041924 - Northern California 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, winwin economic relations and the commitment to human rights and democratic values with a shared vision for a free, open and peaceful Indo-Pacific 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 leadership and reaffirming the ironclad alliance between the United States and the

California health workers may face rude awakening with $25 minimum wage law

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

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

and Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro City. In February last year, Marcos granted the U.S. access 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.

should also be known for Pinoy love’

by GHIO ONG Philstar.com

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. “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.

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.

Marcos hits ‘secret deal’ anew: ‘I’m rescinding it’

Philippines, United States eye more joint patrols in South China Sea

by PIA LEE-BRAGO Philstar.com

MANILA — 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.

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 of the seas, and respect for territorial sovereignty.

by KRIXIA

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he was rescinding any supposed “gentleman’s agreement” that his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, made with China involving the conflicting territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea.

Despite this, leaders of the House of Representatives said they would “consider calls” to start an inquiry into that verbal pact between Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping once Congress resumes its regular sessions on April 29.

On April 11, Duterte and the Chinese government separately admitted that he had made a “gentleman’s agreement” not to repair and reinforce the dilapidated World War II-era warship BRP Sierra Madre, which has been serving as a Philippine military outpost at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, off Palawan province, since it was grounded there in 1999. But President Marcos, during a question-and-answer session  PAGE 5

by GABRIEL PABICO LALU Inquirer.net

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 rules out new bases...

additional installations would not be used for any offensive action “unless there is an attack against the Philippines” and that they would be used mainly to boost the disaster response

of the country as they would also be used for humanitarian and relief operations during emergencies and natural disasters. Marcos’ remarks came days after a three-way summit among

agenda. g

Philippines, United States eye more joint...

PAGE 1

Austin reaffirmed U.S. support of the Philippines in defending its sovereign rights and jurisdiction, and he reiterated that the U.S.Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty extends to both countries’ armed forces, public vessels and aircraft – 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 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 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

the United States, Japan and the Philippines in Washington, where tensions over the disputed South China Sea — which Beijing claims almost entirely — were high on the

OFFICIAL VISIT. New Zealand flags are seen next to Philippine flags at Ayala Bridge in Manila on Monday, April 15 in preparation for the visit this week of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. Manila is part of Luxon’s three-nation Southeast Asia tour which includes Singapore and Thailand. PNA photo by Yancy Lim

California health workers may face...

are consequences of an employer having less money to spend—which will necessarily be the case given the significant increase in spending on wages due to the minimum wage,” the association said in its lawsuit. Additional examples include reducing health coverage and charging for parking or workrelated 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 Emerson-

Shea 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

Lawmakers introduce bill to facilitate shift from gas to affordable clean energy in California

At

heart of SB 1221

a commitment to long-term energy affordability for Californians, coupled with strong protections for workers in the energy sector. The bill establishes a more transparent process at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), enabling a thorough review of the need for costly gas infrastructure investments. This paves the way for the evaluation of cost-effective zero-emission alternatives, such as neighborhood-scale decarbonization projects. Recognizing the immense financial and environmental toll of the state's aging natural gas pipeline network, SB 1221 offers a solution that addresses both affordability and sustainability. When gas pipelines fall into disrepair, the state is often faced with the decision to either invest hundreds of millions of dollars in infrastructure that fails to align with California's climate goals, or pivot towards clean energy solutions that can power homes and businesses, create jobs, and improve air quality.

To avoid locking in further investment in gas infrastructure, SB 1221 will open the door for pilot programs in economicallydisadvantaged communities to transition to 100% clean electricity. These neighborhoodscale initiatives can upgrade homes and buildings with clean energy technologies, providing long-term stability in utility bills for households. Recent polling data suggests that California voters overwhelmingly support these types of clean energy initiatives. A majority (62%) of voters favor policies that would enable neighborhoods to convert to 100% clean electricity, and a similar percentage (62%) express concern about the aging natural gas infrastructure and the high costs associated with its maintenance and replacement.

“SB 1221 will enable the state to make smarter decisions around energy infrastructure planning and invest in a way that

makes energy more affordable for Californians while prioritizing the communities most in need,” said Jose Torres, California Director at the Building Decarbonization Coalition.

