (EU) vowed to also fight back. Nearer home, Vietnam will form a task force to address the situation, while Thailand and Malaysia said they will negotiate to bring down the stiff tariffs imposed by the U.S.

In the Philippines, the reaction from the government and the country’s biggest business groups was, as Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry chair George Barcelon said, to look at the tariffs “from the positive side.”

Editorial

Philippine exports to the U.S. will be charged a 17-percent tariff starting April 9. In contrast, more punishing tariffs were slapped on most of our competitors in Southeast Asia: Vietnam at 46 percent, Thailand at 36 percent, Indonesia at 32 percent, Malaysia at 24 percent, and Cambodia at 49 percent.

“[T]his is an advantage for us since imports from us will be cheaper,” Philippine Exporters Confederation president Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. told the Inquirer. “Technically, if you look at it from a general perspective, that’s positive for

Babe’s Eye View

BaBe Romualdez

THE recent approval of the U.S. State Department for the sale of 20 F-16s to the Philippines aligns with the Trump administration’s mantra of “deterrence through strength” – the same message that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth highlighted during his visit to Manila.

Reiterating that the relationship between the Philippines and the U.S. is “ironclad” – a term that was first used during the first term of President Trump, the U.S. Cabinet official underscored that the US will deliver and prioritize its shift to the Indo-Pacific region “in a way that is unprecedented to match the threats of the future, with the recognition that for the 21st century to be a free century, America needs to stand alongside its allies and partners shoulder to shoulder,” and that together they will “establish the deterrence necessary to prevent war.”

TO understand President Donald J. Trump’s shocking tariffs slapped on more than 160 nations including its traditional and closest allies and trading partners, read the latest Central Intelligence Agency’s annual threat assessment report.

The U.S. has vaunted economic and military might: $28 trillion GDP, 25 percent of the world; the world’s still unrivalled military superpower. Still, America feels insecure and threatened.

Donald’s response to the threats, bizarrely, are reciprocal tariffs, a minimum of 10 percent, on countries like Singapore, and 76 percent average tariff, on China –more than 20 times 2018’s, during Trump’s first term. Among nations counted as threats to the U.S., China is No. 1. “China presents the most comprehensive and robust military threat to U.S. national security,” says the CIA.

“The PRC seeks to compete with the U.S. as the leading economic power in the world. The strategy calls for a centralized, state-directed and nationally resourced approach to

us,” noted Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

Wrong signal “T]he Philippines will be in a better position as an alternative source of U.S. importers versus our neighbors,” added Danilo Fausto, president of the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food. Malacañang said it will have a “very minimal” impact on the economy since the Philippines “does not export much to the U.S.”

Such a penchant to look at the bright side in every troubling situation is not bad, but this mindset can be rather disturbing in the current economic case. It sends the wrong signal to Filipino consumers and workers that there is nothing to be worried about, that everything will be fine, that it will be business as usual. The truth is that Trump’s tariff policy, if implemented

AFP modernization in full swing

As Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro noted, the enduring support of the United States – as seen when the Philippines was exempted from a global foreign aid freeze and the green light given for $336 million in military aid – shows the importance the U.S. puts on the stability of U.S.-Philippine relations as “a linchpin of securing peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.”

We’re hopeful that we could secure a long-term loan from the U.S. for the purchase of the brand-new aircraft and other defense items, which could be delivered in tranches, similar to the acquisition of the 10 Blackhawk helicopters last year. Hopefully, the terms for a military financing package could soon be discussed by officials of the Department of National Defense and their American counterparts.

This most recent development is another significant indication of the Trump administration’s commitment to enhance bilateral relations with the Philippines and help strengthen the capability of our armed forces.

President Marcos has

dominating global markets and strategic supply chains, limiting foreign competitors and making other nations dependent on China,” warns the CIA.

Actually, China’s economy is now bigger than America’s. Its GDP in purchasing power parity is $39.44 trillion in 2025, with a per capita GDP of $28,010, making it the largest economy globally. The U.S.’s GDP, PPP, is $30.37 trillion. In technology, China’s free DeepSeek, developed for only $5 million, is seen as just as good, if not better, than ChatGPT, developed at a cost of billions.

China’s bioeconomy is now worth $3.3 trillion.

“China has made progress in producing advanced sevennanometer (nm) semiconductor chips for cryptocurrency mining and cellular devices using previously acquired deep ultraviolet (DUV) lithography equipment, but will face challenges achieving highquality, high-volume production of these chips without access to extreme ultraviolet lithography tools,” says the CIA.

“Beijing has prioritized technology sectors such as advanced power and energy, AI, biotechnology, quantum information science and semiconductors, further challenging U.S. efforts to protect

been very focused on the AFP modernization program, knowing how critical it is to equip the armed forces in order to address the evolving challenges that our country faces. Modernization is now in full swing to turn the AFP into a force that can “hold its own on the global stage” and stand “shoulder to shoulder with the world’s finest armed forces.”

Not too long ago, I had a good meeting with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham (chairman of the Senate committee on the budget and one of President Trump’s closest friends and allies in the U.S. Senate). I informed him that we have always been a real partner of the United States not merely in terms of our mutual defense treaty but economically as well. To achieve our goals in bumping up the capability of our armed forces, we need to be economically prosperous so that we have enough resources to buy more U.S.-made defense equipment and increase our interoperability and modernize our military.

Senator Graham was extremely pleased when I

mentioned that one of the biggest aspirations of our Air Force was to acquire the F-16s, because it so happens that Lockheed Martin manufactures the aircraft in Greenville, in his home state of South Carolina –this probably precipitated the acceleration of the approval. Of course, a lot of work will have to be done in terms of securing the financing with favorable terms. But at the end of the day, what is really important is we need to work closely with the United States and speed up our AFP modernization program, strengthen our defense posture and continue our joint maritime exercises with likeminded nations who believe in the importance of promoting a rules-based maritime order and a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Karma I went to Charlotte, North Carolina over the weekend where the Philippines was the country of honor during the 15th Annual Ambassador’s Ball of the Allegro Foundation, a nonprofit organization benefiting children with disabilities.

A number of North Carolina’s wealthy individuals donate to

the foundation, and as I told the 300 guests representing the Charlotte-area business and society, having an opportunity to do something good, especially for a fellow human being, is truly a blessing.

“It is a blessing to do good, because if there is one thing undisputedly true, it is karma. When you do something good, something good comes back to you, your family or your country.

So I think there is so much karma that has taken place, especially here in the United States, which has been blessed with so much and is able to do good all over the world. We are hopeful it will continue to do so despite the many challenges it faces today,”

I said in my remarks.

