041724 - Southern California Midweek Edition

Fil-Am community leaders applaud ‘ironclad’ US-PH alliance

LOS ANGELES – Filipino American community leaders thanked Pres. Joe Biden for “reaffirming the ironclad alliance” between the United States and the Philippines at the recently concluded trilateral summit at the White House. Biden hosted the first ever trilateral meeting between the U.S., Philippines and Japan, welcoming Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to the White House on April 11.

“We are very pleased the summit goals were realized in advancing a trilateral partnership that is built on friendship, win-win economic relations and the commitment to human rights and democratic values with a shared vision for a free, open and peaceful IndoPacific region,” said the U.S. Filipinos for Good Governance (USFGG) and the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) in a joint statement.

“We thank President Biden for his tireless

SACRAMENTO — Nearly a half-million health workers who stand to benefit from California’s nation-leading $25 minimum wage law could be in for a rude awakening if hospitals and other health care providers follow through on potential cuts to hours and benefits.

A medical industry challenge to a new minimum wage ordinance in one Southern California city suggests layoffs and reductions in hours and benefits, including cuts to premium pay and vacation time, could be one result of a state law set to begin phasing in in June. However, some experts are skeptical of that possibility.

The California Hospital Association brought a partly successful legal challenge to Inglewood’s $25 minimum wage ordinance, which barred employers from taking those sorts of steps to offset their higher costs.

“Layoffs, reductions in premium pay rates, reductions in non-wage benefits, reductions in hours, and increased charges are consequences of an employer having

“I must tell you, for somebody who talks to many other nationalities from around the world, what really brings the travelers here are certainly the beautiful sites, the fun activities, the great facilities. But the most important part is the heart of the Filipino, that we show the love of the Filipino, that we show even strangers we have never met before and will no longer meet after they have come here,” he said.

“(Filipinos would) show the world we have long been ready to love them back,” he added.

This elicited criticism from China, which argued this would trigger more tension in the region since two of the military facilities are situated in the north near Taiwan and the other in the south near the South China Sea.

The president, however, insisted that the  PAGE 2

to four more sites — Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport in Lallo, Cagayan; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; and Balabac Island in Palawan — which allows American troops rotate through and store defense equipment and supplies.

It was seemingly another nod to the “Love the Philippines” campaign of the Department of Tourism (DOT) launched in late June 2023.

The president declared his support for Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco despite criticisms of the promotional video for the campaign, which used stock footage shot in other countries.

Marcos attended the awarding ceremony of the DOT’s Tourism Champions Challenge on Monday, April 15, over a year after its launch on April 5, 2023.

The local government units (LGUs) of Ambaguio in Nueva Vizcaya, Tubigon in Bohol and Isabela City in Basilan emerged as “tourism champions.” They were followed by Sablayan in Occidental Mindoro, Badian in Cebu and

Ex-president Duterte not a political rival

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he does not view former President Rodrigo Duterte as a political enemy despite receiving criticisms from his predecessor.

"I don't consider him a political enemy. It takes two to tango," Marcos said.

The president was reacting to Duterte's remarks that the two may become political enemies following the suspension of Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib. The suspension stemmed from a complaint for grave abuse of authority and oppression.

Duterte also called the president a "crybaby" for his pivot towards the United States after Marcos expressed disapproval of the former leader's supposed "gentleman's agreement" with Chinese President Xi Jinping on West Philippine Sea matters. "Did you see me cry? I don't want to pay attention to that. I really don't. That means absolutely nothing to me," Marcos said, adding that Duterte should know that "ad hominem attacks" have no place in high level discussions.

MANILA

A readout of U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III’s meeting with President Marcos said they discussed opportunities to deepen bilateral planning and operational cooperation.

Marcos and Austin also agreed to accelerate a number of bilateral initiatives to enhance informationsharing, interoperability and capability enhancements for the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

They applauded the April 7 maritime cooperative activity within the Philippine exclusive economic zone with Australia, Japan, the Philippines and the U.S., an example of the ways the two countries are working more closely with like-minded nations to strengthen shared principles, including the rule of law, freedom

House colleagues say summit with US, Japan a big win for the Philippines Philippines, United States eye more joint patrols in South China Sea

defense capabilities, and maritime security would ensure that the Philippines is ready for whatever regional challenges it may face.

big win secured by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr for the country, House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and other lawmakers said.

In a statement, Romualdez said that the clear-cut collaboration between the three countries on economic progress, increasing

“On behalf of the entire House of Representatives, I extend my warmest congratulations to President Marcos Jr. for his remarkable achievement in securing a monumental diplomatic victory through the recent historic trilateral meeting with President Biden

on Sunday, April 14. 

— The United States and the Philippines discussed increasing the frequency of combined maritime activities and joint patrols to support the Philippines’ lawful exercise of its rights in the South China Sea, the U.S. Department of Defense said.

MANILA — The recentlyconcluded trilateral summit between the Philippines, United States, and Japan is a

and Prime Minister Kishida,” Romualdez said

MANILA — Aside from tourist destinations and attractions, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the Philippines should be known for the “love” shared by Filipinos with travelers.

Romualdez, House colleagues say summit...

“The collaboration and dialogue fostered during this meeting pave the way for enhanced cooperation in addressing regional challenges, particularly in promoting maritime security, safeguarding our territorial integrity and improving the lives of the Filipino people,” he added. Romualdez also reiterated that the meeting stresses the need for a rules-based order and a free and open Indo-Pacific Region.

“This historic meeting signifies a strong and united commitment of the three nations to upholding the principles of international law and ensuring the freedom of navigation and overflight in the region which are vital in ensuring peace, stability and prosperity,” he said.

“As Speaker of the House of Representatives, I reaffirm our unwavering support for the president’s efforts to promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the region,” he added.

During the trilateral meet between the three countries, U.S. and Japan committed to assisting the Philippines in the development of the Luzon Economic Corridor, and to the linking of major hubs in the island group.

Both countries also vowed to help in the field trials of a nextgeneration internet system.

Part of the discussions also focused on maintaining maritime security in the West Philippine Sea, with all three countries condemning China’s aggressive actions in the region — asking the Asian superpower to stop using its Coast Guard in a coercive manner.

No less than President Biden assured Filipinos that any attack on a Philippine aircraft, vessel, or armed force will trigger the Mutual Defense Treaty between the U.S. and the Philippines.

Other Majority lawmakers like Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, Davao Oriental 2nd District Rep. Cheeno Miguel

Almario, Taguig 2nd District Rep. Amparo Maria Zamora, and PBA Party-list Rep. Migs Nograles called the trilateral agreement a success for the Philippines.

“The summit underscored the importance of multi-layered collaboration among allies to strengthen the free and open international order based on the rule of law amid the various crises in the world right now,” Almario said.

“We look forward to significant progress in our bilateral and trilateral cooperation, including the conclusion of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) with Japan,” Zamora added.

La Union 1st District Rep. Paolo Ortega and Zambales 1st District Rep. Jay Khonghun said that the meeting bodes well for the country.

“This cooperation guarantees the commitment of each of the three countries to ensure freedom of navigation on the western side of the Philippines,” Khonghun said. g

Marcos: Ex-president Duterte not a political...

Last January, Duterte launched a tirade against Marcos over a campaign to change the 1987 Constitution. He accused his successor of being a "drug addict" without evidence and of trying to amend the charter to extend his term.

The Duterte patriarch also warned Marcos that pursuing charter change could lead to his ouster, similar to what happened to his dictator father. Marcos struck back, suggesting the former leader's use of fentanyl had taken a toll on his health. (Philstar.com)

‘PH should also be known for...

Davao City in Davao del Sur in second place.

Bolinao in Pangasinan, Silago in Southern Leyte and Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte were in third place.

San Jose in Romblon, Victorias City in Negros Occidental and Tagum City in Davao del Norte were in fourth place.

Socorro in Oriental Mindoro, town of Panay in Capiz and San Agustin in Surigao del Sur placed fifth. First place winners would receive grants worth P20 million each; second place, P15 million; third, P10 million; fourth, P8 million; fifth, P7 million.

The LGUs will receive their grants from the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise

Zone Authority (TIEZA), a DOTattached agency. Marcos also surprised the winners after announcing that TIEZA added a P5-million fund to each winner.