Despite California's reputation as a climate and environmental leader, the state remains the second-largest consumer of natural gas nationwide. This is particularly problematic, as natural gas poses significant risks to human health and the environment. Gas-powered appliances in homes emit four times more nitrogen oxide pollution than California's gas power plants, and two-thirds as much as cars.

Moreover, the maintenance and expansion of natural gas infrastructure is an increasingly costly endeavor. Utilities across the country are spending upwards of $15 billion annually to replace leaking pipelines, with each new pipeline typically lasting 80 years. This locks utility customers into expensive infrastructure that will eventually become obsolete as the state transitions towards renewable energy targets.

As gas demand declines in California, the fixed costs of the gas system will be spread across a dwindling customer base, leading to potentially dramatic increases in gas bills – up to $600 per month by 2050, according to the California Energy Commission. SB 1221 aims to address this issue by enabling the CPUC to pilot cost-effective, zero-emission alternatives to costly gas infrastructure replacements.

With the ongoing energy affordability crisis and the imperative to address climate change, California lawmakers have recognized the urgent need to chart a new course away from fossil fuels. SB 1221 represents a significant step in this direction, seeking to protect consumers, workers, and the environment through a comprehensive approach to the state's energy transition. g

President 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

aggressive actions,” the statement said.

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.

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).

“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.”

Meanwhile, Fil-Am activists held rallies throughout the U.S. 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 D.C., 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)

Marcos hits ‘secret deal’ anew...

at the 50th anniversary of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines on Monday, April 15 said his administration was not bound by such a deal, as no document had ever been issued to make it legal and binding.

“I’ve said that before, when this first came up a few months ago… It turns out the Chinese are insisting that there is a secret agreement, and perhaps there is, and I said, I don’t know anything about the secret agreement. Should there be such a secret agreement, I am now rescinding it,” he said.

Marcos made the assertion amid the insistence of China on the existence of a supposed agreement, but the details of which were never disclosed or clarified by either party on both ends of the deal.

“Is there a document that is signed? I’d love to see it. It does not affect the Philippines,” Marcos said. “So, I’ve rescinded it, if indeed it exists.”

On Aug. 7 last year, the Chinese Foreign Ministry claimed that the Philippines made a promise “years ago” to remove Sierra Madre from Ayungin. The ministry also said that the Philippines “must not send construction materials meant for repairing and reinforcing the ‘grounded’ military vessel on a large scale.”

China has become increasingly aggressive in the West Philippine Sea, especially whenever the Philippine Coast Guard leads rotation and resupply missions to Ayungin.

The Chinese embassy to the Philippines later revealed that they resorted to such tactics because it was irked that the Marcos administration did not adhere to the agreement.

Cautious President Marcos said he had been cautious about giving public pronouncements on the issue because of the supposed lack of clarity surrounding it. “It has always been vague— we are so far from getting to the truth… ,” Marcos said. Duterte earlier said the agreement with China was aimed at preventing an armed confrontation between Filipinos and Chinese over their maritime dispute in the South China Sea. The former president described the deal

as a “status quo” agreement where only food and water were allowed to be brought to troops stationed at Sierra Madre. Marcos declined to speculate on the supposed liability of Duterte if indeed he entered into a covert deal with China, as he was dismayed at how former officials had been giving varying versions of the issue.

“We still have to find out what [the agreement] is all about. I’ve talked to… former officials of the previous administration who could have possibly been involved in this discussion, and, I have to tell you—I haven’t gotten a straight answer out of anyone,” he said.

“One party says there’s no agreement; another says ‘there was talk but it’s only status quo.’ The other one, will say, ‘there was an agreement,’” Marcos said.

The president said the insistence of China to assert its supposed stake on the deal had led him to believe the existence of the “secret” agreement.

“I do not think the Chinese government—I don’t think Beijing—will just make up, just out of nowhere say, ‘there was a secret agreement,’ when there was no such thing,” he said.

But he also wondered what were the terms of the deal, and what the Philippine side had agreed to compromise. “Why is there not one shred of evidence that can show that this agreement exists?” he said.

Marcos said he was also puzzled that no one from the Duterte administration had informed him about such deal involving the West Philippine Sea.

“I hear one thing, and another thing, and another thing, and another thing, it’s all full of ‘palusot’ (excuses), in other words. I don’t know how to translate that in English,” he said.