The yearly Ambassador’s Ball honoring U.S. allied partners is the main fundraising activity of the non-profit organization founded by Pat Farmer. The event was a great opportunity for us to promote the Philippines, giving out the jeepney and kalesa figures as well as tourism brochures that included high-end destination spots.

A highlight of the evening

It’s USA vs China

critical technologies by tailoring restrictions narrowly to address national security concerns.”

The CIA’s 2025 Annual Threat Assessment (ATA) combines intelligence from various agencies on threats to U.S. citizens, U.S. homeland and U.S. interests in the world.

These are foreign actors targeting U.S. health and safety, critical infrastructure, industries, wealth and government. State adversaries and their proxies are trying to weaken and displace U.S. economic and military power in their regions and across the globe. Both state and non-state actors pose multiple immediate threats to the homeland and U.S. national interests.

Among the threats: terrorist and transnational criminal organizations; cartels, largely responsible for the more than 52,000 U.S. deaths from synthetic opioids and which helped facilitate nearly three million illegal migrant arrivals in 2024; cyber and intelligence actors targeting US wealth, critical infrastructure, telecom and media.

“These threats reinforce each other, creating a vastly more complex and dangerous security environment,” the agency reports.

In particular, the main enemies of America are the CRINK

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group – China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, which the CIA says “individually and collectively –are challenging U.S. interests in the world by attacking or threatening others in their regions, with both asymmetric and conventional hard power tactics and promoting alternative systems to compete with the U.S., primarily in trade, finance and security. They seek to challenge the U.S. and other countries through deliberate campaigns to gain an advantage, while also trying to avoid direct war.”

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is a world-class military by 2049. This year, it launches its third aircraft carrier (CV-18 Fujian).

China

“remains the most active and persistent cyber threat to U.S. government, privatesector and critical infrastructure networks. The PRC’s campaign to preposition access on critical infrastructure for attacks during crisis or conflict, tracked publicly as Volt Typhoon, and its more recently identified compromise of U.S. telecommunications infrastructure, also referred to as Salt Typhoon, demonstrates the growing breadth and depth of the PRC’s capabilities to compromise U.S. infrastructure.”

“China’s dominance in the mining and processing of several critical materials is a particular

threat, providing it with the ability to restrict quantities and affect global prices… A prolonged cessation in supplies controlled by China could disrupt critical inputs needed for U.S. industry and technological advancements.”

“China seeks access to the Arctic’s potentially vast natural resources, including oil, gas and minerals, even though China is not among the eight Arctic countries that control territory in the region. Beijing seeks to normalize more direct and efficient maritime shipping routes to Russia and other Northern Hemisphere areas, to fuel its economic growth and energy security and reduce its dependence on Middle East energy.”

Why is Trump interested in Greenland? Explains the CIA:

“China has gradually increased engagement with Greenland mainly through mining projects, infrastructure development and scientific research projects. Despite less active engagement right now, China’s long-term goal is to expand access to Greenland’s natural resources, as well as to use the same access as a key strategic foothold for advancing China’s broader and economic aims in the Arctic.”

In armaments, CIA suspects

was the grand prize auction of a signature trip to the Philippines for two persons with roundtrip tickets donated by Philippine Airlines, complete with a complimentary stay. The winning bid came from Felix Sabates, a wealthy philanthropist from Florida who was a former NASCAR team owner.

Just recently, Forbes came out with a list of the wealthiest individuals in the Philippines. I have known all of them and they have their own charitable foundations. They are good Filipinos doing what they can in helping their fellowmen – that’s why they continue to be blessed. To a certain extent, we Filipinos are more blessed than most because we are good people who are inherently kind to our fellowmen – believing that good deeds will result in good karma. (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

“the PLA Rocket Force probably is fielding the DF-27 ballistic missile, with a hypersonic glide vehicle payload option and an estimated range of between 5,000 and 8,000 kilometers. The PLA ground forces are also fielding its most advanced multiple rocket launcher, the PCH191, increasing its long-range, precision-strike capability. The PLA already has the capability “to conduct longrange precision strikes with conventional weapons against the Homeland’s periphery in the Western Pacific, including Guam, Hawaii and Alaska.”

Beijing has increasingly applied stronger coercive pressure on Taiwan to further its goal of eventual unification. The CIA says “a conflict between China and Taiwan would disrupt U.S. access to trade and semiconductor technology critical to the global economy. Even without U.S. involvement in such a conflict, there would likely be significant and costly consequences to U.S. and global economic and security interests.” (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: biznewsasia@gmail.com

for a long period, presents a huge risk that will affect the global economy.

The UN Trade and Development (Unctad)

Virtual Reality

Tony Lopez

Roque told: Return to Philippines

by Ian laquI Philstar.com

MANILA — President Marcos has assured that all necessary assistance will be extended to three Filipinos arrested in China for alleged espionage, even as Malacañang declined to comment on claims that the arrests may be in retaliation for Manila’s crackdown against alleged Chinese spies.

“There is always an instruction to help our Filipino citizens abroad facing these kinds of charges. Legal assistance will always be given, all the necessary help and assistance will be provided,” Undersecretary Claire Castro of the Palace press office said on Monday, April 7 at a briefing.

Chinese authorities arrested three Filipinos – David Servañez, Albert Endencia and Nathalie Plizardo – and accused them of working for a Philippine intelligence agency to gather classified information on its military.

In a statement on Saturday, April 5, the National Security Council (NSC) said the arrest of the three for alleged spying may be in retaliation for the recent arrest for espionage of several Chinese nationals in the country.

Asked for comment on the NSC’s statement, Castro said there is no concrete evidence yet if it was really an act of retaliation by the other country.

“We will not say that because there is no final investigation on that matter. But there is still ongoing investigation on that, and we will just defer all the details to DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) and to DND (Department of National Defense),” she said.

The Security Council’s assistant director general, Jonathan Malaya, earlier said the supposed confessions of the arrested Filipinos appear to have been obtained through coercion.

The agencies the three are allegedly being accused of

working for – the Philippine Intelligence Agency and the Philippine Spy Intelligence Services – do not exist.

“Given the limited information released by Chinese media, the arrests can be seen as a retaliation for the series of legitimate arrests of Chinese agents and accomplices by Philippine law enforcement and counterintelligence agencies in recent months,” Malaya said.

Servañez, Endencia and Plizardo were former recipients of the Hainan Government Scholarship Program established under the sisterhood agreement between the provinces of Hainan and Palawan, according to Malaya.

The program provided scholarships to 50 residents of Palawan at the Hainan National University, he said.

“They are ordinary Filipino citizens with no military training who merely went to China at the invitation of the Chinese government to study,” Malaya said.

After completing their studies, the three reportedly returned to China as migrant workers.

Missing for months Servañez, Endencia and Plizardo have been missing for months, according to a local official from Palawan, their home province.

