050324 - New York & New Jersey Edition

Megan Paragua secured the gold medal with 9.5 points, comprising eight wins and three draws. Photo from Instagram/@chesskidofficial

11-year-old Fil-Am chess prodigy bags gold in world championship

BRIMMING with skill and strategy at a very young age, 11-year-old Filipino American chess prodigy has emerged victorious at the World Cadet Rapid and Blitz Championships 2024 in Durres, Albania.

Competing in the Rapid Girls 12 and under category, Megan Althea Obrero Paragua showcased her strategic prowess, culminating in a thrilling 66-move victory in the final showdown.

Employing the Catalan Opening with the black pieces, the fifth-grade pupil at

Poll: Pinoys trust United States the most; China least trusted

by JANVIC MATEO Philstar.com

MANILA — Filipinos continue to distrust China amid the ongoing conflict in the West Philippine Sea, with most saying the country should not align itself with Beijing, a recent

MANILA — Filipino families who experienced “involuntary hunger” rose to 14.2 percent in March 2024, based on the Social Weather Stations’ (SWS) latest survey results.

According to the SWS, “involuntary hunger” refers to experiencing hunger and not having access to food at least once in the past three months.

“Compared to December 2023, hunger rose by 1.6 points, from 12.6 percent,” the

poll found.

The Feb. 21 to 29 survey conducted by Oculum Research and Analytics found that only 17 percent of respondents have “great trust” in China while 38 percent had “less or no trust.”

In contrast, 75 percent said they have “great trust” in the United States, with only two percent saying they have “less or no trust.”

Among 16 countries and territories included in the list, China obtained the least trust rating among respondents.

by GABRIEL PABICO LALU Inquirer.net

by NESTOR CORRALES Inquirer.net

MANILA — For the seventh time since August last year, China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels used water cannons in an attempt to block two Philippine civilian vessels in the vicinity of Scarborough Shoal, or Bajo de Masinloc, in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Tuesday, April 30. It was China’s latest act of aggression against Filipinos in the WPS, reescalating maritime and diplomatic tensions between Manila and Beijing, and carried out by the CCG at a time when American forces are in the country for the annual “Balikatan” exercises with Philippine troops.

Commodore Jay Tarriela, the PCG spokesperson for the WPS, said the two civilian

byIAN NICOLAS P. CIGARAL Inquirer.net

THE Philippine economy is projected to grow faster this year, but will not hit the government’s target as the El Niño climate phenomenon hurts food supply and threatens to fan stubbornly high inflation, Union Bank of the Philippines said.

Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO

FOOD PRODUCERS. Farmers work in a rice field in Barangay Hubangon, Mahinog, Camiguin on Labor Day Wednesday, May 1. Regular workers shun the heat but they welcome even extreme

photo by Joan Bondoc

F rom the F ront P age

Poll: Pinoys trust United States...

Following the U.S. were Canada (69 percent), Australia (65 percent), Japan (59 percent), United Kingdom (58 percent), Singapore (55 percent), Taiwan (54 percent) and Hong Kong (52 percent).

Obtaining less than 50 percent were the Netherlands (48 percent), United Arab Emirates (47 percent), Saudi Arabia (40 percent), Qatar (40 percent), Kuwait (39 percent), Israel (39 percent) and Russia (26 percent).

Respondents were asked which country the Philippines should align with amid the conflict in the West Philippine Sea, with 43 percent answering the U.S. and three percent saying China.

Some 40 percent said the Philippines should align neither with the U.S. nor China, while 15 percent said they were not sure.

“The survey results regarding the preferred alignment of the Philippines in the context of the South China Sea dispute offer a revealing glimpse into public opinion on this significant international issue,” said Oculum chief statistician Joseph Mercado.

“The low level of trust in China and a relatively high level of distrust could be attributed to geopolitical tensions, economic

competition, territorial disputes, or concerns over political and human rights issues,” he added.

Oculum’s non-commissioned survey had 3,000 respondents and a two percent margin of error.

Philippine-China dialogue

Despite Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri hopes the Marcos administration can hold a dialogue with China to de-escalate tensions.

“Under this administration, maybe we should improve our diplomacy with neighboring country China. In other words, to talk to them bilaterally as well as to come up with a code of conduct. A code of conduct is very important so as not to escalate, to increase the tensions here in our West Philippine Sea,” Zubiri said in a radio interview on Sunday, April 28.

While he acknowledged that China does not seem to be listening, Zubiri maintained the Philippines should “exert all efforts to have a dialogue with them.”

“With the actions they are taking, our fellow Filipinos could die. For example, the Coast Guard, our fisherfolk or the Armed Forces and the Navy,” he added. g

PH-US-Japan summit not...

the trilateral meet with the United States and Japan will only attract a more aggressive response from China, since the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue was a key topic.

According to the Speaker, a lot of topics were discussed when President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr., U.S. President Joe Biden, and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio met.

“The trilateral agreement is not just about the West Philippine Sea. The trilateral agreement just affirmed the bilateral arrangements between the Philippines to the U.S., and the Philippines to Japan. And the stronger relations are consolidated, and with respect to the West Philippine Sea issue, of course the Philippines’ stand on the areas disputed by China will be strengthened,” Romualdez told reporters at the House complex.

“Japan and the U.S. are standing steadfast behind our national sovereignty and territorial integrity. But the huge part of the trilateral meeting is what I mentioned earlier in my speech, the economic security being pursued by the Philippines,” he explained.

Romualdez said that the trilateral summit jives with President Marcos’ goal of

China hits PH boats anew with...

PAGE 1

vessels—the BRP Bagacay of the PCG and the BRP Bankaw of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)—were harassed by the CCG in separate locations en route to Scarborough.

The PCG boat was on patrol while the BFAR was on its way to deliver food and fuel to Filipino fishermen plying the shoal.

At 9:53 a.m., a CCG vessel with bow No. 3305 trained its water cannon on the BRP Bankaw some 12 nautical miles from the shoal, Tarriela said in a statement.

Two other CCG vessels, with bow Nos. 3105 and 5303, made a similar attack on Bagacay at about 1000 yards from Scarborough, “resulting in damage to the railing and canopy” of the ship, he added.

“This damage serves as evidence of the forceful water pressure used by the China Coast Guard in their harassment of the Philippine vessels,” he said

They ‘stood their ground’

In all, the PCG and BFAR missions encountered “dangerous maneuvers and obstruction” from four CCG and six Chinese maritime militia vessels.

“Despite the harassment and provocative actions of the Chinese coast guard, both the PCG and BFAR vessels stood their ground and continued their maritime patrol,” Tariela said.

attracting more investments into the Philippines, and hopefully create more jobs and boost the economy.

“It is in these kinds of arrangements (that we look) to strengthen the economy, with the growth story of the Philippines and the policies of President […] Marcos Jr. where he invites the investors, all businesspeople, all big businesses to invest in the Philippines to improve the economy, create more jobs, and increase the revenue of the country,” he said.

“So, it is based on that understanding, in the long run it will really help us not just security wise but

economically,” he added.

After the historic trilateral summit last April 12 in Washington, D.C., China expressed its opposition to a “stoking bloc confrontation” in the WPS — referring to the Philippines-US-Japan alliance.

Philippine and American officials, however, have maintained that the summit is not aimed at China’s aggressive actions over the WPS.

Before Marcos went to the U.S., the Department of Foreign Affairs said that despite the rising tensions, the summit is not directed at any nation. g

the Philippines would “not be deterred from pursuing legitimate and lawful activities” in the country’s maritime zones, including Scarborough.

Floating barrier back

According to the PCG official, the CCG has again installed a floating barrier about 380 meters long to block the entry point to the shoal.

The barrier restricted access to the area which is recognized as a traditional fishing ground for Filipinos in the 2016 arbitral ruling that voided Beijing’s claim over much of the South China Sea, including the country’s exclusive economic zone.

A GMA News drone footage of the attack on the Bagacay showed that, for a sustained period, the harassing CCG vessel was aiming its jet of water at the Philippine flag hoisted on the PCG ship.

NSC: ‘Shocking, appalling’

In a statement on Tuesday night, the National Security Council (NSC) said China’s latest obstruction of a Philippine “humanitarian mission” to assist fishermen at Scarborough was “not only shocking but appalling.”

The NSC said the Bankaw was hit with “targeted high-pressure water cannoning” at least eight times, and was also rammed three times by both CCG and Chinese maritime militia ships.

The vessel, according to the NSC, sustained damage to its hull and its electrical, navigation, and radio systems.

As of 7 p.m. on Tuesday, the NSC said the PCG and BFAR vessels had regrouped about 37 kilometers (20 nautical miles) from Scarborough to assess their damage.

“These latest demonstrations of China’s illegal and irresponsible behavior highlight their egregious disregard for the Philippines’ lawful exercise of its rights and entitlements in our own exclusive economic zone,” the NSC said.

