060724 - Northern California Edition

A NEW poll released for the Building Decarbonization Coalition (BDC) finds that a healthy 62% majority of California voters would support a pilot program to upgrade their neighborhoods to run on 100% clean electricity. A neighborhood-scale pilot program could upgrade entire blocks of homes and businesses at once to be fully powered by clean, renewable energy to benefit families, workers, and communities.

The poll results bolster new legislation making its way through the CA Legislature (SB 1221 - Min) that would open the door for neighborhood-scale decarbonization pilots and ensure long-term energy affordability for Californians. Specifically, SB 1221 enables the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to establish a process so that utilities can redirect spending toward zero-emission alternatives when it is the most affordable option over gas infrastructure.

“It’s time to make smarter decisions around energy infrastructure and invest in a way that makes energy more affordable for Californians while also driving progress

Vaccinations may not prevent infections from new COVID sub-variant

THE new KP.2 subvariant shows an amazing ability to evade immunity, and will likely spur on a summer surge of COVID-19 infections.

“This is one of the more aggressive versions of the virus that we have ever seen,” said virologist Dr. Benjamin Neuman, professor of biology at Texas A&M University. “This is at the top of the scale in terms of immune resistance, which means that it will almost certainly be able to infect people, even if they have been recently vaccinated,” he said.

A recent vaccination still remains the best way to not die from COVID-19, said Neuman. FLiRT subvariant

As of May 1, hospitals are no longer mandated to report COVID-19 hospitalizations.

KP.2 comes from the FLiRT family of the Omicron variant, and currently accounts for about one-third of COVID infections, according to data from the

expressing South China Sea position

duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service were filed by the DILG against

Comelec vows clean 2025 polls

by William B.

depasupil ManilaTimes.net

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has vowed to use to the fullest its power and constitutional duty to enforce and administer election laws to ensure that the upcoming 2025 midterm polls will be clean, honest and peaceful.

Chairman George Erwin Garcia said on Monday, June 3 that it is the duty of the Comelec to enforce and administer election laws, and it would be a dereliction of duty if it could not enforce the law in 2025.

“This is a warning. Do not test the patience of the Commission on Elections. We will never hesitate to use the full powers of the Constitution to ensure that no lives are sacrificed at lahat makaboto” (and everyone

would be able to vote),” said Garcia at the start of the Multi-Party Democracy Summit.

Garcia made the remark as the Comelec prepared for the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), which will be simultaneously held with the local and national elections on May 12, 2025.

He called on candidates and regional parties that would participate in the BARMM polls, as well as local and national candidates and other election stakeholders, to help the Comelec get rid of traditional irregularities, including vote buying, violence and terrorism, arson, and harassment, among others.

Garcia stressed that the Bangsamoro people deserve no less than a clean, honest,

Duterte authorized P47.6 billion PS-DBM fund

transfer – Duque

by SheiLa criSoSToMo Philstar.com

MANILA — Former President Rodrigo Duterte authorized the transfer of P47.6 billion to the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) for the purchase of COVID-19 protective equipment, former Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said during Monday’s (June 3) hearing of the House committee on appropriations. Duque also told the committee, which is looking into the budgetary performance of the Department of Health (DOH), that

the fund transfer was necessary and aboveboard.

“In his (Duterte) public pronouncements, the transfer was done because of a public health emergency,” Duque noted, upon the questioning of ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro.

The former DOH chief cited Executive Orders 385 and 285, a Letter of Instruction, Administrative Order 17 of 2011 and Section 53 of the procurement law as among the basis for the transfer.

Duque said they deemed it best to rely on the expertise of

Former President Rodrigo Duterte Malacañang file photo

United States congratulates...

PAGE 1

Philippines’ position on the SCS. Teodoro responded by expressing his “appreciation to the U.S. for supporting Marcos’ thesis which underscores the rights of small states.”

Austin reiterated the point he made during his talk on The New Convergence in the Indo-Pacific on the previous day.

“The harassment that the Philippines has faced is dangerous – pure and simple. And we all share an interest in ensuring that the South China Sea remains open and free,” Austin said.

“We are beyond friends and allies, we are family. What affects you affects us,” he added. n

Ombudsman suspends...

the three Bamban officials last month for allegedly allowing illegal POGOs to operate in their town. Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said the DILG recommended preventive suspension against Guo to prevent her from influencing the continuing investigations by his department and other agencies. Law enforcers had discovered that a POGO operation in the Baufo Land Development Corp. compound in her town was really a front for a scam center.

Authorities raided the facility in March and rescued close to 700 workers, including 202 Chinese and 73 other foreigners who were forced to pose as online lovers as part of the scam.

A year earlier, in February 2023, the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Central Luzon raided Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc. in the same compound.

The ombudsman said the DILG-created task force had found in its investigation that Guo had bought eight parcels of land in Anupul village in Bamban and that transfer certificates of title were issued in the name of Baufo.

The DILG alleged that Guo’s divestment of shares in Baufo

through a deed of assignment was simulated because the consideration of [P2.5 million] was “grossly incongruent to her investment in Baufo,” which is about 8 hectares of land.