Palawan Board Member Ryan Dagsa Maminta, in an interview with “Storycon” on One News on Monday, confirmed that Servañez’s family lost communication with him as early as October last year.

“The other two, that was the recent arrest… just this year, (around) early January or February,” he added, referring to Endencia and Plizardo.

While there had been initial information about the arrest of the three, Maminta said their families were able to confirm their arrest only last week, when it was reported by Chinese state media.

He denied that the three had links with the Philippine

security sector that would warrant suspicion that they are involved in espionage.

“We’re also wondering why it reached that point, why they ended up getting arrested,” he said in Filipino.

“They have no experience (in the security sector). They have no capability, no training to do something like that,” he added.

‘Hostage diplomacy’

Meanwhile, Akbayan partylist on Monday raised alarm over the arrest of the three Filipinos, warning that the detentions may be part of a “hostage diplomacy” tactic aimed at pressuring the Philippine government into a prisoner exchange.

In a statement, Akbayan first nominee Chel Diokno said the arrests smacked of a “palit-ulo” ( exchanging people ) scheme, calling it a “dangerous ploy to extract concessions” following the apprehension of Chinese nationals suspected of spying in the Philippines.

“This has all the hallmarks of hostage diplomacy,” Diokno said. “Our fellow Filipinos are being used as bargaining chips to secure the release of Chinese nationals caught engaging in espionage in our country. We must not allow our citizens to be treated as pawns.”

Akbayan also questioned the authenticity of video confessions released by Chinese state media, in which the Filipinos allegedly admitted links to fictitious agencies.

Diokno said the footage appeared scripted and possibly coerced.

“We urge the Department of Foreign Affairs to issue a travel advisory warning Filipinos of the risk of arbitrary detention in China,” Diokno said.

He also called on the Department of the Interior and Local Government to review existing sister-city and sisterprovince agreements with Chinese localities, warning of possible national security risks.  (With reports from Mark Ernest Villeza, Janvic Mateo)

Imee Marcos to officials involved in Duterte arrest: Tell the truth

by charIe abarca Inquirer.net

MANILA — Sen. Imee Marcos

on Monday, April 7 urged government officials involved in the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte to tell the truth during the Senate’s third hearing on the matter on April 10.

“Magpakatotoo na, please lang!” the presidential sister said in a statement.

(Let’s be real, please!)

“Mabuti at nagdalawangisip ang administrasyon, pero sana hudyat na ang kanilang anunsyo ng pagnanais ibunyag ang katotohanan, na sa wakas, maliwanagan ang sambayanan patungkol sa totoong mga pangyayari,” she added.

(It’s good that the administration had second thoughts, but hopefully, their announcement signals a true intention to reveal the truth—so that, finally, the nation can gain clarity on what really happened.)

Marcos also said she would give the officials involved a third chance on April 10 to explain.

Senate President Francis Escudero earlier said several government officials, including Philippine National PoliceCriminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, were expected

to attend the hearing on April 10.

“I don’t have the list, so I do not know who specifically, but there will be a hearing and there are officials who will attend. Senator Imee requested for some of them, like General Torre, who she said has to be at the hearing,” said Escudero in an interview with dzBB on Sunday, April 6.

Escudero also said Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla was once again invited.

On April 3, Cabinet members snubbed the Senate panel on

foreign relations’ invitation to attend its second hearing on Duterte’s arrest, staying committed to the Palace’s earlier decision to decline the invitation, citing executive privilege and the sub judice rule. Only the following persons attended the inquiry:

• Securities and Exchange Commission’s Chief Counsel Atty. RJ Bernal

• Securities and Exchange Commission’s Supervising Securities Review Counsel Atty. Ferdino Logie Santiago

• Atty. Alexis Medina. n

Why we must fear Trump’s...

issued on April 4 an alert that the international trade system is entering a critical phase that threatens growth, investment, and progress. As major economies are set to impose sweeping new tariffs, “global economic growth could decline further [and] in a low-growth, high-debt global economy, higher tariffs risk weakening investment and trade flows… This could erode confidence, slow investment, and threaten development gains.”

Large-scale trade war

Unctad added that the most vulnerable will be the countries with minimal responsibility for the U.S.’ trade imbalances, stressing that the solution must come through dialogue and negotiation, not escalation.

The immediate reactions to Trump’s tariffs bolster this fear. Several countries have threatened to engage the U.S. in a trade war, sending financial and stock markets plunging.

The point is that even this early, the Philippines should already worry about the bigger picture and what lies ahead if the high U.S. tariffs persist. It should brace for

what economists refer to as the potential secondary impact. History has shown that nothing good results from a large-scale trade war.

As corporations worldwide struggle, they will cut expenses and, in turn, impact on the country’s biggest revenue earners — overseas Filipino workers and the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry. These two alone will deal a severe blow to the entire consumer-driven Philippine economy. Lesser remittances and BPO earnings will force Filipinos to spend less, affecting various industries from property to consumer goods. Also consider that less international maritime trade means fewer Filipino seafarers.

The domino effect goes on until we wake up one day to an economy in a recessionary tailspin characterized by declining economic activity, job losses, and instability.

Collateral damage

An assessment last month by trade and development economist Annette PelkmansBalaoing cited the indirect but significant effects on

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the Philippines of Trump’s tariff escalation. If this causes a slowdown in global demand, Philippine exports of electronics, garments, and processed food will suffer.

The worst that can happen is a prolonged trade war. “The last time the world saw a fullscale trade war, during the 1930s, it plunged the global economy into recession. The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 led to retaliatory measures that collapsed global trade and deepened the Great Depression.

The economic devastation fueled nationalism, protectionism, and extremism, paving the way for World War II as nations turned inward and blamed foreign actors for their misfortunes. The lessons from history are clear: aggressive protectionism rarely ends well,” she pointed out. Countries such as ours have very little say in the global economy. We simply become collateral damage in the looming global trade war following Trump’s punitive tariff policy. It’s true that we can hope for the best, but we must also brace for the worst. (Inquirer.net)

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Notice is hereby given that the San Diego Unified School District, acting by and through its governing board, will electronically receive bids for the furnishing of all labor, materials, transportation, equipment, and services for: CP25-1091-05-00-00 ASPHALT REPAIRS AT SCRIPPS