House probe According to House Majority Leader and Zamboanga Rep. Jose Manuel Dalipe, the planned inquiry at the lower chamber is “aimed at guaranteeing transparency and protecting national interests… [as] protecting our national territory and marine resources are of utmost importance.”

Assistant Majority Leader and Zambales Rep. Jay

Khonghun said this was also driven by “mounting demand for clarity” over the agreement.

ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro has called on Congress to investigate the details of the agreement and find out if it can be considered an act of treason.

Last week, Khonghun, whose province covers a section of the West Philippine Sea, also started calling for an investigation as this was “not just about conflicting narratives; it’s about upholding integrity and accountability.”

“We cannot allow uncertainty to cloud our national interests. The Filipino people deserve clarity and honesty from our leaders,” he added. ‘Constitutionally void’

House Deputy Majority Leader and Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gonzales II maintained that whatever pact was made would have been “constitutionally void” as this would be “tantamount to the surrender of our country’s sovereign rights over our exclusive economic zone.”

“Such an agreement will be equivalent to a new national policy, which must be enshrined in a treaty to be submitted to the Senate for ratification before it can take effect,” added Gonzales, who is chair of the House special committee on the West Philippine Sea.

In the Senate, Majority Leader Joel Villanueva on Tuesday, April 16 said the Philippines should have a “unified stand” in tackling the West Philippine Sea issue as he lamented that even some government officials were parroting China’s propaganda.

“Unfortunately, and I would say this with all humility, it’s sad that Filipinos have been issuing conflicting remarks. It’s like we don’t have a baseline truth,” Villanueva said at the Kapihan sa Senado media forum.

He reiterated that there should be no debate over the country’s ownership of Ayungin and Panatag (Scarborough) shoals.

The issue, he said, had already been settled when the Philippines secured a landmark arbitral court victory in 2016 that invalidated China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea. 

‘PH

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 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.

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

The DOT selected 15 winners from 98 proposals submitted by 90 LGUs nationwide, she noted. 

California health workers may face...

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 employer has to pay its employees will invariably affect the total amount of compensation it is able or willing to pay,” he wrote “This will then invariably affect the number of employees it can retain and the number of hours those employees will be scheduled to work.

(Don Thompson/California Healthline)

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.

Philstar.com

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)

Dateline PhiliPPines

PH won’t hand over Duterte to ICC

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."

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. "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.

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 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.

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.

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

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 midterm 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.

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

Energy projects funded by USAID launched

by Helen Flores Philstar.com

MANILA — The Philippine government on Monday, April 15 launched energy projects funded by the U.S. 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 realtime 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 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

PAMPUBLIKONG PAGDINIG NG LUNGSOD NG ALAMEDA TUNGKOL SA

PLANO SA PAGKILOS NG CDBG SA FY 2024-25

Ang Lungsod ng Alameda (City) ay isang Lungsod ng Karapatan sa Block Grant para sa Pagpapaunlad ng Komunidad (Community Development Block Grant, CDBG) Programa ng Kagawaran ng Pabahay at Pag-unlad ng Lungsod (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD). Sa Mayo 21, 2024, susuriin ng Konseho ng Lungsod ang iminungkahing Aksyon sa Pagkilos sa FY 2024-25. Ang Taunang Plano ng Pagkilos sa FY 2024-25 ay nagtatakda ng plano ng Lungsod para sa pagtugon sa mga Pangangailangan sa Pabahay at Pagpapaunlad ng Komunidad kabilang ang paggamit ng mga pondo ng CDBG at HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) ng HUD. Ang mga partikular na layunin para sa paparating na taon ay tatalakayin sa Plano sa Pagkilos na sasaklaw sa panahon ng Hulyo 1, 2024, hanggang Hunyo 30, 2025. Ang iminungkahing Plano sa Pagkilos sa FY 2024-25 ay maglalaan ng humigit-kumulang $1.1 million sa CDBG Entitlement Funds kasama ang tinatayang $60,000 sa Kita ng Programa ng CDBG at $225,000 ng HOME funds.