The incidents, the NSC added, showed that China “has no regard for the welfare of our fishermen who only want to make a decent living” in the WPS.

“China’s act of obstructing civilian ships carrying only supplies for our fishermen calls into question the sincerity of their call of dialogue and peaceful approaches to deescalate the situation in the West Philippine Sea,” it said.

According to the NSC, peace and stability in the region could not be achieved “if countries, big or small, do not exercise due regard for the well-established and legally settled rights of others.”

Despite the increasing incidents of harassment from China, the council said,

The Philippines found a floating barrier across the entrance to the shoal during a similar mission in September. PCG personnel then cut a rope tethering the barrier to an anchor, allowing it to drift, in a special operation ordered by President Marcos.

The CCG later removed the line of buoys from the water.

Seized in 2012

China seized the shoal after a standoff with the Philippine Navy in 2012 and has since deployed coast guard and other vessels that Manila says harass Philippine ships and prevent its fishermen from accessing the fishrich lagoon.

Tuesday’s incident came as the Philippines and the United States hold a major annual military exercise that has infuriated Beijing. Manila and Beijing have a long history of territorial disputes in the South China Sea, with several collisions involving Filipino and Chinese vessels in recent months, as well as the use of water cannon by the China Coast Guard.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, brushing off rival claims from other countries, including the Philippines, and an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.

The triangular chain of reefs and rocks that make up Scarborough Shoal lies 240 km (150 miles) west of the Philippines’ main island of Luzon and nearly 900 km from Hainan, the nearest major Chinese land mass.

Marcos has stood up to China’s growing assertiveness in the waterway since taking office in 2022, insisting the Philippines “will not yield” as it defends its sovereign territory. Previous attacks

Two CCG water cannon attacks were reported on March 5 and March 23 this year, where a total of seven Philippine Navy personnel were wounded. Both involved Philippine boats on their way to resupply troops manning the grounded BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.

Commodore Jay Tarriela Photo by Richard A. Reyes

The trilateral agreement is not just about the West Philippine Sea. The trilateral agreement just affirmed the bilateral arrangements between the Philippines to the U.S., and the Philippines to Japan. And the stronger relations are consolidated, and with respect to the West Philippine Sea issue, of course the Philippines’ stand on the areas disputed by China will be strengthened. Malacañang photo

Millions were booted from Medicaid. The insurers that run it gained Medicaid revenue anyway

by Phil Galewitz KFF Health News

PRIVATE Medicaid

health plans lost millions of members in the past year as pandemic protections that prohibited states from dropping anyone from the government program expired.

But despite Medicaid’s unwinding, as it’s known, at least two of the five largest publicly traded companies selling plans have continued to increase revenue from the program, according to their latest earnings reports.

“It’s a very interesting paradox,” said Andy Schneider, a research professor at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy, of plans’ Medicaid revenue increasing despite enrollment drops.

Medicaid, the state-federal health program for lowincome and disabled people, is administered by states. But most people enrolled in the program get their health care through insurers contracted by states, including UnitedHealthcare, Centene, and Molina.

The companies persuaded states to pay them more money per Medicaid enrollee under the assumption that younger and healthier people were dropping out — presumably for Obamacare coverage or employerbased health insurance, or because they didn’t see the need to get coverage — leaving behind an older and sicker population to cover, their executives have told investors.

Several of the companies reported that states

have made midyear and retrospective changes in their payments to plans to account for the worsening health status of members.

In an earnings call with analysts on April 25, Molina Healthcare CEO Joe Zubretsky said 19 states increased their payment rates this year to adjust for sicker Medicaid enrollees.

“States have been very responsive,” Zubretsky said. “We couldn’t be more pleased with the way our state customers have responded to having rates be commensurate with normal cost trends and trends that have been influenced by the acuity shift.”

Health plans have faced much uncertainty during the Medicaid unwinding, as states began reassessing enrollees’ eligibility and dropping those deemed no longer qualified or who lost coverage because of procedural errors. Before the unwinding, plans said they expected the overall risk profile of their members to go up because those remaining in the program would be sicker.

UnitedHealthcare, Centene, and Molina had Medicaid revenue increases ranging from 3% to 18% in 2023, according to KFF. The two other large Medicaid insurers, Elevance and CVS Health, do not break out Medicaid-specific revenue.

The Medicaid enrollment of the five companies collectively declined by about 10% from the end of March 2023 through the end of December 2023, from 44.2 million people to 39.9 million, KFF data shows.

In the first quarter of 2024, UnitedHealth’s Medicaid revenue rose to $20.5 billion, up from $18.8 billion in the same quarter of 2023.

Molina on April 24 reported nearly $7.5 billion in Medicaid revenue in the first quarter of 2024, up from $6.3 billion in the same quarter a year earlier.

On April 26, Centene reported that its Medicaid enrollment fell 18.5% to 13.3 million in the first quarter of 2024 compared with the same period a year ago. The company’s Medicaid revenue dipped 3% to $22.2 billion.

Unlike UnitedHealthcare, whose Medicaid enrollment fell to 7.7 million in March 2024 from 8.4 million a year prior, Molina’s Medicaid enrollment rose in the first quarter of 2024 to 5.1 million from 4.8 million in March 2023. Molina’s enrollment jump last year was partly a result of its having bought a Medicaid plan in Wisconsin and gained a new Medicaid contract in Iowa, the company said in its earnings news release.

Molina added 1 million members because states were prohibited from terminating Medicaid coverage during the pandemic. The company has lost 550,000 of those people during the unwinding and expects to lose an additional 50,000 by June.

About 90% of Molina Medicaid members have gone through the redetermination process, Zubretsky said.

The corporate giants also offset the enrollment losses by getting more Medicaid

money from states, which they use to pass on higher payments to certain facilities or providers, Schneider said. By holding the money temporarily, the companies can count these “directed payments” as revenue.

Medicaid health plans were big winners during the pandemic after the federal government prohibited states from dropping people from the program, leading to a surge in enrollment to about 93 million Americans. States made efforts to limit health plans’ profits by clawing back some payments above certain thresholds, said Elizabeth Hinton, an associate director at KFF.

But once the prohibition on dropping Medicaid enrollees was lifted last spring, the plans faced uncertainty. It was unclear how many people would lose coverage or when it would happen. Since the unwinding began, more than 20 million people have been dropped from the rolls.

Medicaid enrollees’ health care costs were lower during the pandemic, and some states decided to exclude pandemic-era cost data as they considered how to set payment rates for 2024. That provided yet another win for the Medicaid health plans.

Most states are expected to complete their Medicaid unwinding processes this year.

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.

PH seen growing faster in 2024, but will...

bank’s projection would settle below the tempered target of the Marcos administration that aspires for a 6 to 7 percent growth this year.

For Unionbank, the biggest risk to growth is still inflation, which is at risk of breaching the state’s 2 to 4 percent target anew amid an ongoing dry spell that’s wreaking havoc on farms.

“We still remain quite hopeful, but really have to stay realistic about the economic outlook in 2024,” Lozano said. Farming output

“Unfortunately, dry weather El Niño will hurt farming output and that may dampen the economic output. Overall, though, we expect things to improve and inflation to settle down within a

healthy range by the end of this year,” he added.

A persistently high inflation would likely force the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to keep its ultra-tight monetary policy settings unchanged for much longer, which several analysts identified as a major obstacle to the government’s ambition to achieve a 6-percent growth. This is because a high interest rate environment could crimp financing for household activities and business expansion plans.

The BSP has so far kept its key rate unchanged at 6.5 percent, the tightest in nearly 17 years. Already, BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr. admitted that the room to ease monetary policy has narrowed, as he floated the possibility of a later

China hits PH boats...

2

In 2023, Philippine vessels came under similar attacks four times—on Aug. 5, Nov. 10, Dec. 9 and Dec. 10.

In its version of Tuesday’s incident, China said its coast guard vessels “expelled Philippine coast guard ship 4410 and government ship 3004 after they intruded

into the waters adjacent to Huangyan Island,” the Chinese name for Scarborough. China also urged the Philippines to stop provocations and to not challenge China’s determination to safeguard its sovereignty, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said.g

SWS: Families who suffer...

SWS said.

“The March 2024 hunger figure was 3.5 points above the 10.7 percent annual hunger rate of 2023 and the highest since 16.8 percent in May 2021,” it added.

The SWS said the 14.2 percent is the sum of 12.2 percent of Filipino families who experienced “moderate hunger” or those who experienced hunger only once or a few times in the past three months, and 2 percent who experienced “severe hunger” or those who experienced it often or always.

Both moderate and severe hunger were higher than in December 2023 at 11.2 percent and 1.6 percent.

Highest in Metro Manila

The survey showed that the hunger rate was highest in Metro Manila at 19 percent, rising by 6.3 percent from

12.7 percent in December 2023.