RANCH HIGH SCHOOL

A mandatory site visit is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2025, outside the main office of Scripps Ranch High School, 10410 Falcon Way, San Diego, CA 92131. All attendees must preregister with the District prior to attending the site walk at sandiegounified.org/sitewalks. The Bid and Contract Documents may be downloaded free of charge at the District’s online Planroom at sandiegousdplans. com. All bids must be received electronically via PlanetBids before 1:00 p.m. on FRIDAY, MAY 2, 2025. Prime contractors interested in submitting a bid must go to tinyurl.com/SDUSD-PlanetBids then search under “Bid Opportunities” for “Invitation number” CP25-1091-05-00-00 Asphalt Repairs at Scripps Ranch High School. For new vendors, please register under “New Vendor Registration.” The project estimate is between $350,000 and $395,000, inclusive of allowances. This is not a PSA project but requires the District’s prequalification for projects estimated under $1 million The District requires that Bidders possess any of the following classification(s) of California State Contractors License(s), valid and in good standing, at the time of bid opening and contract award: A or C-12, or other appropriate license, subject to District approval. SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, George A. Harris III, Director, Fiscal Controls and Information Systems, Facilities Planning and Construction CP251091-05-00-00

Sen. Imee Marcos

Photo from Facebook/@ImeeMarcos

If

written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 05/28/2025 Time: 8:30 AM Dept. C-61 Superior Court of California, County of San Diego 330 WEST BROADWAY DEPT. 61 San Diego, CA 92101 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county. Asian Journal: APR 02, 2025 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT Maureen F. Hallahan Judge of the Superior Court AJ 1662 04/11, 04/18, 04/25, an 05/02/2025 ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME (JC Form #NC-120) NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120). If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner. To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, drivers license, passport, and other identification, a certificate copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issues the legal document that need to be changed to determine if a certificate copy is required. A certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be obtained form the Civil Business Office for a fee. Petitioners who are seeking a change of name under the Safe at Home program may contact the assigned department for information on obtaining certified copies. If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the Court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions. If timely objection is filed, the Court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions. A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE, MUST FILE A

any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 06/02/2025 Time: 8:30 AM Dept. C-61 Superior Court of California, County of San Diego 330 WEST BROADWAY DEPT. 61 San Diego, CA 92101

A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county. Asian Journal: APR 07, 2025 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT

Maureen F. Hallahan Judge of the Superior Court AJ 1663 04/11, 04/18, 04/25, an 05/02/2025 ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME (JC Form #NC-120) NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120). If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner. To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, drivers license, passport, and other identification, a certificate copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issues the legal document that need to be changed to determine if a certificate copy is required. A certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be obtained form the Civil Business Office for a fee. Petitioners who are seeking a change of name under the Safe at Home program may contact the assigned department for information on obtaining certified copies. If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the Court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions. If timely objection is filed, the Court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions. A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE, MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date. Any Petition for the name change of a minor, that is signed by only one parent, must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other, non-signing parent, and proof of service must be filed with the Court. AJSD 1663

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2025-9004768

Alumicraft located at 10815 Wheatlands Ave, Santee, CA 92071.

Registrant: Alumicraft Race Inc., 31805 Temecula Parkway #211, Temecula, CA 92592. This business is conducted by A Corporation. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 03/07/2025.

Signature: Matt Fleming. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 03/07/2025.

AJ 1650 03/21, 03/28, 04/04, and 04/11/2025. AJSD 1650

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2025-9005342

NORTENAS located at 4324 Lynwood Dr, Chula Vista, CA 91910.

Registrant: Sandra 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: Sandra Munoz Sahagun.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 03/14/2025. AJ 1653 03/21, 03/28, 04/04, and 04/11/2025. AJSD 1653

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.

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. 2025-9004613

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. 2025-9005115

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.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2025-9006466

a. FLOWERHOUSE located at 19 Osborn Street, National City, CA 91950. b. TASTEFUL ARRANGEMENTS located at 19 Osborn Street, National City, CA 91950.

C. FLOWERHOUSE FAMILY FLORIST & BALLON BOUTIQUE located at 19 Osborn Street, National City, CA 91950. Registrant: FAMILY FLORIST LLC, 19 Osborn Street, National City, CA 91950. This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 04/01/2025. Signature: Vilayphone Lynnda Ratsachak. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 04/01/2025. AJ 1660 04/04, 04/11, 04/18, and 04/25/2025. AJSD 1660

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. 2025-9004866

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. 2025-9004089

Baja Coastal Bites located at 1247 Poplar Spring Rd, Chula Vista, CA 91915. Registrant: Edward Christian Lomibao, 1247 Poplar Spring Rd, Chula Vista, CA 91915. This business is conducted by An Individual. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE. Signature: Edward Christian Lomibao. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 02/27/2025. AJ 1659 04/04, 04/11, 04/18, and 04/25/2025. AJSD 1659

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2025-9006441

Blossom Thai Massage And Spa located at 432 E St, San Diego, CA 92101. Registrant: Blossom Thai Massage And Spa LLC, 19 Osborn Street, 112 Channing St, Redlands, CA 92373. This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 04/01/2025.

Signature: Worawalan Seele. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 04/01/2025. AJ 1661 04/04, 04/11, 04/18, and 04/25/2025. AJSD 1661

SAN DIEGO

Kay Sibal’s Broadway dream comes true in SIX

FOR Kay Sibal, stepping onto a Broadway stage for the first time in SIX is nothing short of a dream come true. As she made her Broadway debut last month portraying Catherine Howard in the electrifying pop musical that reimagines the six wives of Henry VIII, Sibal is embracing a moment that feels both surreal and deeply personal.

“This has been a dream show of mine for so long,” Sibal told the Asian Journal in an interview. “So, in a way, it is exactly what I imagined it to be, because it’s just been the dream show. But at the same time, who can ever predict something like this? It’s such a rare opportunity.”

Sibal’s journey with SIX began years ago, when she

by MOMar G. Visaya / AJPress

first discovered the show’s concept album in high school.

“Somebody showed me the album, and I was like, ‘This sounds like what you hear on the radio!’ That excited me so much because pop music has always been a big part of my life,” she recalled. “I love musical theater, but pop music runs very deep in me, and SIX blends both worlds so seamlessly.”

That early connection turned into a full-circle moment when she was cast as Catherine Howard, a role inspired by pop icons like Ariana Grande and Britney Spears. The connection to Grande, in particular, is almost eerie. “The last song I performed before being knocked out on The Voice was One Last Time by Ariana

Grande,” Sibal shared. “Not only that, but I was also styled in a pink sparkly outfit with a high ponytail—just like I am now in SIX! The parallels are wild, but it also makes perfect sense. Ariana has been such a big inspiration to me for so many years.”

The Road to Broadway Sibal’s path to SIX began in 2021 when she submitted a self-tape for the show’s virtual open call while she was still in college. “I was a senior at the time, and they called me back in person during their audition tour in L.A., where I was studying. Later that school year, they brought me to New York for another callback. And then in 2023, they asked to see me again.”