AVAILABLE PARA SA PAMPUBLIKONG PAGSUSURI

Simula Abril 19, 2024, ang Plano sa Pagkilos sa FY 2024-25, kabilang ang mga detalye ng pagpopondo, ay maaaring ma-access sa website ng Lungsod ng Alameda sa https://www. alamedaca.gov.

PAGKAKATAONG MARINIG

Hinihikayat at iniimbitahan ang publiko na lumahok sa proseso ng pagpopondo ng Plano sa Pagkilos ng CDBG/HOME at magkomento sa mga plano sa pagpapaunlad ng pabahay at komunidad, pasalita o nakasulat, sa sumusunod na nakatakdang Pampublikong Pagdinig: Mayo 21, 2024 Pagpupulong ng Konseho ng Lungsod sa 7:00 p.m. Pampublikong pagdinig tungkol sa FY 2024-25 Iminungkahing Plano sa Pagkilos para sa CDBG at Pederal na pondo ng HOME. Para tingnan ang pampublikong pagdinig, bisitahin ang website ng Lungsod ng Alameda sa: https://alameda.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

Ang mga komento tungkol sa iminungkahing Plano sa Pagkilos ay maaaring isumite kay Andre Fairley sa (510) 747-6883 o clerk@alamedaca.gov (email). Pakibigay ang mga komento bago ang 7:00 p.m. sa Mayo 21, 2024. Ang Konseho ng Lungsod ay pakikinggan ang mga komento at isasaalang-alang ang pagpapatibay ng Plano sa Pagkilos sa regular na pagpupulong nito sa 7:00 p.m. sa Mayo 21, 2024. Hinihikayat ang publiko na makilahok.

MGA PROBISYON PARA SA MGA TAONG MAY KAPANSANAN

Kung ang sinumang taong may interes sa paglahok sa nabanggit na pederal na programa ay isang taong may kapansanan gaya ng tinukoy sa Seksyon 504 ng Batas sa Rehabilitasyon (Rehabilitation Act) ng 1974 at nangangailangan ng isang akomodasyon para lumahok o kumuha ng interes, ang isang kahilingan para sa tirahan ay maaaring gawin kay Andre Fairley sa (510) 747-6883 o sa pamamagitan ng email sa housing@alamedaca.gov. Ang nasabing kahilingan ay dapat magsama ng isang paglalarawan ng tirahan na hinahangad, kasama ng isang pahayag ng kapansanan na nangangailangan ng tirahan. Ang anumang kahilingan para sa tirahan ay dapat suriin at isang tugon ay ibibigay sa loob ng limang araw ng negosyo pagkatapos matanggap ang naturang kahilingan. Ang paunawa ng anumang akomodasyon na ipinagkaloob ay kaagad na ibibigay sa humihiling.

MGA PROBISYON PARA SA MGA RESIDENTENG HINDI NAGSASALITA NG INGLES

Ang Lungsod ng Alameda ay may network ng mga empleyado na nagsasalita ng humigit-kumulang 45 na wika na maaaring kumilos bilang mga tagasalin para sa mga residenteng naghahanap ng impormasyon tungkol sa nabanggit na pederal na programa. Kung aabisuhan nang maaga ng dalawang araw ng negosyo, aayusin ng Lungsod na magkaroon ng available na tagasalin. Mangyaring makipag-ugnayan kay Andre Fairley sa (510) 747-6883 o sa pamamagitan ng email sa housing@alamedaca.gov.

PATAKARAN NA WALANG DISKRIMINASYON

Ang Lungsod ng Alameda ay walang diskriminasyon laban sa sinumang tao batay sa lahi, kulay, relihiyon, bansang pinagmulan, ninuno, seks, kasarian, pagkakakilanlan ng kasarian, pagpapahayag ng kasarian, oryentasyong sekswal, katayuan sa pag-aasawa, katayuan sa pamilya, pinagmumulan ng kita, genetic na impormasyon, kondisyong medikal, pisikal na kapansanan o kapansanan sa pag-iisip, o anumang iba pang kategoryang protektado ng batas.

Marcos: 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.

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)

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. share a moment with then outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte at the President’s Hall in Malacañang Palace on June 30, 2022. Malacañang file photo

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 singer-actress. 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.”

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 advocacydriven initiatives and the business aspect of pageantry.