Balance Luzon and Visayas followed at 15.3 percent and 15 percent, both with an increase from 9.3 percent and 14.3 percent in December 2023.

On the other hand, only Mindanao recorded a decrease from 12 percent in December 2023 to 8.7 percent.

SWS said the survey was conducted through faceto-face interviews of 1,500 adults — 600 in Balance Luzon, and 300 each in Metro Manila, Visayas and Mindanao.

It had sampling error margins of ±2.5 percent for national percentages, ±4.0 percent for Balance Luzon, and ±5.7% each for Metro Manila, Visayas and Mindanao. (By Zacarian Sarao/Inquirer.net)

11-year-old Fil-Am...

Columbia Grammar Preparatory School in New York City, outmaneuvered her opponent, the 35th seed Vietnamese Hong Ha My Nguyen, in a display of tactical brilliance.

Guided by her mentor Sophia Rhode, she exhibited focus and determination, securing victory in all five rounds leading up to the final clash.

According to PhilBoxing.com, the chess player’s strategic acumen was on full display as she triumphed over formidable opponents, including players from Turkmenistan for the first round, Poland for the second round, Kazakhstan for the third round and Vietnam for both the fourth and fifth rounds.

rate cut in the first quarter of 2025 if the inflation problem worsens.

For Unionbank, the economy can still get its juice from consumption, which had shown resilience even in the face of tight financial conditions amid improvements in the local labor market and the usual lifeline that households get from remittances.

“People spending more, and businesses investing again, jobs in factories and services money sent home from abroad, and hopefully better tourism should all help this growth,” Lozano said.

“The government is also spending on public infra projects and there are big investments lined up in that area,” he added. g

After a six-match winning streak, the young prodigy experienced a draw against Thai Hoang An Tong of Vietnam in the sixth round. However, her resilience was evident as she swiftly rebounded from the draw to clinch decisive victories in the subsequent rounds against Nika Venskaya of Russia in the seventh round and Varvara Matskevich of Poland in the eighth round, respectively.

In the ninth and tenth rounds, Paragua shared points with Daliya Diaskyzy of Kazakhstan and Anastasiya Aleks Barabash of Russia before ultimately triumphing over Nguyen in the final round.

She secured the gold medal with 9.5 points, comprising eight wins and three draws. Last year, Paragua nabbed the Woman Fide Master title (WFM) at the XXXIII Pan-American Youth Chess Festival 2023 Standard competition in Chicago.

As the top player of the Empire Chess Training School of Chess in the USA, the WFM sets her sights on further challenges, primed to compete in the upcoming 2024 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship in July. (by Hans Carbonilla / Inquirer.net)

FEATURES OPINION

EVEN before former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV disclosed that about 50 former and incumbent police officers had been contacted by the International Criminal Court, there were already reports circulating that the ICC was proceeding with its probe of the drug killings under the watch of Rodrigo Duterte. Some of the reports emanated even

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has yet to announce whether his administration has finished “studying” the possible return of the Philippines to the ICC. In the meantime, he has maintained the stand that the ICC has no reason to conduct its probe in the Philippines, where the judicial system is fully functional.

ICC probers are unlikely to be allowed to conduct a full-blown formal investigation in the Philippines. The Department of Justice and the Philippine National Police have warned PNP members in the active service of sanctions if they defy the government’s policy against giving ICC jurisdiction over the complaints arising from Duterte’s bloody campaign against illegal drugs.

The government, however, cannot stop the ICC from conducting an informal probe from outside the country, or from collecting

Cooperating with the ICC Economic prosperity is our ultimate goal

IT may have been a surprise to some people for The Economist to write a rather positive take about the Philippines and its economy as evidenced by a recent piece titled, “Without fanfare, the Philippines is getting richer,” but not to

testimonies and evidence or getting in touch through digital media with witnesses and participants in Duterte’s war on drugs, particularly those who are no longer part of the PNP.

What the government can do is to intensify its own efforts to ferret out the truth and render justice. The PNP has officially listed over 6,000 people, all of them mere suspects, who were killed in anti-narcotics operations during the Duterte presidency. How many of the killings were justified in the context of law enforcement, and how many can be classified as extrajudicial?

The ICC probe includes drug killings in Davao City when Duterte alternated with his daughter, now Vice President Sara Duterte, as mayor and the Philippines was still a member of the ICC. Does the Marcos administration

have the political will to investigate those complaints?

Rodrigo Duterte is being probed by the ICC for possible murder as a crime against humanity in his brutal campaign. The Philippines has a law governing crimes against humanity. But Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra has said a sufficient number of those 6,000-plus drug killings

would have to be thoroughly reviewed first before the government can determine if an indictment for crimes against humanity is warranted and can stand in Philippine courts. This process, however, is crawling along, and risks being overtaken by the ICC probe. Perhaps the latest developments can spur faster action in the government’s own probe.

(Philstar.com)

me.

Published last Tuesday, April 23, the article noted that “things are improving. Roads are being paved, bridges built. In February the government picked a private consortium to revamp and double the capacity of Manila’s main airport. Later this year, it is expected to award contracts to modernize several regional airports, too. Manila

is scheduled to have its first underground metro line by 2029.”

The Economist also observed how growth has been brisk since 2012 (except during the pandemic) with the economy quietly booming under a variety of regimes, and growth expected at about 6 percent under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., with the Philippines

poised to become an upper middle-income country by 2026, according to the World Bank.

Some people may be skeptical, but from the way we look at it, we are in fact on the right path to economic prosperity as outlined in the Philippine Development Plan, which serves as the country’s roadmap towards genuine socioeconomic transformation to

reinvigorate job creation and accelerate poverty reduction by steering the economy back on a high-growth path.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman accurately pointed out during the Philippine Dialogue that the Philippine Embassy in Washington co-organized with the Department of Finance and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on the sidelines of the IMF-World

Bank spring meetings, that our economic managers are “going above and beyond in making the country a prime investment destination” –motivated by the president’s determination to see the Philippines become a country of “new and better opportunities.” The president himself has been tirelessly engaging with leaders and top business

charges, claims, actions, causes of action, recoveries, judgments, penalties, including outside attorneys’ fees (individually and collectively “Claims”) which AJPI may suffer by reason of (1) Client’s breach of any of the representations, warranties and agreements herein or

Dateline PhiliPPines

Cha-cha not among Senate priority measures – Zubiri

byCeCille Suerte Felipe Philstar.com

MANILA — The controversial Resolution of Both Houses 6 that proposes to amend the 1987 Constitution was not included in the Senate’s priority measures on the last stretch of the second regular session of the present Congress.

PH targets big-spender tourists from US

THE Philippines aims to attract about 15 percent more visitors from the United States, seeing the highly valuable market as a big contributor to the full recovery of the tourism sector.

In 2023, more than 1.4 million visitors from the U.S. arrived in the Philippines, generating P35 billion in revenues — the highest among the country's top tourist markets.

"This is 215 percent higher than the tourism receipts from South Korea, so this is how important the American market [is]. While the arrivals are fewer, the contribution is bigger," Philippine Tourism Director-Attache in New York Francisco Hilario Lardizabal said over the weekend.

Data from the Department of Tourism (DoT) showed that visitor receipts in 2023 reached P482.54 billion, with the U.S. as the top spending market, followed by Australia with P17.74 billion, South Korea with P16.41 billion, Canada with P15.85 billion, China with P12.24 billion, and Japan with P10.02 billion.

In a briefing with visiting Filipino journalists on April 26, the official said the Americans tend to spend more and stay longer in a destination.

In the Philippines, Lardizabal said the

majority, or 55 percent, of inbound travelers from the U.S. are former Filipinos whose main travel motivation is to visit friends and relatives.

"Filipinos from the U.S. do go around the Philippines and stay longer in the Philippines, and mind you, they also spend a lot. Apart from the money they spend on travel, they sometimes also give out money to their relatives," he shared.

Presenting the country's planned promotion efforts for the entire year, Lardizabal is confident the Philippines will achieve 15 percent more of the 2023 arrival figure.

He said the DoT is taking a multi-pronged approach to entice the market by forging partnerships, conducting more training for travel agents, joining B2B (business-tobusiness) travel trade events, and organizing curated familiarization tours.

Before the pandemic, most U.S. travelers to the Philippines were baby boomers, or those in the age bracket of 60 to 78, and Generation X, or those ages 44 to 59.

Citing a 2022 study, Lardizabal said majority of U.S. travelers "showing interest in the Philippines" now are millennials or those born between 1981 and 1996. (PNA)

131 LGUs in state of calamity due to El Niño

MANILA — Over a hundred local government units have declared a state of calamity over El Niño-induced droughts and extreme heat. Among the LGUs that are under a state of calamity are Occidental Mindoro, Antique, Sultan Kudarat, Basilan, Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao Del Norte and South Cotabato, said Task Force El Niño spokesperson and Presidential Communications Office Assistant Secretary Joey Villarama on Tuesday, April 30.

Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Reduction and Management

Act defines a state of calamity as a "condition involving mass casualty and/or major damages to property, disruption of means of livelihoods, roads and normal way of life of people in the affected areas as a result of the occurrence of natural or human-induced hazard."

A locality that declares a state of calamity allows its officials access to 5% of their Quick Response Fund.

On Monday, April 29, at least 36 areas were tagged as areas with a "dangerous" heat index classification, with indices ranging from 42°C to 47°C.

Over the weekend, the

heat index in Iba, Zambales reached 53°C under the “extreme danger” classification, the first time the said classification was recorded this year.

State weather agency PAGASA said this week that El Niño could be on its way out, with the transition period starting by the end of May until July.

Afterward, the country will be transition to La Niña.

But despite the "weakening" of El Niño, the state weather bureau warned that hotter temperatures are likely to be recorded in May based on previous data. (Cristina Chi/Philstar.com)

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Monday, April 29 said the Senate subcommittee headed by Sen. Sonny Angara will still have to conduct three more hearings for RBH6 pushing for the amendment of provisions on public service, education sector and the advertising industry.

Asked whether RHB6 was included in at least 20 priority bills listed under the Common Legislative Agenda of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (CLA-LEDAC), Zubiri said no.

“These are all legislations. We still have three more hearing in Baguio City, Cebu and Cagayan de Oro.”

Angara’s committee has so far conducted four public hearings on Feb 5, 12, 20 and March 5, which tackled the general provisions of the proposal to amend specific economic clauses of the Constitution. The first four public hearings were

attended by legal luminaries, business executives and representatives from the education sector.

Zubiri said he was about to meet the 23 senators in a caucus to discuss the strategies of the Senate in effective and efficient tackling of the priority measures.

When asked whether the Senate would calendar and put Cha-cha to a vote to let the public know the respective positions of each senator, Zubiri said they would still discuss the matter in a caucus that was to be set on Tuesday, April 30 at the resumption of session.

Zubiri expressed confidence that the Senate

will see the passage of priority bills listed under the CLALEDAC before the end of May when second regular session of the 19th Congress wraps up.

He added that the Senate has tabled for discussion the proposal to revive the Reserve Officers Training Corps with specialization. He said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has designed the proposed ROTC based on expertise.

“In the ROTC program, for example, those experts in computers, you will be in the anti-cyber hacking division of the reservist force. If you are engineers, they will assist the AFP engineering programs, while nursing students will be (deployed) to the medical corps,” he said.

“I’ve made a personal commitment to Sen. Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa to find out what vote. That has been pending with us for almost a year. Senator Bato is also really struggling with that,” Zubiri added, referring to the former police chief turned senator and advocate of ROTC revival.

Zubiri said “personally, I’m in favor of it as people who are against ROTC are afraid that hazing might be brought back (but) there is a very strong anti-hazing law, whether you are a fraternity

Ex-president Duterte, Sotto, Tulfo top senatorial poll

by red Mendoza ManilaTimes.net

MANILA — Former President Rodrigo Duterte, former Senate President Vicente Sotto III, and ACTCIS Rep. Erwin Tulfo were among the top three choices in the first quarter Senatorial survey conducted by Oculum Research and Analytics.

According to the poll conducted from Feb. 2129, 2024, Duterte and Sotto got 53 percent preference among respondents while Tulfo got 52 percent.

Following the three were

former Manila Mayor Isko Moreno at 45 percent, former Senator Manny Pacquiao at 43 percent, and currently-sitting Senators Ronald dela Rosa, at 41 percent, and Bong Go at 40 percent.

Tied from eighth to 11th place at 35 percent were physician Willie Ong, re-electionist Sen. Imee Marcos, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, and re-electionist Sen. Pia Cayetano.

In the 12th to 14th spot were Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr., former Sen. Panfilo Lacson, and Sen. Lito Lapid.

According to Oculum Chief Statistician, Dr. Joseph Mercado, candidates such as Duterte Sotto, Tulfo, Moreno, and Pacquiao exhibit both high awareness scores and a strong voter preference.

"This correlation suggests that their public visibility positively influences their electoral appeal," Mercado added.

The survey had more than 3,000 respondents from 18 years old and above with a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points. g

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri Philstar.com file photo

BALLET LEGACY. Eva Estrella Damian, founding president of the Association of Ballet Academies Philippines, and niece Elline show the former’s old photo at Vella C. Damian School of Ballet, Inc. in Lourdes, Quezon City on Monday, April 29.

The 85-year-old Vella still teaches young dancers at the very place where she nurtured her passion since she was 15. PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

PH, US, France

conclude 1st 'Balikatan' multilateral maritime drill

MANILA

– The first "multilateral maritime exercise" between the Philippines, United States, and France for this year's "Balikatan" exercises successfully ended on Monday, April 29 with all four participating vessels able to complete the activity without any untoward incident.

"The first iteration of the MME between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the United States Indo-Pacific Command (U.S.-INDOPACOM), and the French Navy concluded on April 29, 2024 in Palawan, marking a historic milestone in regional cooperation and security," Balikatan Combined Information Bureau chief Lt. Col. John Paul Salgado said in a statement released late Monday.

The drills which started on April 25 saw the active participation of the

Philippine Navy's offshore patrol vessel BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16) and landing dock BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602), the U.S. Navy's landing ship dock USS Harpers Ferry (LSD-49), and the French Navy's FS Vendemiaire (FFH-734), a Floreal-class frigate.

Around 17,000 Filipino and American soldiers are taking part in the three-week "Balikatan" drills which run from April 22 to May 10.

Meanwhile, the five-day MME culminated in a series of impressive demonstrations, including a photo exercise showcasing the participants' professionalism and coordination in a simulated formation sailing scenario, and documenting operations through proper photographic techniques for military purposes.

"The participants also performed surface gun exercise(s) which tested

Cyberattacks pound PH amid sea row

CYBERATTACKS against the Philippines have shot up 325 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2024 as tensions rise over the country's territorial dispute with China over the West Philippine Sea (WPS), a U.S.based cybersecurity company said.

The company Resecurity, which has worked with Philippine authorities to trace back the source of attacks to online facilities in China and Vietnam, said the number of "malicious cyber activity" against the Philippines has almost quadrupled compared to the same period in 2023.

The company said 55 percent of malicious cyber activities were hack-and-leak, 35 percent were misinformation and influence campaigns, and 10 percent were distributed denial-of-service (DDoS).

Hack-and-leak operations include the use of cyber tools to gain access to sensitive or secret material that is then released to the public.

Misinformation and influence campaigns, on the other hand, include infiltrating social media platforms and blurring the line between fact and fiction.

A DDoS attack is a malicious attempt to disrupt the normal traffic of a targeted server, service or network by overwhelming the target or its surrounding infrastructure with a flood of internet traffic.

The recent massive spike in cyber

misinformation and hacking against the Philippines coincides with rising tensions between the country and China over the WPS.

Resecurity said 80 percent of the cyberattacks target Philippine government institutions, while 20 percent focus on educational institutions.

Shawn Loveland, Resecurity chief operating officer, said in a recent blog post that these cyberattacks aim to "discredit the government and create chaos via cyberspace, as the Philippine population also relies on digital media channels and is active on social media networks."

Loveland said the cyberattacks correlate with disinformation campaigns related to the long-standing territorial dispute between the Philippines and China over areas in the South China Sea and West Philippine Sea.

Resecurity also mentioned the "audio deep fake" of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. supposedly ordering military action against China.

In February, Philippine government agencies announced they had repelled a cyberattack from hackers suspected to be based in China.

According to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), multiple government departments had been targeted in the attack.

The DICT stressed that identifying the service and the territory the attacks originated from was not an attempt to blame Beijing.

This prompted lawmakers to demand an urgent briefing on the national security issue.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez said the revelation that hackers, suspected to be operating from China, have infiltrated the email systems and internal websites of various government agencies is a "matter of national security and public interest."

Romualdez said that as it targeted "critical domains," the incident "signifies a dire need for an immediate and comprehensive response."

China has offered to help the Philippine government following reports of cyberattacks against various email addresses and websites of government agencies, including the Philippine Coast Guard, as well as the private website of President Marcos. China expressed its willingness to help to determine and identify those behind the cyberattacks.

But Resecurity said that while some of the attacks might resemble those of hacktivists, it believes that state-backed hackers from China or possibly North Korea are really to blame.

Resecurity has reported over 12 government organizations in the Philippines being targeted in the same

Cyberattacks...

timeframe — hallmarks of a well-organized coordinated attack by state actors rather than independent hacktivists. "Leveraging hacktivist-related monikers allows threat actors to avoid attribution while creating the perception of homegrown social conflict online," Resecurity said. (ManilaTimes.net)

Senate panel wants PH version of Stark Law

MANILA – The Senate Committee on Health and Demography on Tuesday, April 30 urged stakeholders from the medical community for assistance in drafting a Philippine version of the United States' Stark Law, amid allegations of unethical practices of a local pharmaceutical firm.