Initially, Sibal auditioned

Dolly de Leon joins Nicole Kidman in chilling new season of ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’

FILIPINO actress Dolly de Leon

continues to break new ground internationally as Hulu unveils first-look images from the highly anticipated second season of “Nine Perfect Strangers,” where she stars alongside Hollywood stars including Nicole Kidman, Mark Strong, and Annie Murphy. De Leon, who rose to global prominence with her performance in “Triangle of Sadness,” appears as part of an entirely new ensemble cast in the upcoming season of the psychological drama based on Liane Moriarty’s bestselling novel. The show follows nine strangers attending a highend wellness retreat run by the enigmatic Masha Dmitrichenko, played by Kidman, in the snowy isolation of the Austrian Alps.

As the retreat unfolds, Masha pushes each guest — and herself — toward the edge in the name of healing. The gripping narrative promises a tense exploration of emotional extremes, secrets, and personal transformations.

This marks another major

milestone in de Leon’s expanding international career, following her celebrated role in the Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or-winning movie, “Triangle of Sadness,” which earned her historic nominations at the Golden Globe and BAFTA Awards. Her latest appearance in “Nine Perfect Strangers” season 2 signals a continued presence in globally recognized productions.

Joining de Leon and Kidman in the cast are Henry Golding, Lena

Olin, Christine Baranski, Lucas Englander, King Princess, Murray Bartlett, Maisie RichardsonSellers and Aras Aydin.

The second season premieres May 21 on Hulu, with the first two episodes streaming on launch day, followed by weekly releases. The show is produced by CreaZion Studios, an awardwinning production company aiming to elevate Philippine content to the global stage. (ManilaTimes.net)

Filipino director Lav Diaz teases Cannes premiere of Magellan film starring Hollywood actor Gael Garcia Bernal

by Kristofer Purnell Philstar.com

DECORATED filmmaker Lav Diaz teased his upcoming movie about Ferdinand Magellan starring Gael Garcia Bernal could premiere at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

Diaz was at the Doha Film Festival over the weekend and during a masterclass, he shared with the audience he had finished editing a two hours and 45 minute version of the movie titled “Magellan.”

He, however, still plans to make a full nine-hour version — as he is often known for lengthy runtimes.

When asked if he would premiere the movie at the Venice Film Festival, Diaz said he was instead looking at “an important festival in France.”

The director has a strong connection to Venice, winning the Best Film (Horizons) award in 2008 for “Melancholia,” the

Golden Lion in 2016 for “Ang Babaeng Humayo,” and Best Director (Horizons) in 2020 for “Genus, Pan.” Diaz also has ties to Cannes, premiering “Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan” in the 2013 festival’s Un Certain Regard category, while Ang Hupa” premiered in the 2019 edition’s Directors’ Fortnight.

with material from Anne Boleyn, drawn to the role in part because of Andrea Macasaet, the original Broadway Boleyn and a fellow Filipina performer. “Seeing someone who looked like me in the role made such a difference. It showed me that there was space for me in this show,” she said. But as the audition process continued, she was called back for Catherine Howard, the role she ultimately landed. “Now that I’m playing Howard, it makes so much sense. I feel a lot of parallels and connection with her. The team was very smart to see that in me.”

From The Voice to SIX Sibal’s rise to Broadway follows a high-profile stint on The Voice, where she was part of Gwen Stefani’s team. The experience was a major learning curve. “It was my first time being seen as an individual solo artist, which meant I underwent a lot of personal growth,” she said. “Being interviewed about my personal story, my family, and my dad on national TV was a new challenge. But I think The Voice helped me get to know myself better, which ultimately prepared me for this Broadway role.”

One of the most significant moments from The Voice was meeting Sofronio Vasquez, the first Filipino to win the competition. “I’m so proud of him. Filipinos have been part of singing competitions for years, but to have one actually win The Voice—that’s huge,” she says. “It also makes a big difference to viewers all over the country who might not have met a Filipino person before. Seeing someone like

The full lineup of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival — where French actress Juliette Binoche will serve as Main Jury President — will be unveiled later this month. The Portuguese explorer Magellan is best known for encountering the Philippines in 1521, falling at the hands of LapuLapu’s fighters in Cebu.

The upcoming movie is inspired by the explorer’s wife Beatriz, whom Magellen married two years before his expedition from Spain began. The edited version of “Magellan,” Diaz told Deadline in Doha, will focus on the titular character played by Bernal, while the longer version will involve Beatriz more. Meanwhile, the director told Screen Daily he plans on adapting into film a piece by Alexandre Dumas by the end of year, several months delayed after falling sick while completing “Magellan.”

succeed on that stage was a win for our entire community.” Though she was initially encouraged by her family to pursue a more traditional career path, Sibal’s passion for music and performance never wavered. “Of course, my family told me I should go into nursing or engineering— typical Filipino advice,” she laughs. “But they also supported me in music from a young age, putting me in choir and piano lessons. That foundation made it possible for me to dream of something like this.”

Now, as she steps into the spotlight on Broadway, Sibal is proof that dreams, when combined with talent and perseverance, can become reality. “Being here feels like everything has led up to this moment. It’s both a dream and a full-circle journey.” n

Kay Sibal

Photo from Instagram/@KaySibal

(l-r) Kelsie Watts (Jane Seymour), Najah Hetsberger (Catherine of Aragon), Krystal Hernandez (Anna of Cleves), Kay Sibal (Katherine Howard), Taylor Marie Daniel (Catherine Parr), & Gianna Yanelli (Anne Boleyn)

Photo byJoan Marcus

(l-r) Kelsie Watts (Jane Seymour), Kay Sibal (Katherine Howard), Najah Hetsberger (Catherine of Aragon), Gianna Yanelli (Anne Boleyn), Krystal Hernandez (Anna of Cleves), & Taylor Marie Daniel (Catherine Parr)

Photo byJoan Marcus

Dolly de Leon (leftmost) joins an international cast in Hulu’s ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’ season 2, set in the Austrian Alps. Photo from CreaZion Studios

Lav Diaz Philstar.com file photo

Sofronio

JULES del Gallego, first cousin of Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel “Babe” del Gallego Romualdez, told me that my grandfather, ship captain Lt. Col. Peregrino Bunye Medina, together with my grandmother Paz Calzado Bendicio Medina, returned a huge amount of money to the family of Don Juan del Gallego, especially to Dona Potenciana (wife of Don Juan) on Dart street in Paco, Manila at the height of World War II.

“My grandfather Juan died in June 1941, and that’s why your grandfather saw my grandmother instead,” said Jules, author of the book “The Brothers Luna.”

When my grandmother Paz was still alive, she made a handwritten account of that event: “World War broke out December 1941. Pumutok ang balitang binomba na ng mga Hapon ang Pearl Harbor kaya nagkakagulo na ang mga tao sa Maynila .” She rented a truck for P200 for her mother and siblings that would bring them to Tuy, Batangas, near Balayan, her mother’s birthplace. My grandmother Paz waited for my grandfather Peregrino.