“I think I might’ve made everyone’s lives harder,” a laughing Gray said in a sitdown interview with Mega Magazine editor-in-chief Peewee Reyes-Isidro 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’

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 aspect 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. 

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 ever-growing 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, April 15 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, 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 premiere on TV5 in May, he will play the son of a baker who has to let go of his career as an anime artist to help in the family's 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 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."

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

Darren Espanto

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

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."

Angel,

very,

more efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional grid power.

Consul General Ferrer met with James Roth, head of Global Policy & Government Affairs, and Josh Melo, business development & project manager, International Business Development.

Consul Vanessa G. BagoLlona and Economic Assistant Jennifer V. Sto. Domingo also joined the visit during which the team had the opportunity to tour Bloom Energy's state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Fremont and observe the production process of their fuel cell systems. The Bloom Energy executives highlighted Bloom’s Energy Server Platforms, which can be configured as microgrids that can ensure reliability and resilience amid grid outages and extreme weather disruption. Bloom Energy servers currently supply power to numerous Fortune 500 companies. It has diverse customers in cloud services and technology, including data centers, consumer retail, food and beverage, telecom, media and entertainment, manufacturing, biotech and pharmaceutical, and higher education. Aside from the U.S., Bloom has presence in various countries in Europe, Asia, and in Australia.

The Philippine Energy Plan 2022-2040 includes a clean energy scenario that aims for a 35 percent renewable energy (RE) share in the power generation mix by 2030 and a 50 percent RE share by 2040. This is consistent with the Philippines’ commitment under the Paris Agreement in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to a low-carbon economy.

The Philippine government is also actively exploring the use of hydrogen for power generation.

In January 2024, Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla signed DOE Circular No. 2024-01-0001, a policy framework to support the use of hydrogen in the energy sector. The state-owned National Power Corporation is leading feasibility studies on the use of green hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in isolated rural regions of the Philippines. The Consulate’s visit to Bloom Energy was facilitated by Deanna Tryon, chief of protocol of the Silicon Valley Office of Protocol. (PCGSF Release)

SAN FRANCISCO – The yearly celebration every April of Filipino Food Month in the Bay Area kicked into high gear, as the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco co-hosted a kick-off reception at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center on April 3, 2024. The Consulate joined forces with the Filipino Food Movement, the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Silicon Valley, and the Department of Tourism (DOT) Office in San Francisco for a series of activities that showcases the best of Filipino cuisine and promotes Philippine-made food products and ingredients in the United States. In his remarks, Philippine Consul General Neil Ferrer said: “Filipino food is having its longawaited moment here in the United States. Once a focal point of Filipino family gatherings and special occasions, our food has entered the consciousness of people outside our community and has captured the imagination of many in America. The late American celebrity chef Anthony

Bourdain was known for his abiding love for Filipino food, even calling our cuisine as ‘the next big thing.’” Consul General Ferrer added that Filipino American chefs are “gaining national recognition in the U.S.,” with Abaca Restaurant in San Francisco’s Fisherman’s

Wharf District being chosen as a finalist in the James Beard Awards’ 2022 Best Restaurant category and Vince Bugtong being chosen as a finalist in the James Beard Awards’ 2023 Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker competition. Hosted by Filipino American

2024 Filipino Food Month kicks o in the...

vegan chef Reina Montenegro, the kick-off reception served as the launching event for the Filipino Food Passport Program, a crawl of Filipino restaurants, cafés and bakeries. Through a “food passport,” visits to participating food establishments will earn stamps to enter a raffle and win prizes — including a roundtrip ticket to the Philippines courtesy of Philippine Airlines, and a three-day, two-night vacation in Boracay courtesy of Rajah Tours Philippines.

Information on the participating restaurants in the Bay Area as well as a downloadable copy of the “food passport” are available at https:// www.filipinofoodmovement.org/.

The kick-off reception also launched Kulinarya Live, a streaming series on the Filipino Food Movement Facebook page featuring Filipino and Filipino American chefs, where they talk about their passion for Filipino food as they prepare traditional and modern Filipino dishes. Consul General Ferrer joined the Kulinarya Live episode on April 11, which featured Seattlebased restaurateur and James Beard Awards’ 2024 Best Chef in the Pacific Northwest finalist Melissa Miranda. The kick-off reception also served as a networking event, where Filipino food restaurateurs and other purveyors were able to link up with other prominent members of the Filipino American community.