Members of the panel, headed by Senator Christopher Lawrence Go, made the appeal during the public inquiry, in aid of legislation, on BellKenz Pharma Inc., which is primarily owned by doctors.

"We can start crafting our own version of the Stark Law. Dapat bawal po itong mag-refer ang doktor sa mga entities kung saan may financial relationship sila. Katulad nitong Bell-Kenz puro doktor pa din ang mga myembro (Doctors should not be allowed to refer to entities where they have a financial relationship. Like Bell-Kenz, all members are doctors). It's high time that we craft a new law with stiffer and higher

penalties," Go said.

Senator Raffy Tulfo agreed after bringing to the panel's attention that existing penalties for unethical practices in the medical industry are not enough.

"I believe there is a need to put stiffer penalties for these unethical and immoral acts. They must be declared illegal," Tulfo said.

The Stark Law is a set of U.S. federal laws that prohibit physician selfreferral of Medicare or Medicaid patients to entities for designated health services if the physician has a financial relationship with that entity.

Alleged unethical practices

During the resumption of the regular session on Monday, several senators expressed their concern about the alleged unethical practices within the medical community supposedly involving Bell-Kenz Pharma.

In a privilege speech, Senator Jinggoy Estrada alleged that the company engages in a multi-level

marketing (MLM) scheme to distribute its products, including anti-hypertensive, anti-diabetic, antibiotic products, and health supplements nationwide.

He said the company’s officers, Luis Raymond Go as president, Alina Fatima Hojilla as vice president, Joseph Vincent Go as corporate secretary, Jaime Cayetano Jr. as treasurer, and 58 other stockholders are doctors from different parts of the country.

Estrada further alleged that despite the existing ethical guidelines that permit doctors to receive gifts of reasonable value, Bell-Kenz goes beyond these limits by offering excessive cash incentives and expensive vehicles to doctors who prescribe their medicines.

Bell-Kenz denies allegations

Dr. Go, who attended the public inquiry, denied the allegations, and reaffirmed the company's integrity and compliance.

"We are a law-abiding pharmaceutical entity

diligently adhering to all regulations set forth by FDA (Food and Drugs Administration), SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission), PMA (Philippine Medical Association), and other relevant government bodies," the Bell-Kenz president said.

He also refuted claims that Bell-Kenz member-doctors are receiving commissions depending on the volume of their prescriptions, saying the checks shown to the Senate panel as pieces of evidence were "rebates for early payment."

Dr. Go also clarified that the luxury cars of some of their members, which were also presented to the panel, are not gifts from the company.

The Department of Health is currently conducting an investigation on the alleged unethical practice of BellKenz, and senators urged the PMA and the Professional Regulation Commission to also conduct their own investigation on the matter. (PNA)

Economic prosperity is our ultimate...

the participating navies' live-fire capabilities and communication skills under challenging environment(s)," Salgado added.

The MME provided the participating countries with the knowledge and expertise that can be used to further beef up their capabilities. (PNA)

Cha-cha not...

or organization, if you hurt a child you will go to jail.”

The military and other uniformed personnel (MUP) pension scheme was also included in the priority measures.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, chairman of the Senate committee on national defense, spearheaded an investigation into the MUP pension system.

The inquiry aimed to address the need for reform, as former finance secretary Benjamin Diokno had warned of an impending “fiscal collapse” due to the escalating annual payouts to MUP. The current year’s pension payout stands at approximately P213 billion and is projected to reach the P1-trillion mark by 2035.

The MUP pension system encompasses members of various agencies, including the police, AFP, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Public Safety College, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Corrections and National Mapping and Resource Information Authority.

Estrada emphasized that the proposed reform seeks to strike a balance between the concerns of economic managers regarding tight fiscal limitations and the constitutional mandate of the military. The reform recognizes the unique nature of the work undertaken by uniformed personnel, who constantly face significant risks to their lives. g

executives to put the Philippines on the radar as a leading investment hub – the results of which are starting to become apparent from the latest data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showing foreign direct investment inflows reaching $907 million in January, up 89.9 percent in the same period last year.

As the president said, economic security is national security, and we are pleased to see that our friends and allies such as Japan and the United States are very supportive of the president’s economic prosperity aspirations. During the historic tripartite summit between the Philippines, Japan and the United States, President Marcos, President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed their commitment to promote enduring and inclusive economic growth and resilience. Japan, the Philippines and the U.S. are also looking at the possibility of a trilateral free trade agreement to further enhance economic cooperation between the three nations. In the joint statement following the trilateral summit, the three countries said they are pursuing economic projects that advance shared objectives, specifically the promotion of broad-based and sustainable economic growth, and are investing in resilient, reliable and diversified supply chains.

At the recently concluded 11th U.S.Philippines Bilateral Strategic Dialogue in Washington, D.C. between top Philippine officials and their U.S. counterparts, one of

the priorities we discussed was advancing common prosperity by exploring opportunities for further cooperation in many areas. We also exchanged views on addressing economic vulnerabilities and ways to strengthen private sector partnerships, with both countries recognizing the crucial need of mutually increasing economic growth.

During an interview with visiting Filipino reporters who are part of the Friends, Partners, Allies Program for journalists by the U.S. embassy in Manila, we shared that the revival of the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) – the oldest and largest trade program of the U.S. that provides nonreciprocal, duty-free privileges for over 3,500 products from 199 beneficiary countries that enter the U.S. market – will most likely be approved by the U.S. Congress before the end of this year. Aside from the Philippines, other countries are also lobbying for the revival of the trade program.

The GSP reauthorization is something that we have been working on since the expiration of the Philippines’ eligibility in December 2020, but the renewal has been delayed due to several reasons, among them the COVID-19 pandemic and the speakership issue in the U.S. Congress last year. We have had several meetings with U.S. legislators for the renewal of the GSP which would actually benefit some U.S. companies that are manufacturing from the Philippines. President Marcos himself had noted that the GSP would be mutually beneficial to the U.S. and the

Philippines, which could be expanded to include other products.

It is so pathetic to see these rumor warmongers invoking the fear factor, including those who manufactured a deepfake video circulating online that was made to sound like President Marcos ordering the Armed Forces of the Philippines to take military action against China. They are totally ignorant of what deterrence is all about and how precisely working with like-minded countries can help stop a potential major conflict.

If there is any country in the world that fears a nuclear war, it is Japan. It will never forget what happened in Nagasaki and Hiroshima – wiping out those two cities in one fell swoop. No one wants a major conflict to ever happen. No one – absolutely no one, and hopefully including China –wants war. What we as a nation only seek is economic prosperity – making us strong, secure and stable, capable of standing our ground and protecting our sovereign territory. The president has vowed to continue reaching out and working with like-minded nations in deterring any potential conflict that could essentially wipe out mankind. (Philstar.com)

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

POPE FAN. The Philippine Postal Corporation launches the "Pope Stamp Exhibition" at Robinsons Place Manila in Ermita on Monday, April 29. It features the collection of Kim Robert De Leon, the Guinness World Record Holder for largest collection of stamps featuring popes, who has 2,398 pieces as of February 2022. PNA photo by Yancy Lim

COMMUNITY JOURNAL

Nurse balances work and home by petitioning family member as household help, on an encore of Citizen Pinoy this Sunday

LANI, a dedicated nurse residing in Houston, found herself juggling multiple responsibilities between work and home. With a husband, a seven-year-old son, and a motherin-law under her care, Lani’s days off often felt busier than workdays as she managed household chores, childcare, and caregiving duties.

In a stroke of serendipity, while watching TFC, Lani stumbled upon an announcement from leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel that intrigued her. It highlighted the possibility

of petitioning family members as household help or caregivers, offering a potentially expedited process compared to traditional family petitions. This gave Lani the idea to bring her brother, Marvin, and sister-in-law, Genalyn, from the Philippines to assist with household responsibilities.

Her brother Marvin and sisterin-law Genalyn seemed like ideal candidates for this opportunity. Aside from alleviating her own workload, Lani recognized the immense PAGE 12

AN EXHAUSTED, EXASPERATED NURSE PETITIONS FAMILY MEMBER AS HOUSEKEEPER, ON AN ENCORE SUCCESS STORY ON CITIZEN PINOY THIS SUNDAY! Lani (top photo, left), a hardworking nurse in Houston, found herself overwhelmed with household duties alongside her demanding job. After seeing an episode of Citizen Pinoy on TFC, Lani consulted with leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J.