Philippines, United States eye more joint...

The secretary and Marcos underscored the historic strength of the U.S.-Philippines alliance, which both countries are expanding and modernizing in support of a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Both expressed support for growing alliance initiatives to expand interoperability.

“(The proposals should also) enhance local destinations and communities and provide added economic opportunity for our communities nationwide,” she added.

The Tourism Champions Challenge called on LGUs to submit proposals containing “innovative tourism infrastructure projects that aim to foster sustainability, inclusivity and resilience in tourism development,” Frasco said.

The DOT selected 15 winners from 98 proposals submitted by 90 LGUs nationwide, she noted. g Philstar.com file photo

including those of its Coast Guard – anywhere in the Pacific, including the South China Sea. “The leaders’ meeting – their second at the Pentagon in less than a year – reaffirmed the United States and the Philippines’ enduring commitment to stand shoulder-to-shoulder as allies to bring greater security, prosperity, and stability to the Indo-Pacific region and beyond,” the statement read. Austin hosted Marcos at the Pentagon on April 12.

The U.S. defense chief highlighted that President Joseph Biden’s budget request for fiscal year 2025 – which seeks $128 million to execute 36 projects at Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement sites –would be more than double the amount that the Department of Defense has invested in EDCA infrastructure since the inception of the agreement. Austin expressed his support for Philippine military modernization, highlighting the

department’s strong commitment to the AFP through this year’s budget and bilateral efforts to finalize a multi-year Security Sector Assistance Roadmap. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and National Security Advisor Eduardo Año also participated in the meeting between Austin and Marcos. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Austin and Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and their Philippine counterparts met following Biden’s bilateral meeting with Marcos and the first Japan-Philippines-U.S. Trilateral Leaders’ Summit on April 11. They reaffirmed both countries’ shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific, and discussed ways to deepen coordination against shared challenges in the South China Sea. g

Nearly 1 in 4 adults dumped from Medicaid are now uninsured, survey finds

by

leadership and reaffirming

was signed

USFGG National

NaFFAA

Loida

Mariela Fletcher, NaFFAA Northeast Region Chair Frank Celosa, USFGG Coordinator Eric Lachica, USFGG Chair Jet Pizarro, USFGG Treasurer Tina Maynigo and USFGG members Apollo Inserto and Dr. Bambi Lorica. The Fil-Am leaders said they welcome the joint maritime patrols by the U.S., Philippines, Japan and Australia in the West Philippine Sea.

“The monthlong Balikatan military exercises of 11,000 visiting American troops and 5,000 Filipino soldiers starting on April 22 will further deter the Chinese government from unwise aggressive actions,” the statement said.

Sponsored by Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee) and Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Virginia), the bill authorizes $500 million a year in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) grant assistance to the Philippines over the five fiscal years to 2029. "As the United States and the Philippines face growing challenges to security and prosperity in the West Philippines Sea and the wider Indo-Pacific, it’s critical for our two nations to deepen cooperation and raise our decades-long alliance to even greater heights,” Sen. Hagerty said in a statement.

Social costs

However, the Fil-Am leaders have raised concerns over the “social costs” of increasing the number of U.S. bases and American troops in the Philippines under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

The leaders also applauded the Philippines Enhanced Resilience Act (PERA Act), a bipartisan bill introduced by two prominent senators to provide the Philippines with $2.5 billion to boost its defenses against increased aggression by China in the West Philippine Sea.

Meanwhile, Fil-Am activists held rallies throughout the US assailing the trilateral meeting at the White House.

Holding a “national day of action” on April 11, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)U.S. held rallies in Washington DC, Portland, Seattle, Honolulu, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Joining the rallies were members of the Malaya Movement, International League of People’s Struggles and the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines.

“The Biden Administration had once again invited Marcos to the White House to continue to deepen its stronghold over the Philippines under the guise of ‘ironclad alliances,’” Anakbayan USA said in a statement. (Nimfa U. Rueda/ Inquirer.net)

“We reiterate our call for the Biden Administration and the Pentagon to consider the rights and welfare of the children who are likely to be abandoned by their American military fathers,” the USFGG and NaFFAA leaders said. “They should be provided for in the EDCA terms of engagement.”

Seven in 10 adults who were disenrolled during the unwinding process say they became uninsured at least temporarily when they lost their Medicaid coverage.

Adrienne Hamar, 49, of Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, said she struggled to enroll in an Affordable Care Act marketplace plan this winter after the state informed her that she and her two children no longer qualified for Medicaid. They had been enrolled since 2020. She said phone lines were busy at the state’s marketplace and she couldn’t complete the process online. Hamar, who works as a home health aide, and her children were uninsured in March. But since April 1, they’ve been enrolled in a marketplace plan that, with the help of government subsidies, costs $50 a month for the family. “I was very relieved,” she said. Unsure of their insurance status, Hamar said, her 23-yearold daughter delayed getting a

“Twenty-three percent is a striking number especially when you think about the number of people who lost Medicaid coverage,” said Chima Ndumele, an associate professor of health policy at the Yale University School of Public Health. Going without insurance even for a short period of time can lead people to delay seeking care and leave them at financial risk when they do.

dental checkup. Hamar’s struggles were common, the survey found.

Of adults enrolled in Medicaid before the unwinding, about 35% who tried to renew their coverage described the process as difficult, and about 48% said it was at least somewhat stressful.

About 56% of those disenrolled say they skipped or delayed care or prescriptions while attempting to renew their Medicaid coverage.

“People’s current insurance status is likely to be very much in flux, and we would expect at least some of the people who say they are currently uninsured to reenroll in Medicaid — many say they are still trying — or enroll in other coverage within a short period of time,” said Jennifer Tolbert, a co-author of the KFF report and the director of KFF’s State Health Reform and Data Program.

The survey didn’t include children, and the KFF researchers said their findings therefore couldn’t be extrapolated to determine how the Medicaid unwinding has affected the overall U.S. uninsured rate, which hit a record low of 7.7% in early PAGE 4

health coverage and charging for parking or work-related equipment.

Inglewood voters approved the ordinance in November 2022, nearly a year before California legislators enacted a $25 minimum wage for health workers. Those statewide higher wages are to be phased in starting in June under California’s firstin-the-nation law, but Gov. Gavin Newsom has since said they are too expensive as the state faces a deficit estimated between $38 billion and $73 billion. It’s unclear if lawmakers will agree to a delay or take other steps to reduce the cost.

U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer agreed with the hospital industry in a March 11 tentative ruling when he shot down the portion of Inglewood’s ordinance banning layoffs and clawbacks by employers, while allowing the rest of the ordinance to remain in effect. He gave the sides time to object to his preliminary decision, though none did.

The California Hospital Association represents more than 400 hospitals and was a key backer of the state’s carefully crafted compromise law, which notably contains none of the employee safeguards included in the Inglewood ordinance.

Spokesperson Jan EmersonShea said the association doesn’t know how providers will react once the state law takes effect. “We don’t have any insights,” she said.

“The challenge for any health care organization is figuring out how to pay for the higher wages,” said Joanne Spetz, director of the Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies at the University of California-San Francisco. “Since labor costs are the largest part of any health care organization’s costs, it’s hard to figure out how to reduce spending without looking at labor costs.”

Providers can try to increase revenues by bargaining for higher reimbursements from commercial insurers, she said. Public hospitals, nursing homes, and community clinics get most of their money through Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program. Providers could reduce the

services they offer, pare back charity care, and cut or delay capital investments, Spetz said.

In the long term, she expects some combination of spending cuts and revenue increases. Both the state law and local ordinance cover far more than doctors and nurses, with a definition of health worker that includes janitors, housekeepers, groundskeepers, security guards, food service workers, laundry workers, and clerical staff.

The most recent estimate by the Health Care Program at the University of California-Berkeley Labor Center is that as many as 426,000 health workers would make an average of $6,400 extra in the law’s first year, a 19% average pay bump mainly benefiting lower-income workers of color and women. State finance officials project that well over 500,000 workers will benefit.