The DILG also alleged that despite the raid of Zun Yuan [Technology] and its predecessor Hongsheng, the cancellation of Hongsheng’s license to operate, and a cease and desist order issued by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Guo did not cancel or revoke their business permits because of her business interest in Baufo.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who has been leading a Senate investigation into Bamban POGO operation, lauded the ombudsman’s preventive suspension order against the town mayor.

“It’s as it should be,” she said in Filipino when asked to comment on the order.

The senator on Monday, June 3 said she had already sought Guo’s preventive suspension after she visited the raided POGO compound in Bamban.

“We also received information that she tried to obstruct the ongoing investigation immediately after the POGO was raided. This should have already warranted a suspension. We only hope this is not too late,” she said. She added that Guo’s

connections to the POGO were documented.

She added, “Let us not forget, this is a POGO with alleged hacking and surveillance activities. [A] POGO, which brought scams, crimes and human trafficking in the country.”

A statement from Guo’s lawyer, Alex Avisado Jr., welcomed the opportunity to answer allegations against his client in court rather than the Senate.

“We recently learned from news reports that a complaint was filed against our client Mayor Alice Guo with the Ombudsman. We welcome this development as the issues surrounding the mayor can now be addressed in a proper forum, where the focus is on facts and evidence rather than public attacks and ridicule. We hope that the filing of the case with the Ombudsman will put an end to this political persecution and finally uncover the truth that Mayor Guo has no involvement in the POGO operations in Bamban,” he said in a statement.

“We do not agree with the issuance of preventive suspension order, but we will promptly answer the allegations raised against the mayor once we receive a copy of the complaint,” he added. n

Zelensky on Philippine trip: I need to...

PAGE 1

the voices of Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines, are very important.

“[I went here] directly, to invite him to participate [in] this summit, that there will be three very important issues on 15th of June in Switzerland. The first one will be food security. I think it’s also very important in our bilateral relation between us and the Philippines — nuclear security that’s important for all the world, I think too,” Zelensky said.

“It was very important directly to invite the president, directly to speak with him about the details [of] what’s going on on the battlefield, what Russia brought with this war to our land, of this crisis, what they think about, and of course, for us it’s very important not to give Russia possibility to influence in Asia, very important region, very important voice of Philippines,” he added.

Earlier, Zelensky said in a tweet that Marcos will participate in the Global Peace Summit. This came after the two leaders held a bilateral meeting at Malacañang.

Initially, there was no confirmation from the Presidential Communications Office (PCO)

regarding Marcos’ participation, but PCO Secretary Cheloy Garafil said the Philippines’ participation is still being finalized.

Zelensky, during the interview with RTVM, reiterated that Marcos vowed to attend the summit.

“Yes. He said that the Philippines will support the summit. I said for us it is important for us [for] him to come. He said he will come and he will participate in the summit.

This (is a) great strong signal,” Zelensky said.

Zelensky also said that he informed Marcos about their efforts to bring back Ukrainian children allegedly abducted by Russia when it started its invasion.

“But the important reason is because we are preparing, in such a tough period, in the period of war in Ukraine, we are preparing our steps to peace, to just peace, just peace for Ukraine, Ukrainians, for our family, for our children, and of course, for us, it’s very important [to] have participation on the level of your leader, participation in this summit, in Switzerland,” he said.

“And the third one, the

humanitarian one, where we count on your support at how to get back our Ukrainian stolen children, you know that Russia has stolen 20,000 of our children from occupied territories and we need to get them back, and we need to find the mechanism of getting back the children, different age, it’s a pity but we have to bring them home,” he added.

Earlier, Zelensky thanked Marcos for the Philippines’ support of Ukraine’s sovereign claims. In 2022, the Philippines voted in favor of a 2022 United Nations resolution expressing “explicit condemnation” of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Zelensky went to Manila for a short bilateral meeting with Marcos after failing to meet in Singapore over the weekend.

Both Marcos and Zelensky came from Singapore, where the International Institute for Strategic Studies Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier defense summit, was held. Marcos was the keynote speaker there; Zelensky, on the other hand, was urging countries in the Asean region to support the Swiss-organized summit. n

Vaccinations may not prevent infections from...

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms are similar to infections from other subvariants: runny nose, sore throat, headache, fevers, cough and body aches. The CDC has dropped its recommendation of isolating for five days, advising instead to stay home until the fever has passed

Vaccines have not kept pace with the rapid evolution of COVID-19 variants and subvariants, said Neuman, speaking at an Ethnic Media Services news briefing May 24. The Food and Drug Administration was scheduled to last week to discuss KP.2, but has postponed its meeting until July to determine which subvariants on which to base a new vaccine, which will be rolled out in September.

Out of date test kits

The virologist said his preference is for a twice a year vaccine boost. “This would do a lot to prevent infections. However, that does not appear to be the path that they are taking right now. It appears to be a once annual vaccination, in the back to school and winter season.”

“When we know that this is a virus that occurs sporadically,

and peaks at different times throughout the year, every year. It’s essentially unpredictable.