(top photo, right) about petitioning her brother, Marvin (bottom photo, right) and sister-in-law, Genalyn (bottom photo, left), from the Philippines to help her around the house. This case shows that families can petition family members for employment-based green cards, if certain qualifications are met. Watch this success story on an encore episode of Citizen Pinoy on Sunday, May 5 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/ Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. (Advertising Supplement)

Gurfinkel

Nurse balances work and home...

opportunity this presented for her nieces, Karen and Kyla, to pursue their education and have a better life in the United States. It is perfectly legal for family to petition other family members for an employment based green card, which is much faster than a regular family petition, and allowed Lani to live an easier life.

For individuals like Lani, this pathway offers a practical solution to balancing work and family responsibilities while providing valuable opportunities (green card) for loved ones to thrive in the U.S.

Watch this success story on an encore episode of Citizen Pinoy on Sunday, May 5 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app.

(Advertising Supplement)

Foods are chemicals

Health@Heart

PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS

THE food we eat is metabolized and automatically turned into various chemical substances (amino acids, minerals, hormones, etc.) that our body needs for our organs to work properly, and the waste products excreted.

Chocolates and other “pleasure food items” (beans, eggs, low-fat meats, nuts, desserts) induce our brain to release happy (pleasure) hormones like endorphins, serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin. Low levels of these hormones cause depression or anxiety.

oatmeal (the world-famous Quaker Oats) every morning. I enjoyed oatmeal a lot; sometimes I ate it for snacks when I was growing up. Almost everyone considers oatmeal a healthy food item, but clinical studies revealed otherwise. Oatmeal contains harmful lectins and often contaminated with gluten. Almost all types of bread are made with wheat (a whole grain), which contain very large amount of lectins, like raw legumes (soybeans, peas, lentils, beans, peanuts).

ataxia is a “rare neurological autoimmune disease that cause the body to attack parts of the brain in response to gluten.”

Avocado and celery

One of the healthiest superfoods is avocado. It is delicious and a most-nutrition packed food, containing a hearty dose of fiber, good fats, potassium, folate, iron, copper, magnesium, manganese, zinc, and vitamins C and K. Avocados could help enhance cardiac health, boost weight loss, and keep the gastrointestinal tract running smoothly. One avocado (about 136 grams) contains 227 calories and 2.7 grams of protein. It could be eaten when ripe and added to other fruits-veggies smoothies.

The natural chemical transformation in our digestive system is also the reason why those individuals with arthritis suffer joint pains almost as soon as within a couple of hours after eating inflammatory food items like the so-called nightshades (potato, tomato, paprika, pepper, eggplant, tobacco).

Bread, pasta, rice, soft drinks, milk, fruits, noodles, crackers, cereals, beans, popcorn, cookies, desserts, and other starches are carbohydrates that are readily transformed into glucose (blood sugar).

Diabetics watch their food intake, all being careful about the carbs, and conscious of their caloric intake.

Among Asians, eliminating or minimizing rice in our diet helps in the treatment of diabetes and in weight management.

Abnormally high blood glucose level (hyperglycemia) harms blood vessels, eyes, heart, kidneys, and nerves, and could acutely cause diabetic acidosis, unconsciousness, coma, and death. The opposite, too low blood sugar level (hypoglycemia), leads to mental confusion, weakness, and sudden collapse. If any of these two conditions are not treated promptly, death could ensue. Hypoglycemia is more emergent of the two. Glucose is a vital chemical that gives us energy – essential to the brain, a major fuel that runs our body.

Gluten and lectins

We were raised eating

Lectins (hemagglutinins) are “anti-nutrients” (prevents absorption of many minerals, like calcium, iron zinc, and phosphorus, which are essential to health). Lectin also causes chronic inflammation, especially in the gut and joints, and contributes to being overweight and obesity. It contains phytohemagglutinins that cause red blood cells to clump together. Lectin negatively affects the immune system and the microbiome intestinal flora, injures the gut linings, which results in bloating, nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, and diarrhea, among many individuals. Boiling, stewing, soaking in water for several hours, can inactivate most lectins.

The good side of lectin includes acting as antioxidants and slowing down digestion to reduce absorption of carbohydrates, which prevents sharp rise of glucose and insulin levels. Studies are underway to look at the use of the nontoxic side of lectin in small amounts to help gut cell growth for patients who are unable to eat for long periods, and as an anticancer agent, because it appears to kill cancer cells.

The three ancient grains that do not contain lectin and are gluten-free are millet, teff, and sorghum, which are common food staples in Asia and Africa. These are the healthier grains.

Any food item with wheat, barley, and rye, like bread, have gluten. Gluten is unhealthy because it causes an autoimmune response called celiac disease, which damages the small intestines.

The lining of the gut becomes “permeable, permitting undigested gluten, bacteria, and other substances to go through the lining and into the blood stream to cause inflammation.” Gluten

Celery, a popular crunchy snack, has antioxidant properties, vital minerals and vitamins, and phytonutrients. It is an antiinflammatory food, good for those with arthritis, and known to reduce the risk for cancer, purifies blood, and is cardio-protective. Celery also promotes neurogenesis and prevents memory loss, through its content of flavonoid called luteolin, which calms brain inflammation. Apigenin, a bioactive flavonoid in celery is believed to support neurogenesis, the growth and development of nerve cells.

Bacon/eggs: Bad?

Eating bacon every day is unhealthy because it contains a lot of sodium, cholesterol and fat, all of which increases the risk for heart disease and stroke. In general, eating red meat regularly is not healthy because studies have shown it is associated with high incidence of cardiovascular diseases and cancer, compared to those who abstain or minimize it to once a week intake. To live a healthy life, we do not really need to eat red meat at all. Chicken meat, without the skin, is a healthier alternative.

As for eggs, one a day or less is safe. Egg white (no yolk) may be eaten as much as one wants; it has no cholesterol or fats, which the yolk has a lot of. The recommendation is no more than 7 eggs a day, preferably not fried.

All processed meats (bacon, ham, hamburger, hot dogs, other deli meats) are unhealthy, linked to cancers,

Lani (left) with Atty. Michael Gurfinkel.

From left: Lani’s brother Marvin, nieces Karen and Kyla and sister-in-law Genalyn.

Filipino restaurant Kaya receives Florida's  rst Michelin Green Star for sustainable gastronomy

by MOMAR G. VISAYA / AJPress

KAYA, a Filipino restaurant in Orlando received Florida’s first Michelin Green Star Award last Thursday, April 18 for its outstanding commitment to sustainable and eco-conscious dining.

Awarded by the Michelin Guide, the Green Star designation is a testament to a restaurant's exceptional commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. To earn this coveted recognition, restaurants must not only tantalize taste buds with their culinary masterpieces but also demonstrate a profound dedication to minimizing their environmental impact.

The distinction holds special significance for Chef Lordfer Lalicon and Jamilyn Bailey, the founders of Kaya as it reflects one of their guiding values – utang na loob.

By prioritizing sourcing ingredients from local Florida farms and with over 90% of their produce originating locally, Kaya exemplifies their commitment to sustainability. Lalicon highlighted their focus on "bayanihan" in building strong ties with the local community,

artisans, and farmers, further reinforcing their dedication to supporting local initiatives.

“We center our work around the Filipino value bayanihan, a spirit of communal support,” Lalicon said in a quote by Michelin Guide. “We have built Kaya with

Here Lies Love garners four Tony Award nominations

By MOMAR G. VISAYA AJPress

"HERE Lies Love," the groundbreaking musical featuring Broadway's firstever all-Filipino cast notched four Tony Awards nominations on Tuesday, April 30.

The musical received four nominations: Best Original Score (Music and/ or Lyrics) Written for the Theater (Music: David Byrne and Fatboy Slim Lyrics: David Byrne), Best Scenic Design (David Korins), Best Sound Design (M.L. Dogg and Cody Spencer), Best Choreography (Annie-B Parson).

These technical nominations highlight the show's production's outstanding musicality and strengths in choreography, lighting, and sound that brought the unique "dance club" concept of telling Imelda Marcos' story to life and made the immersive experience impactful.

Directed by Alex Timbers, the musical showed a captivating exploration of the life of the renowned former First Lady of the Philippines and subsequent fall at the hands of the People Power Revolution. Known for its disco-infused score and innovative staging, "Here Lies Love" began its Broadway run on June 17, 2023, with an official opening on July 20, 2023, at the Broadway Theatre. Despite critical acclaim, the show faced challenges at the box office and concluded its run on November 26, 2023.

Featuring a groundbreaking all-Filipino cast led by Arielle Jacobs, Jose Llana, and Conrad Ricamora, "Here Lies Love" marked a significant moment in Broadway history.

Jose Antonio Vargas, one of the producers, reflected on the significance of theater and expressed gratitude for the nominations through a social media post: Theatre is that rarest thing: at once ephemeral and everlasting. And award nominations are one measure of success. Grateful for the much-deserved recognition of these extraordinary artists. And equally grateful for the unforgettable experience that is Here Lies Love.