Researchers didn’t include layoffs and other potential staffing and benefit reductions when they projected the state law’s costs and benefits, said Laurel Lucia, the program’s director. But she pointed to initial projections by hospitals, doctors, and business and taxpayer groups that the wage hike would cost $8 billion annually, thereby imperiling services and resulting in higher premiums and higher costs for state and local governments.

“It seems like a contradiction to say this law’s going to cost billions of dollars while at the same time saying it’s going to reduce workers’ total compensation,” said Lucia, who projects a far lower price tag.

She added that state finance officials had anticipated that Medi-Cal reimbursements would reflect the increased labor costs, while Medicare would eventually at least partially compensate for the higher labor costs.

Michael Reich, chair of the Center on Wage and Employment Dynamics at UC Berkeley’s Institute for Research on Labor and Employment, and affiliated economist Justin Wiltshire recently argued that California’s new $20 minimum wage law for fast-food workers won’t result in mass layoffs and price increases, as some have predicted.

Health care is much different than fast food, Reich acknowledged, but he argued for much the same positive result.

“A higher minimum wage will make it easier and cheaper for

hospitals to recruit and retain these workers. The cost savings, and the productivity benefits of more experienced workers, could offset much of the labor cost increase,” Reich said.

The hospital association filed its lawsuit against Inglewood’s ordinance in July, while it was still opposing early versions of the statewide minimum wage legislation. Among many other provisions, the statewide law put on hold an initiative to cap hospital executives’ salaries in Los Angeles.

The hospital association’s legal challenge referenced in part layoffs and reduced working hours imposed by Centinela Hospital Medical Center after Inglewood’s ordinance took effect.

But Centinela said the reduction was entirely unrelated to the ordinance and that all staff were offered alternate positions, which many accepted.

“Centinela Hospital also has since added many more jobs in new clinical positions above minimum wage scale,” the hospital said in a statement.

Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West, the prime backer of both the local ordinance and the statewide law, sued the hospital in April 2023 alleging that it cut workers’ hours to offset the higher minimum wage. The case is still pending.

The union did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

In a court filing, however, the union and city of Inglewood said similar employer restrictions in previous minimum wage laws have survived.

The ordinance “merely sets the backdrop for collective bargaining negotiations,” and does not bar employers from locking out employees or hiring replacement workers during a strike. Employers can still lay off workers or reduce their hours, they said, so long as they don’t do so to fund the higher minimum wage.

But Fischer agreed with the hospital association that layoffs and reductions in employees’ total compensation packages are “obvious responses by an employer to rising compensation costs.”

Restricting employers’ options would violate federal labor relations rules, he said.

“The minimum wage an PAGE 5

2023. Nearly half of enrollees in Medicaid and the related Children’s Health Insurance Program are children. The unwinding, in which states are reassessing eligibility for Medicaid among millions of Americans who enrolled before or during the pandemic and dropping those who no longer qualify or did not complete the renewal process, won’t be completed until later this year. Enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP grew to a record of nearly 94.5 million in April of last year, three years after the federal government prohibited states from cutting people from their rolls during the covid-19 public health emergency.

Nationally, states have disenrolled about 20 million people from Medicaid in the past year, most of them for procedural reasons such as failure to submit required paperwork. That number is expected to grow, as states have a few more months to redetermine enrollees’ eligibility.

left uninsured was larger in states that have not expanded Medicaid under the ACA (17%) than in states that have (6%).

Forty states have expanded Medicaid to cover everyone with an income under 138% of the federal poverty rate, or $31,200 for a family of four this year.

The KFF survey found that nearly 1 in 3 disenrolled adults discovered only when they sought health care — such as going to a doctor or a pharmacy — that they had been dropped from Medicaid. Indira Navas of Miami found out that her 6-year-old son, Andres, had been disenrolled from Florida’s Medicaid program when she took him to a doctor appointment in March. She had scheduled Andres’ appointment months in advance and is frustrated that he remains uninsured and his therapy for anxiety and hyperactivity has been disrupted. Navas said the state could not explain why her 12-yearold daughter, Camila, remained covered by Medicaid even though the children live in the same household with their parents. “It doesn’t make sense that they would cover one of my children and not the other,” she said. Kate McEvoy, executive director of the National Association of Medicaid Directors, said the sheer volume of millions of people being redetermined for eligibility has overwhelmed some state call centers trying to support enrollees. She said states have tried many ways to communicate with enrollees, including through public outreach campaigns, text, email, and apps. “Until the moment your coverage is at stake, it’s hard to penetrate people’s busy lives,” she said. The KFF survey, of 1,227 adults who had Medicaid coverage in early 2023 prior to the start of the unwinding on April 1, 2023, was conducted between Feb. 15, 2024, and March 11, 2024. The margin of sampling error was plus or minus 4 percentage points. KFF Health News correspondent Daniel Chang contributed to this article. KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces indepth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Nearly

Among adults who had Medicaid prior to the start of the unwinding, 83% retained their coverage or reenrolled, while 8% found other insurance and 8% were uninsured. The share

MANILA — No Filipinos have so far signified their intentions to be repatriated amid the battle between Israel and Iran, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega told INQUIRER.net on Tuesday, April 16.

“None. They feel safe,” De Vega said in a text message when asked if there have been repatriation requests from Filipinos residing in the area. “All our embassies have contingency plans in place,” he added.

Data from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) showed that about 30,000 Filipinos are residing in Israel while at least 2,000 are in Iran. The Philippine government earlier called for a non-escalation in the Middle East, particularly calling on all parties involved to “work towards a peaceful resolution of their conflict.”

“The Philippines has long advocated for all states to adhere to the principles of international law and to the peaceful settlement of disputes,” said DFA in a statement on Monday.

DFA’s remarks came after Portuguese container ship MSC Aries — reportedly linked to Israel — was seized by Iranian forces on April 13.

The ship has 25 crew members, four of which are Filipinos. g

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday, April 15 said the government will not hand over his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC) should a warrant for his arrest be issued for his bloody anti-drugs campaign. Duterte is being probed for supposed crimes against humanity committed to carrying out the war on drugs.

"We don't recognize the warrant that they will send to us," Marcos said in an interview during the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) 50th anniversary celebration and presidential forum at the Manila Hotel. "That's a no."

September 2021, only to suspend it two months later after Manila said it was re-examining several hundred cases of drug operations that led to deaths at the hands of police, hitmen and vigilantes.

The ICC's chief prosecutor later asked to reopen the inquiry, and pre-trial judges at the court eventually gave the green light in late January 2023 — a decision that Manila appealed shortly afterward and lost.

The drug war has continued under Marcos even though he has pushed for more focus on prevention and rehabilitation.

In recent months, there has been a very public falling out between the families as they begin to shore up their rival support bases and secure key positions ahead of the mid-term elections in 2025 and presidential elections in 2028

Duterte and Marcos have accused each other of drug abuse, while Duterte previously called for his family's home island of Mindanao to separate from the rest of the country.

MANILA — The Philippine government on Monday, April 15 launched energy projects funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), aimed at ensuring continued delivery of service and government operations during calamities.

The Energy Sector Emergency Operations Center (ESEOC) and the Mobile Energy System (MES) are programs led by the Department of Energy, which would address the need for resilient energy infrastructure and response capabilities in the country in times of crisis. The ESEOC and MES are part of the USAID’s $34-million Energy Secure Philippines project. Through these initiatives, the government would be able to conduct near real-time monitoring of energy infrastructure such as grid performance and distribution network, especially during disasters when power service is at risk, President Marcos said.

“It will also serve as a centralized hub for collaboration and information sharing across the entire energy supply chain to ensure seamless coordination

among local, regional and national authorities in times of crises,” Marcos said in a speech delivered by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin during the project launch in Makati City.

“We cannot count on people’s resilience alone. People’s patience is not a renewable resource,” he added.

The MES taps into a renewable energy source and can be used for microgrids, businesses, health facilities and homes, Marcos said.

“The MES is a safe, dependable and sustainable power source

The President insisted that the international tribunal has no jurisdiction over the Philippines since the country has a working judiciary system.

"What is the rule about the ICC? When do they adopt jurisdiction? They have jurisdiction in a country when no judicial system is working, is functioning, no police force is functioning. In other words, there probably is war, and none of these issues about war crimes and all of these are being attended to simply because the administration, especially in the judiciary, especially in law enforcement, are not functioning," he said.