“ Nang gabing binomba na ang Camp Aguinaldo ay biglang dumating si Pereg at walang dala kung di isang maletang balat na malaking-malaki. Sinalubong ko si Pereg sa pintuan at napuna ko ang napakabigat na maletang dala-dala niya. Hindi ako sinagot ni Pereg at tuloy-tuloy na pumasok sa loob ng bahay, isinara ang pintuan at binuksan ang maleta. Laking gulat ko nang makita ang laman ng maleta na punong-puno ng pera,” reminisced my grandmother.

My grandfather said that his ship was captured by Japanese soldiers and it was fortunate he saved the money that was intended

My grandparents returned a huge amount of money to Amb. Babe Romualdez’s grandparents during the war

for the salary of the people of the Del Gallego Saw Mill and for the daily expenses of the Del Gallego family. Then my grandmother accompanied my grandfather to the Del Gallego family in Paco, Manila to return the money to the right owner.

Jules del Gallego recounted to me that, “The steamship Santa Teresa captained by your grandfather was sunk by the Japanese. According to my late aunt Carmen, your grandfather showed up at the Del Gallego’s Dart Street Mansion with the 45 thousand payroll money. He invited my grandmother and her family to move to Balayan.”

I found out in my grandmother’s handwritten story that my grandfather Peregrino Bunye Medina applied as a captain in the army of the United States. “He was accepted and was given the rank of Lt. Col. assigned in a certain ship, the S.S. - 155 of the U.S. Army. He also took with him Pedro de Mesa (husband of Maura, sister of Paz) as his radio operator in the ship assigned to him.”

* * * While I was looking for chicken longganisa, a kind fellow Filipino assisted me. His name is Nick Santos who has been working at Seafood City in Vallejo City for 12 years now. He regularly reads Asian Journal Northern California edition to be updated about the Philippines and the Filipino American community in the U.S.

* * * Singer Eduard Banez, founder of spluk.ph, has been in the U.S. for 10 years now.

A visionary media entrepreneur with a deep passion for storytelling and digital innovation as well as a former TV news anchor, international VJ, and Nickelodeon artist, Eduard has built a platform that bridges Hollywood and Asian

media, bringing global stories to Filipino audiences. With his extensive experience in entertainment, journalism, and content creation, he has positioned spluk.ph as a powerhouse in digital media. His dedication to empowering voices and creating meaningful connections has shaped spluk.ph into a leading force, redefining how Filipinos engage with stories that matter. His rendition of “Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko” has been a super-hit among OPM enthusiasts.

* * *

U.S. Pres. Donald Trump pledged to rescue the astronauts stranded in space for 9 months. Recently, they safely splashed down in the Gulf of America, thanks to Elon Musk, SpaceX, and NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration).

What struck me is NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore’s remark: “My feeling on all of this goes back to my faith. It’s bound in my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is working out His plan and His purposes for His glory throughout all of humanity. And how that plays into our lives is significant and important. And however that plays out, I am content because I understand that. I understand that He’s at work and all things. Some things are for the good. Go to Hebrews Chapter 11. Some things look to us to be, not so good, but it’s all working out for his good, for those that will believe and that’s the answer.”

* * * I still could not forget a mysterious man (who looks like American actor Jay Harrington). He was taking photos of me inside the Bouchon Bistro’s rest room in Yountville while I was washing my face with water. When I noticed what he was doing, he shifted to take photos of the frames hanging on the wall. Then he asked if he could wash his face too and I left innocently.

It was my first time to go to Yountville, an incorporated town in Napa County, the “Wine County of California.” Almost a third of the town’s population lives at the Veterans Home of California. Yountville is a popular tourist destination, particularly for its wineries and its famed Michelinstarred restaurant, The French Laundry. While I was in front of the Bouchon Bakery, a group of Filipino tourists greeted me and my mom

Spring break-out for shelter pets

dogs and cats. Plus, we’re offering 25% off adoption fees for puppies and kittens.

Every adoption includes:

• Spay/neuter surgery

• Microchip

• Up-to-date vaccinations

• A one-year dog license (for residents in our service area). Visit us at either shelter location:

• South Shelter: 5821 Sweetwater Road, Bonita

• North Shelter: 2481 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad.

Walk-in hours: 10 a.m. to 4

p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. Just bring a valid photo ID — adoptions are first-come, firstserved. Adoption fees are always waived for:

• Pets who’ve been in the shelter 30+ days

• Senior pets (8 years and older) • Seniors adopting (60 years and older).

Not ready to adopt? Try fostering! Give a shelter pet a temporary break and help them adjust to home life — it’s a great way to help, and we provide all the supplies you need (food, leash, bedding, etc.). Fostering makes a huge difference in helping pets get adopted.

(Yvette Urrea Moe/County of San Diego Communications Office)

Southeastern Live Well Center wins national award

in Tagalog. We were watching a Mardi Gras parade at that time.

Gregorio Fernand Imperial of Legazpi, Albay introduced himself as a licensed real estate broker from RE/MAX Prime-Philippines. He had just attended a 4-day conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Then he introduced me to Paolo Jesus Villavicencio, a principal broker from Muntinlupa City who in turn introduced me to other female Filipino companions, Juni Calingo, Nikki de Guzman, Atty. Jill Borja and Nadelyn TorresBaldonado. All of them were part of the Philippine team of the RE/ MAX Prime.

It was a surprise to me that both Imperial and Villavicencio are friends of the late Rustan Commercial Corporation executive Juan Paolo Tantoco, husband of Deputy Social Secretary Dina Arroyo-Tantoco, my former boss Congressman Iggy Arroyo’s daughter. *

* Happy birthday (April 7) to my niece fashion designer Ann K. Isip, who represented me on stage last November 2024 when I received the prestigious Amerika Prestige Award for Inclusive Media Excellence recognition in North

Egg hunts, craft workshops and scavenger hunts planned at recreation centers citywide this month

SAN DIEGO – Spring has sprung and the City of San Diego’s Parks and Recreation Department is celebrating the season with a lineup of free and family-friendly special events taking place at recreation centers this month. Activities including egg hunts,

craft workshops and scavenger hunts continue through April 19.

More than 50 events are planned at recreation centers and parks across San Diego, with events scheduled at various times of day, and something for everyone to enjoy a “hopping” good time. “While the outdoors can be

enjoyed in San Diego yearround, spring is one of the best times to get out to our parks and recreation centers to enjoy these fun activities,” said Andy Field, director of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. “It is a priority of the Parks and

County is warning the public not to eat locally harvested shellfish

THE County of San Diego is advising people not to eat locally harvested mussels, clams, scallops or oysters that were not purchased from a state-certified commercial shellfish harvester or dealer.