“You cannot erase the history that was made with @herelieslovebway, and I’m thankful to everyone––all the wonderful artists involved, all the performers who poured their hearts, all the producers who believed in the show—for

this singular journey,” he said.

Aside from the Tony nods, the musical also received nominations from a couple of other award-giving bodies.

The Outer Critics Circle, the official organization of writers on New York theatre for out-of-town newspapers and national publications, honored Here Lies Love with nominations for Outstanding Revival of a Musical, Outstanding Scenic Design (David Korins), Outstanding Sound Design (M.L. Dogg and Cody Spencer), and Outstanding Lighting Design (Justin Townsend).

The musical also got three nods from the Drama League Awards for Outstanding PAGE 14

Kaya’s chef Lordfer Lalicon receiving the restaurant’s Michelin Green Star Award. Photo from Instagram/@kaya.orlando

According to the Michelin Guide, "the menu changes often, but you may enjoy kare, a rectangle of braised fork-tender oxtail resting in the classic and flavorful peanut stew/sauce, along with various vegetables. It's served with their pitch-perfect garlic rice, served classic or with a luxe update with King crab.”

Photos courtesy of Michelin Guide

Conrad Ricamora (as Ninoy Aquino) and the cast of Here Lies Love Photo by Billy Bustamante, Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman

Filipino restaurant...

the intention to improve the local restaurant-farmercommunity ecosystem.”

This means that every aspect of their operations, from team development to partnerships with local artisans and sourcing of produce and seafood, is geared towards enhancing this ecosystem as they prioritize minimizing waste through innovative utilization of byproducts.

In an Instagram post, Bailey said, “Utang na loob or inner debt, or as my mom would say, “the debt you can never repay.” while most often we think of this in terms of personal relationships and reciprocity with others, we intentionally extend this principle to the land and the abundance of resources it provides us. we have a responsibility.”

“Culinary trends like low waste, snout to tail, and farm to table are seen not just as modern concepts but as ancestral technology deeply ingrained in Philippine cuisine,” Bailey further explained, “(our people have been doing this for generations… there’s a reason vinegar is such a central component to philippine cuisine!)”

Situated in the Mills 50 district in Orlando, Kaya occupies a charming bungalow-style building that exudes a quirky allure.

Guests are greeted with captivating views of the open kitchen, adding to the restaurant's inviting ambiance.

The dining experience at Kaya revolves around a meticulously curated tasting menu, featuring multiple courses, some comprising more than one element.

“Expect a modern spin on classic Filipino dishes with local seafood and central Florida produce taking center stage. Kinilaw na isada (sic), a ceviche-style dish with madai and finely diced fruit in a vinegar sauce is a stunning dish that wakes up the palate for a strong start,” according to the Michelin Guide writeup.

“Then, the menu changes often, but you may enjoy kare, a rectangle of braised fork-tender oxtail resting in the classic and flavorful peanut stew/ sauce, along with various vegetables. It's served with their pitch-perfect garlic rice, served classic or with a luxe update with King crab.”

With the Michelin Green Star distinction, Kaya joins an esteemed group of restaurants renowned for their commitment to sustainability, including Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Tarrytown, New York; Dirt Candy in New York City; Providence and Osteria Mozza, both in Los Angeles; and The French Laundry in Yountville. g

A ‘Very Important Pinoy' tour

By Dan E. niño Contributor

LOS ANGELES – In a bid to bolster tourism in the Philippines with emphasis in the untapped countrysides – the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Tourism, Tourism Promotions Board and its implementing partner Rajah Tours – are intensifying their campaign to attract Fil-Ams and other diverse groups in North America to visit the Philippines from July 21 to 30 this year.

Originally christened as Ambassadors, Consul Generals and Tourism Directors (ACGTD) Tour to visit the Motherland, this flagship project was launched in 2005 by the late Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert Del Rosario with the support of all foreign posts in the U.S. and Canada. There was an initial 350 participants. It gained traction with 500 adherents the following year.

In 2008, the program registered 605 visitors and fluctuated to 184 in 2017 due to the declaration of martial law in Marawi and Davao in these two featured destinations. It was scrapped in 2010 and 2016 due to national elections and 2020, 2021 and 2022 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lately, the group tour is billed as, “Very Important Pinoy Tour.”

table discussions were held recently to push for Philippine tourism in the Chinatown district in Los Angeles. Top photo shows the discussions being presided by Rajah Tours Philippines’ Alejandra Cruz Clemente (center, in black coat). With her in photo are (clockwise, starting to her left) tourism-based partners Megs Ilagan of Innovative Travel and Tours, former Tourism Director Manny Ilagan, Philippine Airlines executive Mitty Abellar Torres, Dr. Dante Banta, journalist Dan Niño, Cultural Officer Edelvina Valencia, Consul for Cultural Diplomacy Mariecris P. Chieng, Deputy Consul General Maria Alnee Gamble, and Asian Journal president Cora Oriel.

Some of the participants pose after the meeting: (seated, from left) Loida Crisostomo, journalist Lydia Solis, Alejandra Clemente of Rajah Tours, Deputy Consul General

Maria Alnee Gamble, Consul for Cultural Diplomacy Mariecris Chieng and Innovative Tours & Travels Megs Ilagan; (standing from left) PAL account manager Ricky Panis, PAL account manager Mitty A. Torres, journalist Dan Niño, San Gabriel Valley publisher Marc Pijuan, Cultural Officer Edelvina Valencia, FACLA president Trini Foliente, former Tourism Director Manny Ilagan, Asian Journal president Cora M. Oriel, Kalayaan Inc. president Erlinda Granada-Sabah and Philippine Post publisher & editor Val G. Abelgas.

recovering, we need help. Our tourism will get a boost 10-fold when the Bulacan International Airport will become operational.” She added, “It takes time but we’re getting there.”

especially colon and rectum. Burnt (high heat) grilled meats are suspected to be associated with pancreatic cancer. Smoothies, made with all varieties of berries, celery, pineapple (collagen protein powder added), are a good breakfast drink, also good for snacks, especially for those with arthritis, to reduce inflammation and joint pains. Indeed, foods are drugs!

The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health.

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.

Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/ author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He was a recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995, presented by then Indiana Governor, U.S. senator, and later a presidential candidate, Evan Bayh. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry Truman, President George HW Bush, Muhammad Ali, and Astronaut Gus Grissom (Wikipedia). Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com.

Rajah Tours Chairman and CEO Alejandra Cruz Clemente who flew from the Philippines via New York to Los Angeles met with the media, community leaders, Philippine Airlines executives and three stalwarts from the Los Angeles Philippine Consulate at Chinatown to pitch for the joint government and private sector’s tourism project. Ms. Clemente lamented the lack of push, publicity or media coverage for this effort. She emphasized, “While we are

The Philippine Consulate General of Los Angeles were represented by Deputy Consul General Maria Alnee A. Gamble, Consul for Cultural Diplomacy Marie Cris P. Chieng and Cultural Officer Edelmira Valencia.

Ms. Clemente, a native of Mangatarem, Pangasinan said, “We are developing new infrastructures and tourist destinations like Northern Mindanao particularly Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Bukidnon and Bacolod in the Western Visayas Region.”

“Our country has very

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Revival of a Musical, Outstanding Direction of a Musical (Alex Timbers), and Distinguished Performance Award (Conrad Ricamora). The 2024 Drama League Awards ceremony will take place on Friday, May 17, 2024, at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City. The 77th Annual Tony Awards, hosted by Ariana DeBose, will be broadcast live from the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City on

rich culture. We want our compatriots living in North America to witness cultural immersion themselves and meet the indigenous tribes featuring the indigenous customs of Iligan and Maranao natives: weaving, culinary arts, cultural dances, and Maskara Festival of Negros Province. We are arranging cultural presentations during the tour. It would be full of adventure if the participants would like to go water rafting, zipline adventures agricultural tour, explore the Silay ruins and the powdery white sand beaches.”

The main objectives of this tour is to entice Filipino American to deepen their appreciation of their Motherland, its rich history, heritage and culture and

Sunday, June 16, 2024.

Leading the Tony pack with 13 nominations each are "Hell's Kitchen" and "Stereophonic." These two productions earned nods in multiple categories including Best Musical, Best Direction, and Best Original Score.

Close behind, with 12 nominations, is "The Outsiders" while "Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club" has garnered 9 nominations. "Appropriate" received 8 nods; "Merrily We Roll Along," "Water for Elephants," and "Purlie

experience the warm hospitality of the Filipino people; to attract FilAmericans and foreign tourists to invest in the Philippines, promote the Philippines as a retirement haven for Fil-Ams and foreigners and contribute to the socio-economic development of the country in terms of foreign exchange earnings.