Marcos repeatedly ruled out rejoining the ICC and insisted that it does not have jurisdiction in the country because there is a functioning judicial system.

Asked to describe his current relationship with the Duterte family, Marcos said, "It's complicated," before laughing with the audience. (ManilaTimes. net)

for emergencies, disaster relief efforts and critical infrastructure operations in case traditional sources falter. These systems will ensure the continuous operation of critical infra and basic services in emergency situations,” he noted. The pilot run of the MES will be conducted in Sta. Ana and Lallo, Cagayan, which are identified as typhoon-prone municipalities, Marcos said. MES units will also be distributed to various government agencies, he added. g California

"That is the reason why we are saying we are well within the rules. It is their rule," the President said. Marcos' pronouncements were reiterations yet again that his administration will not cooperate with the ICC because doing so is considered a threat to Philippine sovereignty.

The President had likewise said the country "will not lift a finger" to aid the ICC in its investigation and ordered all national agencies not to communicate with its investigators.

More than 6,000 deaths were attributed to Duterte's antinarcotics drive. The ICC and human rights groups estimate the figure to exceed 30,000.

may face rude awakening...

Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the ICC in 2019 after the Hague-based tribunal started probing allegations of human rights abuses committed during his drug war.

It launched a formal inquiry into Duterte's crackdown in

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Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla and USAID mission director to the Philippines Ryan Washburn inspect a mobile energy system during the inauguration of the Energy Sector Emergency Operations Center in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig on Monday, April 15. Philstar.com photo by Krizjohn Rosales

Relations between the Marcos and Duterte families have fractured in the past two years.

OPINION FEATURES

Taxes and governance

IT’S tax filing month, and the government as usual launched a campaign to inform the public about meeting the deadline for filing tax returns. It would be better if a campaign can also be implemented to raise public awareness not only of the civic duty of paying the correct taxes, but also the responsibility of public officials in utilizing those taxes judiciously.

Individuals pay income tax while businessmen pay corporate, business and local taxes. Aside from these, there are hefty excise taxes on all petroleum products, liquor and tobacco, automobiles, luxury goods and mineral products as well as value-added tax on nearly all goods and services, from food and medicine to basic utilities. Look at the fine print on your utility bills to see how much goes to the government. A road tax is collected for motor vehicle registration even as many areas including Greater Manila are dotted with privately operated toll roads.

Editorial

With taxes collected for goods and services from cradle to grave, people must demand good governance and the proper utilization of public funds. Too many Filipinos, however, are unaware of how much of their basic expenses go to the government. This leads to a high tolerance or indifference to the misuse of people’s money, venality and incompetence in government. If there is greater awareness of how much people

THE two-day trip of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to Washington, D.C. was well worth it because of its historic impact in advancing efforts to promote a peaceful, open, stable and rules-based Indo-Pacific region that can help empower nations to economically grow and flourish. There is no question the president is exhausted from the many important trips he has taken, but we both agreed this trip was definitely significant and absolutely consequential because it will define the future not only of the Philippines but countries in our region as well. As the president succinctly put it, the tripartite meeting at the White House with President Biden and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is “just a beginning” as “the complex challenges of our time require concerted efforts on everyone’s part, a dedication to a common purpose and an unwavering commitment to the rules-based international order.”

PUBLIC confidence in the Marcos administration has plummeted in the first three months of 2024. The people are increasingly dissatisfied with the prevailing state of the nation, national direction and economic prospects. The trust and approval ratings of President Bongbong Marcos Jr. also reached an all-time low since the third quarter of 2023 due to concerns over inflation, corruption and perceived weak leadership.

The latest Publicus Asia survey shows that support for the incumbent government stood at 35 percent, an 11-point drop from the last quarter. PBBM garnered trust and approval ratings of 33 percent and 44 percent, respectively. The Visayas and Mindanao registered the highest distrust for the chief executive (34 percent). The disfavor for the president also rose in Mindanao (from 13 percent to 30 percent). To be fair, there was also a decrease in the trust and approval ratings of the other top officials of the country.

The findings of Publicus repeat

are contributing to the national coffers, there would be greater public pressure for accountability and transparency in the way public funds are utilized. There would be greater outrage over large-scale tax evasion as well as confidential funds for civilian agencies with no involvement in public safety or national security. There would be greater pressure for government officials, especially those at the top levels, to make public their annual statements of assets, liabilities and net worth, as stipulated in the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, regardless of the prohibitions imposed by the Office of the Ombudsman.

Amid tensions with China in the West Philippine Sea, the National Security Council and the Philippine Coast Guard are reportedly planning several projects to raise public awareness on WPS issues, such as holding campus caravans, advocacy runs, regional road shows and even the printing of illustrated comics.

White House tripartite meeting promises a bright future

He also described the partnership among the three nations as something that is “borne not out of convenience nor of expediency, but as a natural progression of deepening relations and robust cooperation… linked by a profound respect for democracy, good governance and the rule of law.”

While the meeting may just be “a beginning,” it is one that “looks ahead” – as the partners seek to “identify ways of growing” their respective economies and making them more resilient, climate proofing cities and societies, sustaining development progress and forging a peaceful world for the next generation, the president said. The summit, President Marcos noted, provides “an opportunity to define the future we want, and how we intend to achieve it, together.”

The Joint Vision Statement by the three leaders underscored that as equal partners and trusted friends, they share fundamental values of freedom, democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law –believing that by working together, they can advance the

security and prosperity not only of their respective nations but the Indo-Pacific and the world.

“Our historic summit today is the culmination of decades of partnership and builds on the recent momentum of our governments’ trilateral efforts,” the statement went, outlining the goals to promote inclusive economic growth and resilience even as they expressed concern and strong opposition to “economic coercion,” underscoring the need for close coordination to deal with such coercion.

One of the key takeaways during the summit was the Luzon economic corridor that would support connectivity between Subic Bay, Clark, Manila and Batangas, with the three nations committed to accelerating coordinated investments in high impact infrastructure projects that include rail, ports modernization, clean energy and semiconductor supply chains and deployments, agribusiness and civilian port upgrades at Subic Bay.

We were pleased to note that the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is planning to put up a regional office in the

Drug allegations

the survey results of Pulse Asia, which showed the growing public distrust and disapproval of PBBM. His national ratings took a double-digit drop between December 2023 and March 2024. In my view, the president will continue to earn public disfavor, even ire, for the failure of the government to address the soaring prices of prime commodities and essentials.

Inflation – the retail price of rice per kilo, specifically – is a problem that hits closest to the heart and gut of the average Filipino. His 2022 election promise to lower the price of rice to P20 a kilo remains that, much to the dismay and disillusionment of his supporters in the lowincome groups.

The Department of Agriculture reported that the retail price of rice rose by 36 percent on March 1, compared to the same period in 2023 (The STAR). Meanwhile, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said the March 2024 rice inflation of 24.4 percent is the highest since the February 2009 record-high of 24.6 percent. The prospects get gloomier for the Filipinos. The PSA predicts the price of our staple food to rise until July (Sun Star). Surveys upon surveys have pointed out that the public is

most worried about inflation. The issues on the West Philippine Sea and Charter change do not even figure in their top five national concerns. They clamor for affordable goods and services. They demand higher salaries and wages. They need jobs or better jobs. They want the government to end corruption and reduce poverty in the country. After almost two years in office, the Marcos administration has yet to ease their burdens. With his decreasing popularity, the President can no longer afford to be blind and deaf to the socio-economic sufferings of the Filipinos.

Weak character

The growing public perception that PBBM is a weak leader is also unsurprising. In 2021, no less than former President Rodrigo Duterte alluded to his eventual successor as weak in character and a cocaine-user. In his most recent press conference in Davao City, FPRRD said he was the first person to call national attention to the drug addiction of the chief executive. As thenDavao City mayor and former president, Digong saw evidence submitted or shown to him by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) detailing PBBM’s history of substance abuse.

Philippines to facilitate further investments across the country.

I remember mentioning this possibility as early as May 2021 when the Philippine embassy in Washington arranged a virtual forum together with the DFC and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, which drew a lot of interest from pharmaceutical companies looking at vaccine manufacturing and distribution in the Philippines.