Shellfish safety notifications also have been issued in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties.

In each county, dangerous levels of domoic acid, which can cause amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP), have been detected in locally harvested mussels.

The naturally occurring domoic acid toxin can cause illness or death in humans. Cooking does not destroy the toxin.

The warnings do not apply to mussels, clams, scallops, or oysters sold at stores from approved sources, such as those sold at local markets or restaurants, because state law allows only state-certified commercial shellfish harvesters or dealers to sell to restaurants and markets. Shellfish sold by certified harvesters and dealers are subject to frequent mandatory state testing to monitor for toxins.

The symptoms of amnesic shellfish poisoning can happen within 30 minutes to 24 hours after eating toxic seafood. In mild cases, symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headache, and dizziness. Symptoms resolve within several days. In severe cases, a person may experience trouble breathing, confusion, disorientation, cardiovascular

instability, seizures, excessive bronchial secretions, permanent loss of short-term memory, coma, or death. Local information on amnesic shellfish poisoning is available online by visiting https://www. sandiegocounty.gov/content/ sdc/hhsa/programs/phs/ohep. html. The California Department of Public Health will continue local sampling to determine when sport-harvested shellfish is safe to eat again. The California Department of Public Health also operates a toll-free Shellfish Information Line at (800) 553-4133. For additional information, please visit the CDPH Marine Biotoxin Monitoring web page (https:// www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/ CEH/DRSEM/Pages/EMB/ Shellfish/Marine-BiotoxinMonitoring-Program.aspx). Marine mammals are also

Santa Teresa ship captain, Lt. Col. Peregrino Bunye Medina Paz Calzado Bendicio Medina

Jules del Gallego (seated), author of the book “The Brothers Luna”

(From left) Rogelio Constantino Medina, Juni Calingo, Nikki de Guzman, Atty. Jill Borja, Nadelyn Torres-Baldonado and Gregorio Fernand Imperial in Yountville.

Singer Eduard Banez

Fashion designer Ann K. Isip

NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Bruce Wilmore

AJ columnist Rogelio Medina (left) with Nick Santos of Seafood City in Vallejo, California.

(From left) Gregorio Fernand Imperial, Rogelio Constantino Medina and Paolo Jesus Villavicencio in Yountville, Napa County, California.

City of San Diego to present updated trash fee and cost-of-service study for collection services

San Diego to begin process for property owner notice and set public hearing date on lower proposed fee

SAN DIEGO

– After one year of extensive community outreach and the completion of a thorough cost-of-service study and operational analysis, the City of San Diego’s Environmental Services Department will ask the City Council on Monday, April 14, to initiate the process for setting a cost-recovery fee for trash and recycling collection services.

The fee being brought forward for City Council consideration is significantly lower than the draft amount initially shared in February.

If approved by the City Council, the trash fee would allow Environmental Services only to recoup the costs to provide trash and recycling services, which is currently paid primarily through the city’s General Fund. The city provides waste-collection services to more than 200,000 residential properties in San Diego and is one of the only cities in California, and the only city in the county, that does not directly charge residents a fee for trash and recycling collection. Meanwhile, San Diegans living in apartment complexes and those with homeowner associations generally pay private waste collection companies for these services.

By implementing a fee for trash and recycling services, the city will be able to address this disparity and allocate those General Fund resources to projects and services – like public safety, parks and library programs, infrastructure improvements and road repair –that benefit all city residents.

Under the new proposal, monthly fees for the first year are lower than those presented in the preliminary report from February.

The Council will be asked to set a hearing date in early June for a

final vote to consider the fees and new program, and for a second hearing later in June to approve collecting the fee through the county’s property tax collections process. There will not be a vote on the proposed trash fee on April 14.

Under the proposed options that will be presented to the City Council, Environmental Services plans to provide all customers with 95-gallon blue recycling and green organic waste recycling bins (one each with options to purchase additional bins). For the refuse (trash) bin, customers will have the choice of:

• 35-gallon bin at a cost of $36.72 per month.

• 65-gallon bin at a cost of $42.88 per month.

• 95-gallon bin at a cost of $47.59 per month.

“Since the preliminary fee was presented back in February, we have continued to review and refine the rate model, and we have taken several actions to bring the fee down,” said Kirby Brady, interim director of Environmental Services. “We know it’s difficult to ask people to start paying for a service they previously received for free, but implementing the new trash fee is crucial to ensuring the sustainability of our waste collection programs and protecting the environment for future generations.”

Enhanced services would begin July 1 this year and would include increased service reliability and no additional charges for replacement bins. New bulky item pickup and increased recycling collection services would start July 1, 2027, the third year of implementation, corresponding to a proposed increase in monthly fees. Environmental Services is

presenting alternative scenarios for City Council consideration regarding the costs for these enhancements.

Under the proposed plan, the monthly fees would be added to a customer’s property tax bill. A key factor of the operations efficiency analysis is the process by which Environmental Services establishes a new customer database, bin replacement and a bin tracking system. The existing bins are, on average, 20 years old, which is well past the service guarantee. New bins would include scannable reader tags to easily identify customers and notify drivers which containers should be picked up. This will help identify missed collections and improve efficiency and customer service.

As part of the cost-of-service study, the city evaluated trash and recycling services in comparable jurisdictions across California. San Diego’s proposed fee for service is significantly less than Sacramento, which charges $57.79, and Long Beach, which recently approved a fee of $67.63. Oakland and San Jose have the highest fees, at $160.27 and $160.35 per month, respectively.

Under California state law, the city must notify impacted residents of the proposed plan to implement a new fee through distribution of a Proposition 218 mailer and to hold a public hearing not less than 45 days after sending the notice.

On April 14, the City Council will be asked to set the public hearing date in June, which will trigger the formal notification process under Proposition 218 requirements.

For more information about the proposed trash fee, please visit cleangreensd.org.

(City of San Diego Release)

With peak fire season on horizon, California launches statewide wildfire preparedness campaign

SACRAMENTO – “Prepare your home and property! Start at the house and work your way out.”

Millions of Californians will soon see that message as the state launches a new wildfire preparedness campaign to support preparation efforts for fire season.

As California heads into peak wildfire season, CAL FIRE is urging residents across the state to take proactive steps now to protect their homes and communities. Monday’s (April 7) campaign launch follows Governor Newsom’s action last month proclaiming a state of emergency to fasttrack critical projects protecting communities from wildfire, ahead of peak fire season.

2025 has already seen an unprecedented start to the year with January’s Eaton and Palisades fires in Los Angeles. These fires rank as the second and third most destructive in California’s history, underpinning the importance of acting now to prepare one’s family, property, and community for wildfire.