While dissecting the apparent lack of push, a reporter suggested to Tourism Secretary Christina G. Frasco to conduct a roadshow like what former Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon did when he journeyed to Los Angeles many years ago with entertainers – generating nostalgia.

Other issues cropped up regarding sanitation, cleanliness, rest rooms, cigarette butts strewn all over, among others. Clemente also decried not implementing some seven to 10 congressional bills which she helped design that became law but marketing and promotion still lack funding. There was also a comment that the branding shift from Ambassador’s Tour to Very Important Pinoy Tour might have confused potential parties.

To assure the safety and security of the participants, all government apparatus including local and provincial authorities and the Philippine National Police will be tapped. An audience with the President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. is yet to be confirmed. Philippine flag carrier, Philippine Airlines will fly the participants from North America and on domestic flights across the Philippines. Interested parties may call Innovative Tours and Travels CEO Megs Ilagan for bookings in the U.S. at 714-595-9891. g

Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch" have each earned 7 nominations.

Rounding out the list of top contenders are "Suffs" and "An Enemy of the People," both with 6 nominations, followed closely by "Jaja's African Hair Braiding" with 5 nominations. "The Notebook" and "Back To The Future: The Musical" have received 3 nominations each, while "Gutenberg! The Musical!" and "Monty Python's Spamalot" earned 1 nomination apiece. g

Round

P-pop groups BINI, G22 shine on Chinese idol show

by KAthleen A. llemit Philstar.com

P-pop girl groups BINI and G22 showed what live vocals and powerful dancing look like in their recent appearance on the Chinese survival program

“Show It All.”

The two groups were invited to illustrate these important skills to the show’s contestants called stage trainees.

The stage trainees were made to watch the two Filipino girl groups perform their hit sing-and-dance songs.

G22 sang and danced “Bang,” while they

impressed the trainees and EXO’s Lay Zhang with their soulful rendition of their own ballad “Babalik.”

BINI equally impressed the trainees and Lay when their performed their hits “I

Feel Good” and “Karera.”

Star Magic head Laurenti Dyogi was there to lend support to the agency’s prized group, BINI.

Cornerstone Entertainment

Vice President Jeff Vadillo

also appeared in the show in support of their talent, G22.

The girl groups posted their experience appearing on the show in their respective social media accounts. g

Heart shares why Chiz is the ‘greatest miracle’ in her life

by Boy ABundA Philstar.com

CELEBRITY couple Sen. Chiz Escudero and Heart Evangelista renewed their wedding vows at The Balesin Royal Villa in Balesin Island where they first tied the knot nine years ago. Family and friends, including Heart’s mom, were present to witness the romantic occasion.

“I was very happy that she (mom) was there. Actually, my dad was going to be there but he had a health problem a couple of months ago so he had to travel to the States and stay there to recover. He was there not physically but he was with us on the phone. He was very present. But my mom, I’m happy that she was there,” Heart shared during the couple’s recent guest appearance on “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda.”

Sen. Chiz was confident from the start that it was just a matter of time for their relationship with Heart’s parents to turn out well. They were already okay with them after a year of being married. The couple was initially planning to renew their vows in their fifth year.

I asked about their best time together and Heart replied, “Honestly, it would be the chapter that I’m living now with my husband. This is the best time ever. I feel like I’m different now. It’s not that I wasn’t appreciative before but I just see life differently now and even more, I enjoy living it with the people who matter the most.”

Chiz added, “Same. Now, in the past, in the future as long as you are with the people you love. It doesn’t matter really if it’s yesterday, the other day, last month, last year, today, next year as long as you’re with them.”

The couple also shared about their relationship with twins Quino and Chesie.

“Nagka-first prom iyong anak kong lalaki. They’re both 16. They’re

No kids for Eugene Domingo

By Ronnie CARRAsCo ManilaTimes.net

DOES a woman who’s fond of kids — yet doesn’t want to be a mother herself — exist in our midst? The answer is yes, it’s Eugene Domingo.

Already married to Italian divorcee Danilo Bottoni, the ace comedienne doesn’t see herself conceiving a baby.

In Ogie Diaz’s vlog interview, Uge as she’s fondly called admits, “Do you think I’d still want to get pregnant at my age now? I’m like a dry well!”

Uge is quick to say that even way before marriage, raising kids has never crossed her mind.

Sen. Chiz Escudero was confident from the start that it was just a matter of time for their relationship with Heart Evangelista’s parents to turn out well. They were already okay with them after a year of being married. Asked about their best time together, Heart says, ‘Honestly, it would be the chapter that I’m living now with my husband. This is the best time ever.’

Photo from Instagram/@iamhearte

fraternal twins. Nag-first prom siya. Nag-first party late night out iyong girl ko. But I’m confident that we brought them up well and that they know their limits,” said Chiz.

Heart, on the other hand, has a very good relationship with the kids whom she first met when they were four years old. Now, they talk about everything, including K-pop and Fashion Week.

“It’s nice because I feel like I also grew up with them. I didn’t give them the gift of life but I was there at a certain age when I was still very young.

Kumbaga, di rin ako masyado mature noong time na iyon. They taught me how to love differently in a special way. Di ko matutunan iyon sa iba. We have a good relationship,” Heart explained. Every marriage and every relationship goes through a rough patch. It could be harder for Chiz and Heart because they are both public. Chiz made sure the kids were never involved but they were still allowed to ask questions. “They can, they do, and I will explain but at the same time protect the other one,” he related.

“In every marriage, most of us go through a rough patch but for me, it was hard because of the kids. I didn’t give them the gift of life but I’m also in a sense their second mom,” Heart added. “If one is going through a really tough time, the other one has to be strong because I don’t think we would be sitting here today if he wasn’t strong. Seriously, I’ve never met anyone, not even a friend like everybody failed me during that time, but he believed in my heart.”

Chiz said God made it easier for him. “Lesson learned is (to) be still. Know there is a God. You have to surrender.”

Can a relationship prevail if a married couple is having a difficult moment as long as their love for each other is bigger?

“Yes and no,” replied Chiz. “Yes because basta may kahit konti doon sa isa (at) malaki iyong isa, mapupunuan iyon. No, kapag walang-wala na kahit gaano kalaki iyong isa, wala na iyon. At least kahit may maliit na buto na pagsisimulan para tumubo uli kung nawala man. Pero kung wala kahit buto, wala na iyon.”

Heart declared that Chiz is her greatest miracle in life. She asked him during the interview if he would leave her a map when he is no longer around so she can navigate her life because she won’t be able to navigate it alone. “Definitely,” he replied. g

of two. It’s public knowledge that Pokwang’s second child Malia is sired by her erstwhile live-in partner Lee O’Brian. Credit should be given to Uge whose pieces of sound advice to Pokwang had helped the latter’s heart to soften on Lee.

As Malia’s proudly states, Uge has a different approach to troubleshooting domestic kinks between couples.

It’s Pokwang’s turn this time to butter up Uge: “In her case, she’s not a judgmental friend. Uge simply listens, and when I’m done with my confession only then would she take the floor.”

“I’m fond of kids, like my siblings’ kids as in I play with them, I spoil them...but to have one of my own, I don’t think I can raise my child well. I’d just like to get it straight, I just can’t imagine taking care of a child when I cannot even take care of myself!” Eugene clarifies.

Having no one to raise is no problem with her partner, “I’m just waiting for his grandkids.”

This mindset though, as she justifies, is her choice. And she’s happy with the choice she made. She believes that it’s the freedom which she enjoys now — as in not having to worry about kids — is her ultimate goal, after all.

“Imagine if I had a child, then how much time am I going to spend considering I have Danilo and myself to think about?”

Despite her I-don’t-wantto-be-a-mother outlook, Uge welcomes close friends — who are mommies themselves — who run to her for advice.

One such long-time buddy is Pokwang, mother

Seated together, Uge can only nod in approval: “The repeated phrase ‘Move on, move on!’ is getting worn out. It’s easier said than done. If I may ask those who keep saying that, do we really know what Pokwang went through to be hostile toward Lee? We don’t know anything! So let Pokwang speak while we listen, it’s that simple!”

It was Uge who advised Pokwang not to be hard on Lee in case he wanted to see Malia: “I told her her child, when she grows up and becomes aware, will read on social media about how she and Lee always fought. Has she imagined the effect it would have on the innocent child? Well, it’s good that she woke up!’”

This is where the mother’s love for her child side of the story is best explained by Uge.

Heeding Uge’s advice, Pokwang has now been either a text or call away from Lee should he want to spend bonding moments with Malia. If only for this, the eternal non-mother who is Eugene feels she has achieved something: “Didn’t I earlier say I was fond of kids?” g

Even way before marriage, raising kids has never crossed Eugene Domingo’s mind. Photo from Instagram/@eugenedomingo_official

P-pop girl group BINI appears on an episode of the Chinese surival show ‘Show It All.’ Photo from Instagram/@bini_ph