Prior to the tripartite summit, I joined the president at the Oval Office where he met President Biden for a bilateral meeting that was candid and straightforward, with both leaders affirming their commitment to make the relationship even deeper, advancing mutual interests, strengthening economic ties and elevating the defense and security alliance between the two nations.

The atmosphere was very warm, friendly and cordial, and we were pleased to hear President Biden’s reassurance that the bilateral relationship with the Philippines remains “an absolute priority” of the United States and that they will continue to support the modernization program of

He understood why PDEA is denying the existence of real and documentary evidence. No government agency in its right mind would go head-to-head with an incumbent president. Digong’s remarks must also be related to the controversial “PDEA leaks” exposé of a social media personality and a former Marcos loyalist-turned archcritic. Political vlogger Maharlika released a series of documents – a pre-operations report, a surveillance report and a letter signed by a former Investigation Agent (IA) of the Intelligence and Investigation Service (IIS) – purporting that then-senator Marcos was on the agency’s drug watchlist. PDEA has called the documents fake. It is now mulling filing criminal charges against the erstwhile Marcos supporter. When I examined the letter, it appeared that the ex-IA confirmed that PBBM was under PDEA surveillance for alleged illicit drug use sometime in 2012. The signatory seemed to attest to the veracity of the pre-ops and surveillance documents. The agent claimed to have personally interviewed a Confidential Informant, who knows the President’s reported drug use, in front of other IIS personnel. It could only mean that the documents exist, contrary to PDEA’s denial that they cannot be found in the Plans and

the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

At a press briefing we conducted in the Philippine embassy in Washington, we mentioned that in the next five to 10 years, we are looking at an estimated $100 billion in investments from Japan and the United States, with the administration’s economic managers working hard to open up areas for potential investments such as energy, which is of course very important in sustaining growth and development, not to mention the fact that energy security is a priority of the government, obviously because our energy requirements in the next two years or so will increase.

The $100 billion is actually a modest estimate considering that the semiconductor industry alone is an $80-billion business in Southeast Asia, and if we get even just 10 to 20 percent of that pie, that’s an additional $8 to $16 billion in investments. The semiconductor industry is going to be the wave of the future, and we’re very pleased that the United States has included the Philippines as one of the seven countries it trusts

Operations Reports Management Information System. To prove the documents’ existence, the ex-IA must produce the original versions and execute a sworn statement that he was the signatory. Evidence must be related to the fact in issue to induce belief in its existence or non-existence (Revised Rules on Evidence). The “PDEA Leaks” seem to corroborate the previous and most recent statements of FPRRD concerning the illegal drug habit of PBBM. I am not saying that the documents are conclusive. The chief executive must disprove the allegations. Otherwise, his continued silence is tantamount to admitting the contents of the documents.

Sound mind

The Constitution provides that the government must inform the public of the state of health of a seriously ill President. While we have no direct knowledge of PBBM’s current health condition, the drug allegations against him constitute a grave national issue.

Perhaps, he may humbly consider undergoing a random drug test.

In proving to all Filipinos that he has passed the test or tested clean of illicit drugs, the drug issue will be settled once and for all.

I believe the public is entitled to know whether the president is in the right and sound frame of mind when deciding on national

to partner with for its goal to diversify their semiconductor supply chain under the CHIPS (Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors) Act.

We’re also looking at forging a bilateral free trade agreement with the U.S. on cyberspace and digital technology, among others. As I told members of the media, the U.S. really has a high level of interest in making the Philippines a major investment hub for American companies.

Looking out my window from the Philippine embassy in Washington, D.C., spring is now upon us but it’s cloudy. Nonetheless, the future looks bright for the Philippines because as they say – for every cloud, there is always a silver lining, and the very successful tripartite meeting is one such silver lining. I’m confident that during President Marcos’ term, the Philippines will emerge as a stronger and more prosperous nation. (Philstar.com)

*

and foreign policy issues. In particular, his decision to ally with the United States, Japan and Australia to militarily contain China’s “encroachment” in the West Philippine Sea is only worsening the conflict in the maritime zone.

Fox News reported that the unresolved Philippine-China dispute could precipitate a World War III. A U.S.-based China expert has predicted that America will likely start a fight with China over the Philippines than Taiwan or Japan. If we become a theater of war, Filipino soldiers and civilians would go like lambs to the slaughterhouse.

God forbid!

I urge PBBM to continue seeking diplomatic and peaceful solutions with China, and resist the interference of America and its Western allies. If possible, the government must maintain the verbal status quo agreement of non-military confrontation and non-expansion that the Duterte administration fostered with the Xi Jinping government. We need to avoid bloodshed and unnecessary loss of lives and properties over the WPS. (Philstar.com)

The Asian Journal MDWK

Fil-Am Nicole Scherzinger wins Best Actress at Olivier Awards 2024

By JeSSiCa ann evangeLiSta Inquirer.net

the Best

as her West-

Boulevard” won big at the 2024 Laurence Olivier Awards.

On her Instagram account, the former Pussycat Dolls member expressed joy to having captured the Best Actress in a Musical trophy as Norma Desmond.

“It is an honor, joy and privilege to be recognized for your work. I am so very proud to say I am now an Olivier Award Winner. ‘I’m back where I was born to be,’” she wrote in her caption. Theater legend Lea Salonga took to the comment of Scherzinger’s post to extend her congratulations to the actress-

singer. In a separate post, the Filipino descent star shared a video of her speech as she went emotional accepting her first Olivier Award. “As a little girl from Hawaii and growing up in Kentucky, coming from really humble beginnings, I always wanted to be a singer and do musicals. And I dreamed of so many roles that I wanted to do, and honestly this role, Norma Desmond, was not one of those roles,” she said, drawing laughter from the audience.

“But God works in mysterious ways because it’s honestly one of the ballsiest and bravest things I have ever done.” added the singeractress. Scherzinger won “Dancing with the Stars” in 2010. She also served as a judge on

several other television talent shows, including “The Sing-Off” (2009–2010), “The X Factor” US (2011), “The X Factor” UK (2012–2013, 2016–2017, 2019), “Australia’s Got Talent” (2019), and “The Masked Singer” (2019).

She has also appeared in the 2014 musical “Cats” and in the Disney animated film “Moana” (2016). Her television credits include “Dirty Dancing” (2017) and the television special “Annie Live!” (2021). “Sunset Boulevard” emerged as the top winner, bagging seven awards out of 11 nominations from the prestigious awarding body.

Aside from Scherzinger, former “Succession” star Sarah Snook took home the main Best Actress of the night for her performance in “The Picture of Dorian Gray.”

Catriona Gray on ‘advocacies, pageantry business’ during Miss Universe reign

By hannah MaLLorCa Inquirer.net

IT’S been six years since Catriona Gray was crowned Miss Universe, and she remained proud of how it turned out. Despite this, she recalled certain moments where she felt a “little disheartened” about not being able to balance her advocacy-driven initiatives and the business aspect of pageantry. “I think I might’ve made everyone’s lives harder,” a laughing Gray said in a sit-down interview with Mega Magazine editor-in-chief Peewee ReyesIsidro on the magazine’s YouTube channel on April 12, as she touched on the impact of her coronation in the global tilt.

When asked about “setting a standard” in pageantry, Gray recalled how there “was no such thing as a national costume” or “creating content” to showcase what a representative’s country had to offer.

“I’m so proud of how it turned out. I took a lot of risks. I did so many things that I haven’t done before or haven’t been popularized back then. Our standard has gone through the roof,” she said. Despite this, the former titleholder pointed out that representatives shouldn’t feel pressured to follow in her footsteps because one’s pageant journey “will always be about the girl.”

“The whole show that Miss Universe and other pageants is a display of a representative to represent their culture or a part of their country, getting people to know more. With that being said, I love what it has created,” she said.

Miss Universe ’employee’ The interview then touched on the three important lessons Gray took to heart during her reign. One of which is to “be present” especially with a lot of things happening at once.

“I didn’t consider myself a public figure until the moment Philippines was called. It felt

overwhelming at times, I wasn’t used to people pulling me in [different] directions and having interactions with [people]. I had to constantly tell myself to be present,” she said.