The PTIC took the opportunity to give away samples of the following

Philippine-made food products from Tamcor-Mexim USA and Philippine Seasalts: Sagana Bihon, Sagana Canton, Sagana Coconut Milk, Super Q Palabok, Super Q Bihon, Philippine Seasalts’ Ilocano Asin & Asin Tibuok, and Filiflavors Calamansi Powder. Filipino food, food products, and beverages served during the kick-off reception were sourced from the following purveyors: Fort McKinley Restaurant, Genevieve Wines, Isla Restaurant, Island Pacific, Kusina ni Javen Jesel, Patio Filipino, and Ramar Foods. “[The Consulate] and the PTIC are ready to assist you in bringing high-quality and world-class Philippine food products to your kitchens and shelves... Meanwhile, the DOT is open to curate your

next culinary journey that will make you ‘Love the Philippines,’” Consul General Ferrer told the restaurateurs and other food purveyors present.

The Philippine Consul General also extended his invitation to the International Food Exhibition (IFEX), the Philippines’ biggest trade show for Philippine food and ingredients, which will take place on May 10-12, 2024 in Manila.

The Filipino Food Month celebration, which was institutionalized by Presidential Proclamation No. 469 in 2018, aims to highlight the culinary traditions of the Philippines’ 7,641 islands, and stimulate awareness and growth of Filipino agricommunities and food industries.

(PCGSF Release)

is a pathway under United States immigration law for a person of exceptional ability to be approved for permanent residence – without going through the lengthy and challenging labor certification/PERM process of proving that there are no Americans who want your job. This is commonly known as the “EB-2 category.” You must be able to show exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business. Exceptional ability “means a degree of expertise significantly above that ordinarily encountered in the sciences, arts, or business.” You must meet any requirements specified on the labor certification as applicable. Under U.S. law, a person of exceptional ability qualifies for permanent residence if they meet certain statutory and regulatory guidelines. Those guidelines require evidence in at least three of the following categories:

1. Documentation of the alien's receipt of lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence in the field of endeavor;

2. Documentation of the alien's membership in associations in the field for which the classification is sought, which require outstanding achievements of their members;

3. Published material about the alien in professional or major trade publications/journals or other major media, relating to the alien's work in the field for which the Classification is sought.

4. Evidence of the alien's participation, either individually or on a panel, as a judge of the work of others in the same field of specification for which classification is sought;

5. Evidence of the alien's original scientific, scholarly, artistic, athletic, or business-related contributions of major significance in the field;

6. Evidence of the alien's publication of scholarly articles in the field;

7. Evidence of the display of the alien's work at artistic exhibitions or showcases;

8. Evidence that the alien has performed in a leading role for organizations or establishments that have a distinguished reputation;

9. Evidence that the alien has commanded a high salary or other significantly high remuneration for services, in relation to others in the field; or

10. Evidence of commercial successes in the performing arts, as shown by box office receipts or record, cassette, compact disc, or video sales.

If you or someone you know, without status in the U.S., can assemble such evidence to document their status as exceptional in their field, an application to the DHS for permanent residence should be considered. This is equally applicable for persons with careers in the sciences (such as physicist, chemist, biologist, doctor, computer scientist, inventor, etc.) as it is for the arts (such as musician, artist, writer, etc.).

It is important to submit such application while the person is in the U.S. legally or if they live abroad; once the applicant is out of status here, the application – even if approved – will not put them back into legal status.

We have been successful in obtaining such status for a cellist, a Russian iconographer, a cardiologist, a graphic artist, a nuclear scientist, a painter, an inventor of computer software and many others in a wide variety of careers. For those persons with considerable education and skills – particularly those on H-1B visas or those who have not won the H-1B lottery – this is an option that should be considered.

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* The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

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https://profiles.superlawyers.com/ california-northern/san-francisco/lawyer/ christopher-a-kerosky/358dc9f1-b1c2-46b580cc-6e9610b1cd43.html).

Daly City Mayor Juslyn Manalo gives a Certificate of Commendation to Philippine Consul General Neil Ferrer for efforts to mainstream Filipino food in the Bay Area at the 2024 Filipino Food Month kick-off reception.