“The Los Angeles fires are a stark reminder of the year-round threat wildfire poses for our communities. As we head into peak fire season, we’re ramping up efforts to communicate with those in areas where preparedness measures like home hardening and defensible space can save lives. Now is the time to prepare your home and property,” Gov. Newsom said in a release sent out by his office. This year’s campaign emphasizes two essential strategies in wildfire preparedness: home hardening and defensible space. Now through late May residents across the state will see digital and social media advertising, posters and materials at hardware and convenience stores, and messaging at gas pumps and other popular locations in Wildland Urban Interface communities. Outreach will be delivered in both English and Spanish to reach as many Californians as possible.

Creating a five-foot buffer zone of defensible space, known as Zone 0, and taking steps to harden your home has been scientifically proven to be the most effective way to increase the likelihood of your home surviving a wildfire.

Governor Newsom has invested unprecedented resources into wildfire response and prevention, including nearly doubling CAL FIRE’s budget to $4 billion and investing 10x the amount than when the Governor took office for forest and land management. The state has also created the world’s largest aerial firefighting fleet, increased the use of prescribed burns, and implemented new technologies including AI and satellite technology to fight fires.

Key tips to prepare for wildfire

Home hardening:

• Install or upgrade to fire-resistant materials on roofs, vents, siding, windows, and decks.

Clear debris from roofs, gutters, vents, and under decks.

• Seal all cracks and openings larger than 1/8 inch

to prevent embers from entering the home.

Defensible space:

• Maintain a 5-foot ember-resistant zone immediately around the home — no flammable vegetation or materials.

• Maintain 100 feet of defensible space, including trimming trees, cutting grasses, and removing dead vegetation.

• Store combustible items (firewood, propane tanks, vehicles) at least 30 feet away from structures.

To make preparation easier, CAL FIRE offers the firePLANNER tool at ReadyforWildfire.org, where residents can:

• Create a custom wildfire readiness plan.

• Access checklists, safety tips, and alerts.

• Stay informed with real-time wildfire and evacuation updates. Now is the time to act. Start at the house and work your way out. Learn more at ReadyforWildfire.org.

(CA Governor’s Office Release)

City of San Diego announces 2025 Arts, Culture & Creativity Month

Celebration emphasized the essential role of artists and art within local communities

SAN DIEGO – State and local leaders joined working artists on Friday, April 4 to kick off Arts, Culture & Creativity Month with a special celebration at El Salon Theater at Casa Familiar in San Ysidro. As a program of California for the Arts, the month-long initiative aims to raise awareness of the impact of arts, culture and creative industries in communities across California.

“The arts are a vital part of California’s identity, strengthening our communities, driving economic growth and preserving our diverse cultures,” said Assemblymember Chris Ward. ”Arts, Culture & Creativity Month is an opportunity to recognize the incredible contributions of artists and creative leaders across the state. I am proud to join this celebration and remain committed to advancing policies that support and sustain the creative sector.

Here in San Ysidro, the arts tell the stories of our past and inspire our future, and I look forward to uplifting this important work.”

This year marked the second time since 2019 that the City of San Diego has commemorated Arts, Culture & Creativity Month. During Friday’s event, policymakers and artists announced legislative priorities that support arts and culture in California, while advancing the economic benefits of an inclusive creative economy in San Diego and across the state.

“Arts and culture are not just expressions of creativity — they are economic engines, job

creators, and vital components of San Diego’s identity,” said Councilmember Raul Campillo. “As we celebrate Arts, Culture & Creativity Month, we recognize the essential role that artists and cultural organizations play in driving economic growth, strengthening our communities, and addressing the challenges we face as a city.”

2025 Arts, Culture & Creativity Month programming revolves around the theme “Health, Healing, Hope” and explores the vital intersection of arts with community wellness and recovery, building on advocacy for artists as essential workers in California’s communities. The theme is especially close to San Diego’s efforts to be recognized as a cultural center through its first Creative City Cultural Plan.

“Because of its designation as World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024, San Diego is in a unique position to be the first city in California to join the global ranks of cities and countries that participate in World Creativity Day,” said Cultural Affairs Department’s Executive Director Jonathon Glus. “This bolsters the city’s reputation for innovation and creativity and elevates the importance of creative economy and vitality of our trans-border region.”

Following the event, guests had the opportunity to experience Visions of Future, the 18th annual Día de la Mujer exhibition at The Front Gallery, located at Casa Familiar. The exhibit highlights the future of binational women and non-binary people through

powerful artistic expression within real or imaginary realities.

“I am thrilled to be joining advocates in San Diego for the launch. This year’s Arts, Culture, & Creativity Month focuses on the vital role of the arts in promoting ‘Health, Healing, & Hope.’ We call artists ‘second responders’ because after a first responder comes in and saves a life, artists and creative workers step in to help people heal and rebuild,” California for the Arts Chief Executive Officer Julie Baker said. “Research shows that not only do the arts help people cope, find their voice and agency, and build compassion and empathy, they are also essential drivers for community health and economic wellbeing.”

“The decisions we make today as we put in the work for the next generation are an essential component of community curating,” said Johnny Bear Contreras, sculptor and cultural bearer of the Kumeyaay Nation. “As we kick off the City of San Diego’s Arts, Culture & Creativity Month, we are reminded of the beauty of the city and its people through the work we do collectively for the land on which we stand.”

The City of San Diego Department of Cultural Affairs advances and drives an equitable and inclusive creative economy and cultural ecosystem by investing in the work of artists and creatives and the institutions and systems that amplify creative work and experiences. To learn more, visit sandiego.gov/cultural-affairs.

(City of San Diego Release)

Southeastern Live Well Center wins...

the meaningful involvement of community members in every step of development.

“There was a lot of initial distrust of the county in the community,” said Medved. “We had to make personal connections and stand behind our commitments, truly integrating them into the process.”

The SELWC also received top marks for its energy saving efficiency, trauma informed design, expansive open spaces

and lots of bright light from large windows and skylights. The project’s warm colors and numerous public art pieces inside and outside the building were also celebrated for creating a sense of comfort, healing and belonging. Additionally, the county’s dedication to community engagement helped secure the SELWC’s first place win. For the first time in a county development, the design-build team committed to hiring contractors from

surrounding zip codes, spending $8 million via local community firms. Ultimately, 14 percent of the SELWC workforce lived in the community, nearly tripling the initial 5 percent goal. Information is available online about the SELWC and the services available to the public (https:// www.livewellsd.org/i-want-to/getinvolved/southeastern-live-wellcenter).

(Anita Lightfoot/County of San Diego Communications Office)

municipal golf courses and other recreational facilities that serve both residents and visitors of all ages. (City of San Diego Release)