Gray appeared to be deep in thought as she opened up about being “thrown into the loop” after winning the title. This led her to explain that before winning Miss Universe, she was a leader of her team in the Philippines. But throughout her reign, she “became an employee” of the Miss Universe Organization.

“[I also learned to] regain your power in a way you can only control for yourself,” she said. “There was a reshifting. I’m not a leader, I am a follower. At first, that disheartened me a little bit because there are a lot of projects I wish I could’ve created when I won. I envisioned that I would do so much on-ground community work.” The beauty queen then clarified that while she understood that prioritizing “profit-making events and big press type of engagements” is crucial in the “business

of the pageant system,”

she didn’t understand why it couldn’t be balanced with advocacy-driven “on-ground initiatives and community work.”

“My message on the night that I won, was that I am a queen of service and people. I had to say to myself that I can’t control it,” she added. “But I couldn’t control it, but I could control myself. So I channeled all my energy into planning what I wanted to do after my reign, it’s kind of regaining my power again.”

During the interview, Gray also pointed out that ending a Miss Universe reign is not the “peak” of a beauty queen since there are many “peaks” one can achieve, even if it’s not done in a “public” way.

“Many people would ask me what’s next after Mis Universe. It’s so big and it can sometimes make us feel that if I can’t reach the same public achievement, it was all it was for me. I understand the peaks come in many different shapes and forms in life, and it doesn’t have to be validated in such a public way to feel important,” she said.

Still no confirmation, but Marco and Heaven ‘more than friends’ now

By Leah C. SaLterio Philstar.com

LAST April 1, word got around that young loveteam Marco Gallo and Heaven Peralejo, popularly called MarVen, are no longer together.

The couple, who got paired last year in the top-rating series, “The Rain in España,” has yet to admit the real score between them. However, some fans naturally got worried when they heard the announcement.

The loveteam immediately reversed the announcement and said it was April Fools. Good joke.

“It was just us,” shared Heaven. “We were in the middle of shooting at that time. We just realized that we might hurt some fans, so we denied it right away. There was no guilt on our part because we revealed the truth right away.”

Marco added, “The original plan was to keep the announcement at bay for at least two days. But we just realized that some people might feel bad. So we told them it was April Fools.”

Whatever status the relationship of Marco and Heaven is in right now, the pair wants to keep it private, although everybody sees something special between the two.

“Whatever we post on social media, that’s for everybody,” Heaven said. “But the status itself, whatever we’re into right now, I’d rather keep it to ourselves. That’s my take.”

Who would have thought that the former “Pinoy Big Brother” teen housemates would end up as a breakout loveteam, which would have successful projects both on TV and also on the big screen?

After being paired in “The Rain in España,” the bestselling Wattpad novel created by Gwy Saludes that was turned into a widely-followed series on Viva One last year, a new loveteam was created with the instant popularity of the leads.

Although they were both introduced in “Pinoy Big Brother Lucky Season 7” in 2016, Marco and Heaven were never paired then.

When the young stars first started taping for “The Rain in España,” they were not initially

a loveteam. The success of the pilot episode came out really surprising even for Marco and Heaven, that they were readily tagged as MarVen — a combination of their first names.

“At first, we always start as friends,” explained Marco. “But then, if you keep on working together every day, that interests the fans. Before you know it, you’re falling for your loveteam partner. You can’t help it and you just dive into it.

“And then, ‘Boom!’ How do you explain falling in love? Boom! You always just wish for a happy ending. Heaven and I are more than friends now.

“Even if we do well on our own projects, especially Heaven, everyone can tell she is doing well in her projects and I’m super proud of it. But I love it when we work together because there are no adjustments needed.

“We know each other so well. We definitely know when we need each other. When we need to do certain scenes together on the scene, she knows where and what to tap.”

Heaven described Marco as her “safety blanket” after appearing together on the streaming platform Viva One for more than a year. They were also seen in the second book-turned-series, “Safe Skies Archer.”

Heaven happily noted that their fans support their loveteam.

“One of the perks of being in a loveteam, your partner knows how you move and your attitude,” Heaven maintained. “Eventually, I know I’m going to have a project of my own

and the same goes for Marco. “Hopefully, fans of our loveteam will still continue to support us and our respective careers. If he will be paired with other artists, I will accept that. If I will become a solo artist again, I will not mind.

“Our weakness is probably when we both have topak at ayaw naming patalo sa isa’t isa. Nangyayari ‘yun. But nagagawan namin ng paraan. We talk to each other well after being so makulit.”

Marco and Heaven will be seen next in the “Uni Love Squad” (short for “University Love Squad”) on Viva One. They will be joined by KrisshRome (Krissha Viaje and Jerome Ponce), as well as HyGab (Hyacinth Callado and Gab Pangilinan).

Apparently, the fans saw the ideal screen chemistry in Marco and Heaven. “Our chemistry just comes out naturally,” Heaven said. “We bring out the best in each other. We gained this trust and respect for each other. That was a good foundation for a partnership, a better friendship.”

Marco and Heaven are aware there will come a time when Viva Artists Agency will tell them they need to go their separate ways for the meantime. They will also welcome it and will be ready for the realization.

“I think for the two of us, that’s okay,” Heaven admitted. “Before we even became a loveteam and whatever it is that we are sharing now, we really started as good friends. So the foundation of our team, whatever happens in real life, we are here for each other.”

Andres Muhlach: ‘I just want to make people smile’

By teSSa MauriCio-arrioLa ManilaTimes.net

IT’S taken him a little longer than his twin sister, Atasha Muhlach, to get into the family business, but the prayers of a huge and evergrowing fanbase have finally been answered. Andres Muhlach — the dashing, dreamy and oh-so down-to-earth son of showbiz royalty Aga Muhlach and Charlene Gonzales — is officially a Viva Artist Agency talent now following his grand launch on Monday at the Viva Cafe in Cubao, Quezon City.

While it’s long been announced that he is set to star in a sitcom with his dad, mom and sister (whom he calls his “best friends,” bless him!), it always seemed Andres was hesitant to claim his birthright and become a star.

Asked by The Manila Times Entertainment once and for all why it took him this long to give in, Andres honestly replied, “I’ve always been interested in [joining] this industry, seeing my dad and mom. [But] in the case of Tash, she was definitely more vocal about it, and, as for me, I’m more of the quiet type, so I kept it to myself.

“But, eventually, when I felt confident enough and comfortable, I talked to my parents and told them this is what I really want to do and that I want to take the opportunity [to begin] now.”

More touchingly, Andres — who’s clearly been raised so well along with Tasha by the doting and devoted parents Aga and Charlene turned out to be — opened up and said it was only when he was much older that he really understood and appreciated what his parents’ celebrity allowed them to do.

“I didn’t understand much of it when I was younger, but when I got to my teenage years, I saw how the industry can affect people’s lives; how my dad can make people happy [through his shows and movies], and with me, I just want to be able to make people smile.”

Doesn’t that just send your heart a-flutter?

No wonder Andres has been given a title

This early in showbiz, Andres Muhlach has been given a fitting title: Prince of Hearts. Photo from Instagram/@aagupy

this early in showbiz, and has been dubbed the Prince of Hearts.

Of his new monicker, the day’s most important heartthrob shyly said, “It’s very flattering. It’s a big thing for me and I appreciate it a lot.”

A hundred percent into his showbiz venture, Andres shared that he is currently deep in various workshops under VAA, from acting to speech training. In fact, with his parents’ permission, the 22-year-old has decided not to return to Madrid for his final year of Business Communication. Given his immediate commitments, they agreed it would be best for Andres to enroll in a local university to complete his degree.

As previously mentioned, Andres’ first project is a sitcom with Aga, Charlene and Atasha. Titled “Da Pers Family” and slated to

The couple, who got paired last year in the top-rating series, ‘The Rain in España,’ has yet to admit the real score between them. Philstar.com photo

Fil-Am Nicole Scherzinger wins Best Actress at Olivier Awards 2024 Photos from Instagram/@nicolescherzinger

FILIPINA American Nicole Scherzinger took home

Actress award

End musical revival “Sunset

Catriona Gray Photo from Instagram/@catriona_gray

By Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com Darren

Instagram/@darrespanto

Darren Espanto admits ‘puppy love’ with Kyline Alcantara

KAPAMILYA singer Darren Espanto admitted that he dated Kapuso star Kyline Alcantara in the past.

In his guesting on “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda,” the show’s epynomous host asked Darren what’s the real story behind the teasing of “It’s Showtime” hosts between him and Kyline. Doon sa pangalawang shini-ship sa’yo, I’m talking about Kyline, what is the true story? Sabihin mo sa akin ang totoo. Naging kayo?” Boy inquired. “Hindi ko po masagot ng yes or no kasi it was, like, parang puppy love kind of thing lang po ‘yon,” Darren answered. “But there was?” Boy replied.

“Opo, before, we were younger,” Darren answered. Darren also said Vice Ganda knew about his and Kyline’s past relationship, that’s why the “It’s Showtime” host was teasing Darren and Kyline. “’Yun nga po na tinutukso kami na. Kasi nga, naging kami dati. Ayun po, kaya kami binibiro ni Ate Vice,” Darren said. When asked how long they’ve been in a relationship, Darren said, “Like a year, I think. Kaya po kami very comfortable.”

Andres Muhlach...

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From Page 8

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artist to help in the family’s

VAA — solidly represented at Andres’

grand launch by Boss Vic del Rosario’s very competent brood, Vincent, Veronique and Valerie, who have long taken over Viva’s top management — Andres will also be part of a local food brand’s advertising campaign very soon.

“We are so happy that Andres has decided to officially join showbiz and entrust his career with VAA. To his fans, we promise many major projects for Andres and that 2024 is shaping up to be an exciting year ahead of him.”

Anjo Yllana gives up return to ‘Eat Bulaga,’ cites ‘policy’

By JeSSica ann evangeliSta Inquirer.net

DESPITE openly expressing his desire to return to “Eat Bulaga,” Anjo Yllana said he is no longer expecting for this to happen due to a policy among its executives that those who have resigned from the show no longer has the chance to go back again.

In a recent interview with Ogie Diaz, the former host acknowledged the people who tend to criticize him every time he talked about returning to “Eat Bulaga,” saying that they are misinterpreting his statements.

Syempre masaya ‘yung thought.

Maisip mong babalik, diba? Ang dami

na naman nagbash, ‘Wag, traydor ‘yan’

Pero sa totoo lang sa ‘Bulaga’ kasi, ito, may isshare lang ako, huwag naman sana

mabash ulit. Sa ‘Eat Bulaga’ kasi once wala

ka na doon, tinanggal ka or nag-resign ka, wala pa akong kilala na nakabalik kahit gusto nila bumalik. Ganon ang patakaran ng Eat Bulaga,” he shared.

The actor-host remarked that he is no longer expecting that he will have the chance to return to the longest-running

noontime show, but won’t stop himself from missing the time he was hosting there. “Dreaming lang kasi masaya. Nangangarap lang ako na kunwari nandoon ka, kami pa rin ni Jimmy (Santos). Nangangarap ako na magkakasama pa rin kami nung mga nawala na rin. Kasi sila ‘yung matagal kong kasama. Nangangarap lang ‘Ang saya siguro ‘pag nandiyan pa rin

kami’ Hanggang ganon na lang pero alam kong hindi na dapat ako umaasa doon. Kasi sa record wala pang bumabalik na Dabarkads,” he explained.

Without naming anyone, Yllana shared that there are also some from the original hosts who attempted to go back, but that never gained ground.

“

Kaya nung sinabi sakin, ‘Gusto mo ba bumalik?’ Dati ko pang alam noong nag-resign ako, hindi na ako makakabalik. Although pwede kang mag-guest at habang buhay ka nang Dabarkads… Suspend, bumabalik ‘yon, pero ‘yung nagresign o natanggal na, hindi na pwede.

In August 2020, Yllana resigned from “Eat Bulaga” after 21 years of being on the show. He then accepted a hosting job on Net 25’s “Happy Time,” which also had a noon time slot.

In a previous interview, Yllana was asked if he thought there were ill feelings between him and “Eat Bulaga” hosts Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon, collectively known as TVJ, when he left the show, and his reply was: “Hindi ko naitanong. Pero siguro medyo masama yung loob nila, kasi katapat din nila yung show na tinanggap ko.”

Dimples Romana denies Angel Locsin, Neil Arce breakup; wishes Angel ends hiatus

By Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

ACTRESS Dimples Romana

set the record straight on the rumors surrounding Angel Locsin and Neil Arce’s alleged separation.

In a report by ABS-CBN News, Dimples denied that Angel and Neil have broken up.

“I get to see her naman, she’s very, very happy and happily married, and Neil is taking very good care of her,” Dimples said.

She added that Angel and Neil are enjoying their time together away from social media.

“Sometimes a little off of social media can do you good. Kadalasan sa social media pa galing ‘yung frustrations mo, ‘yung comparison mo with the life of others, and when you pause a little bit and know that not everything on social

media can be helpful to you, you’ll be able to recognize that you too can have a happy life like Neil and Angel, na halos offline sila but they’re very, very happy,” she said. Dimples also said that she hopes Angel will cut her showbiz hiatus because she was missed by her fans.

“I can only wish that Angel will return because she’s super much-awaited all the time. I know that... being offline and missing an act on social media has done very well,” she said.

“She’s so light hearted

and you just feel that she’s very very happy so once na mag- decide siya at pinag dadasal natin ‘yun na malapit na ‘yun, I’m excited that I get to work with her but this time, we get to bond with each other, hindi lang sa personal but sa work,” she added.

Espanto Photo from

Anjo Yllana Photo screengrabed from Youtube/Ogie Diaz

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bread business. Andres told The Manila Times Entertainment, he would like to pursue his talent for dancing — obviously passed down from his mom — and laughed out loud when he said singing was still a question mark as far as he’s concerned. According to

Dimples Romana and Angel Locsin

Photo from Instagram/@dimplesromana

Dianne Medina, Rodjun Cruz’s second child is a girl

By Anne PAsAjol Inquirer.net

background of the sea, as seen on their respective Instagram pages on Sunday, April 14.

After a countdown, pink color powder and confetti popped behind the backdrop, signifying that the baby No. 2 is a girl. The venue was then filled with cheers from the couple and the guests, who ran to the pair to congratulate them.

“Grabe, super saya! (It was super fun!) Thank you Lord!” Cruz said, adding the hashtag “answered prayer.”

Fellow celebrities Iya Villania, Carla Abellana, Rocco Nacino and Mavy Legaspi were among those who expressed their happiness for the couple, sending their congratulatory greetings via the comments section.

Medina and Cruz got married in December 2019, then welcomed Joaquin in September 2020. They announced her second pregnancy during Easter Sunday in March by showing a sonogram of their child.

“As we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are also celebrating this gift of NEW LIFE inside me!” she said.

that the upcoming addition to their family is a baby girl. The couple alongside their firstborn Joaquin were standing in front of a blueand-pink backdrop with the Diamonds) — costs $21,000 (P1.19 million) and $17,000 (P966,000) respectively. Aiding in the

Dennis Padilla says Claudine Barretto reminds him of daughter Julia

By jessicA Ann evAngelistA Inquirer.net

COMEDIAN-ACTOR Dennis Padilla said that working with his sister-in-law, Claudine Barretto, for the first time in an upcoming movie, gave him the feeling that he was with his daughter, Julia Barretto. “Tuwang tuwa ako noong kasama ko si Claudine, parang feeling ko kasama ko si Julia sa pelikula,” he told Aster Amoyo. (I was so happy when I was with Claudine; I felt like I was with Julia in the movie.)

Despite being in-laws, Padilla and Claudine had not seen each other for a long time before they starred in the upcoming movie “Magic Hurts.”

“Walang nagbago. Kahit matagal kaming hindi nagkasama, nung nagkakwentuhan kami, parang kahapon lang kami nagkita,” shared the actor, adding that their scenes are something to look forward to in the film.

(Nothing changed. Even though we haven’t been together for a long time, when we talked,

it was like we just met on Tuesday, April 15.)

In 2023, Claudine posted a video of her reunion with Padilla as they hugged each other in tears. “With my kuya (big brother)! I love you so much, my kuya,” she wrote in her caption at the time.

Over the years, Padilla and Julia, along with his other children, have had an on-and-off relationship. The actor has been communicating with his children through social media posts, as he claimed that they are not talking to him.

In February this year, Padilla shared in a video posted by Senator Robin Padilla that Julia wished him a happy birthday, saying he did not expect to receive a text message from his daughter.

In a vlog back in 2022, Julia acknowledged the rift that has grown between her siblings and their father, saying, “I’m not sure if it can ever be the same again, but I do hope for healing and just ma-resolve.”

Padilla is the ex-husband of Claudine’s sister Marjorie Barretto. They have three children together: Julia, Claudia, and Leon Barretto.

What Elijah Canlas had to ‘unlearn’ in ‘Batang Quiapo’

By MArinel cruz Inquirer.net

ACTOR Elijah Canlas, who plays the villainous character Pablo Caballero in the action series “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo,” said he had to “unlearn a lot of things” when he started working for the program.

For one, Elijah used to be the type of actor who relied on the script as a guide to create his character. The show’s production team, however, is known for shooting without a detailed script on hand. “I was given parameters, like the character archetype, but I had to unlearn certain things in terms of dimensions, and when it comes to character making. Work on this show is really different because, at least, if you have a script, you can create a character that’s more complete and whole,” the actor told Inquirer Entertainment “For the show, I was given enough time to process, and so, by the time I stepped on the set, I was already prepared to be Pablo. It’s true that you will only get a copy of the script on the day itself, so it was important that I already know who Pablo is. As it goes, we should always expect changes—either some lines or scenes will be removed or some will be added,” he explained. “The process is refreshing because I am able to adapt to different environments and processes of filmmaking. I consider it a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I’m enjoying it so far because I am given freedom in terms of character building.” Menacing character Elijah said he also had to “unlearn preparing too much for a character.” He explained: “As in, they were telling that the show’s audience is

different. It’s a genre that I’ve never done, as well. That’s why I needed to adjust even in terms of delivering my lines. For example, I have to be a lot more menacing, more intimidating. If Pablo is angry, I really need to show the audience that he is angry and not conceal the feeling and then simply reveal it later. Here, I need to show how my character feels all the time. That’s new to me because I usually counter-read my intentions, my objectives. I’m enjoying the process because I find it challenging.”

Comparing the show to “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano,” which was also produced and directed by Coco Martin, and lasted for seven years, the new program is also expected to air for many years. Is Elijah prepared to play Pablo for a long period of time, even if it would mean not being able to accept other projects?

Different role

“This was why it took me a while to say ‘yes’ to the show. I have other projects lined up for this year. It’s actually amazing, because I had just finished doing the series ‘Senior High,’

and so, I thought could focus on doing movies for the remainder of the year. But the very first offer I got for 2024 was ‘Batang Quiapo,’ with a different role initially. It was a type of role that I’ve already done before, so I had to say ‘no,’” Elijah began. “But Direk Coco and the Batang Quiapo’ team were persistent. They said they had a new character for me. When they mentioned it, I got excited and immediately said, ‘Game!’ In terms of how long it will take to play Pablo, of course it’s an honor to be part of the show. ‘Batang Quiapo’ has only been airing for a year, and yet Tanggol (Coco’s character) has already become iconic,” Elijah said.

“Honestly, I hadn’t watched the show before, but when I finally became part of it, I tried to watch as many episodes as I could. I realized that it tackles a lot of socially relevant topics and, as an actor, that’s what I want to do. I’m known to take on projects that have a statement or something that’s relevant to society and to its audience, and ‘Batang Quiapo’ is just that.”

Liza Soberano pairs P2M jewelry with black Anthony Ramirez dress to Vietnam film fest

By Kristofer Purnell Philstar.com

BORACAY — Newly-minted Hollywood Filipino actress

Liza Soberano was a stunning revelation at the inaugural Ho Chi Minh City International Film Festival in Vietnam last week.

The actress, who served as a juror at the film festival, wore a sleeveless black gown by Anthony Ramirez that really showed her gorgeous figure.

The dress had a draped neckline and sheer cape, making Liza look amazing both in photos and as she walked the red carpet and stage.

Liza made things even more elegant by wearing earrings and a bangle from Tiffany and Co. that had a combined price of around P2.16 million.

According to the jewelry store company’s website, the items Liza wore — a T1 Narrow Pavé Diamond Hinged Bangle (Rose Gold) and Large Link Earrings (Yellow Gold with Pavé

Liza served as judge for the First or Second Film Category alongside Oscarwinning editor of “Whiplash” Vietnamese-American Tom Cross, film producer John Badalu, film director Nguyen Thanh Van, and New York Asian Film Festival Executive Director Samuel Jamier.

In an Instagram post, Liza said she was “thrilled and honored” to be a jury member and that the film festival was “an amazing showcase of talented filmmakers from all over the world.”

“Truly so inspired to continue working in an industry that encourages freedom of expression and challenges the way we think,” Liza added.

DIANNE Medina and Rodjun Cruz held an intimate party where they revealed

Renz Pangilinan, and

styling by Perry Tabora. “Gospel of the Beast” by Filipino filmmaker Sheron Dayoc won the Golden Star Award for Best Southeast Asian Film as Liza presented the Best Actress trophy to Vietnam’s Thi Diu Ta for her role in “Oasis of Now.”

Dianne Medina, Rodjun Cruz and their son Joaquin. Photo from Instagram/@niceprintphoto via @rodjuncruz

Dennis Padilla, Claudine Barretto, and Julia Barretto Photo from Instagram/@claubarretto, @juliabarretto

Elijah Canlas as Pablo Caballero in “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” ABS-CBN Entertainment/ Youtube

Liza Soberano at the first-ever Ho Chi Minh City International Film Festival Photo by Edrey Paul

Grandparent visitation in California after the death of a parent

Barrister’s Corner

WHEN a parent dies, the surviving parent sometimes cuts off their children from the deceased parents family and grandparent. The children relationship with the grandparent from the deceased parent may be severed by the surviving parent. This can be especially difficult for young children, who may have had a close relationship with their deceased parent’s parents. California law recognizes the importance of grandparent visitation in these cases, and allows grandparents to petition the court for visitation rights with their grandchildren after the death of a parent.

Who can petition for grandparent visitation?

Under California Family Code Section 3102, the following relatives of a deceased parent may petition the court for visitation rights with the deceased parent’s child:

• The deceased parent’s children

• The deceased parent’s siblings

• The deceased parent’s parents

• The deceased parent’s grandparents

When Can Grandparents Petition for Visitation?

Grandparents can petition for visitation rights at any time after the death of a parent. However, the court is more likely to grant visitation if the petition is filed soon after the death. What factors does the

court consider when deciding whether to grant visitation? The court will consider a number of factors when deciding whether to grant grandparent visitation, including:

• The nature and quality of the relationship between the grandparent and the child prior to the death of the parent

• The child’s age and developmental stage

• The child’s wishes, if the child is of sufficient age and capacity to form an intelligent understanding of the issues

• The surviving parent’s objections to visitation

• The effect of visitation on the child’s emotional and physical health

The visitation schedule may include in-person visits, phone calls, or email exchanges. The court may also order that the grandparents pay child support or other expenses related to visitation.

Grandparent visitation can be a valuable way for grandparents to stay involved in their grandchildren’s lives after the death of a parent. If you are a grandparent who is interested in petitioning for visitation rights, you should speak with an experienced family law attorney. An attorney can help you understand your rights and options, and can represent you in court if necessary.

What if the surviving parent objects to visitation? The surviving parent’s objections to visitation will be given “special weight” by the court.

• The effect of visitation on the child’s relationship with the surviving parent.

What if the surviving parent objects to visitation? The surviving parent’s objections to visitation will be given “special weight” by the court. However, the surviving parent’s objections will not automatically prevent the court from granting visitation. The court will still consider all of the factors listed above, and may grant visitation even if the surviving parent objects.

What Happens if the Court Grants Visitation? If the court grants visitation, it will order a specific visitation schedule.

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

* * * Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the