We’re treating COVID as if it were flu, even though it’s very much not,” stated Neuman.

Home test kits may not be as effective at diagnosing an infection, because they are developed for older subvariants. However, said Neuman, they will still work. “They are likely out of date. And so that means that they may miss some of the time. But the tests work based on detecting parts of the virus that have not been changing very much in the recent evolution. So in theory, they would still work effectively.”

Summer surge

Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, professor of Medicine and director of the immuno-compromised host infectious diseases program at the University of California, San Francisco, said he expects to see a surge of COVID infections this summer.

“As more people get infected with the new variants, it will just be easier to get in a more vulnerable state. And because of the low vaccination rate and low uptake of Paxlovid, I’m worried that we’ll get a swell

in hospitalizations,” said ChinHong, who joined Neuman at the May 24 EMS news briefing. The US has experienced four consecutive summers of COVID surges: as temperatures get warmer, people tend to gather indoors, largely without masks. Get vaccinated Chin-Hong predicted that the surge would not cripple hospitals, as it has in previous years. He noted that the surge would come in earlier this year, based on wastewater analysis.

“We need to encourage particularly those who are vulnerable and especially if they didn’t get a vaccine last year to please go ahead and get it. And if you don’t want to get a vaccine, make sure you know how to get access to early therapy if you get COVID,” said Chin-Hong.

He encouraged people to continue wearing masks, noting that masks are useful for any illness that’s respiratory spread.

“Emerging threats will continue our lifetimes. And we have to keep our efforts laser focused on protecting all parts of our society, especially the vulnerable,” said Chin-Hong.

(Sunita Sohrabji/Ethnic Media Services)

New poll: Majority of Californians want clean...

towards our 2045 zero carbon goals,” said bill author Senator Dave Min (D-Irvine). “SB 1221 paves the way for this transition by showing how we can move away from fossil fuels in heating and cooling our homes, driving down utility costs for consumers and building climate resilience."

Affordability is a key issue for the majority of Californians surveyed. According to the poll, over three in five respondents said they were concerned that more than half of California’s gas pipelines are nearing the end of their useful life and require costly maintenance or replacement.

Aging gas infrastructure is a big, expensive problem. In California, it can cost over $3 million per mile to repair and replace pipelines, which are paid for by utility customers. The California Energy Commission finds that without intervention, gas bills could get as high as $600 per month by 2050 due to the high cost of gas infrastructure. With neighborhood-scale decarbonization, Californians can avoid covering the high cost

of replacing and repairing costly gas infrastructure, which will also eventually become obsolete as the state moves toward clean energy. Instead, utilities can redirect this spending to costeffectively upgrading homes and community buildings to run on clean electricity, all the while saving ratepayers money (one study estimates around $2,000 over 15 years).

Jose Torres, CA Director for the BDC remarks: “The numbers tell us that the majority of California voters understand the importance of having their neighborhoods run on 100% clean electricity. Equipping an entire neighborhood with zeroemission appliances like heat pumps can reduce pollutants inside the home and expand access to life-saving cooling. Neighborhood-scale approaches to building decarbonization can help us reach our climate and clean energy goals faster, save utility customers money, and make this a more equitable transition.” Advocates supporting SB 1221 and a majority of poll

respondents want to see California achieve a brighter future beyond gas. For example, 70% of poll respondents said they are concerned about climate change, and about two thirds (66%) see improving air quality as “extremely” or “very” important.

Gas appliances in our homes and buildings are responsible for about 25% of California’s greenhouse gas emissions, approximately 44 million metric tons annually, the equivalent of the emissions produced by nearly 10 million passenger cars on the road. These same appliances are also dangerous for indoor air quality and public health, emitting four times more nitrogen oxide pollution than the state’s gas power plants. The results of the poll, and the momentum behind SB 1221 suggest that the state is ready to begin a process to phase costly and polluting gas out of homes and buildings. The pilots enabled by SB1221 will get Californians closer to a future where neighborhoods are powered by renewable energy.

VACATION MODE. Children fly kites along the Coastal Bypass Road, Davao City on Tuesday, June 4, not minding the scorching heat. The

opening of classes for Academic Year 2024-2025 will be on July 29. PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.

the PS-DBM and its network of suppliers in sourcing the supplies to combat the pandemic.

“Our overriding consideration was to prevent, if not mitigate, the risk of our health care workers waiting for local suppliers whom we knew had no capacity, initially, to supply large volumes of PPEs (personal protective equipment) and other COVID-19 supplies needed,”

Duque explained.

He stressed that the DOH could not neglect the lives of health care workers who were at the forefront in the battle against SARS-CoV-2.

Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin, a former DOH secretary herself, expressed dissatisfaction over Duque’s replies.

“Don’t take us for a ride. The question is so simple. Just say yes, or (give) the name of the person or the committee (who decided to make the transfer of funds), or if it was you who authorized (the transfer). Did you unilaterally give an instruction to do this (transfer)?” Garin said.

Duque answered that his decision was based on the recommendation of the InterAgency Task Force and the National Task Force against

COVID-19.

Garin also raised concerns over the government’s handling of COVID-19 loans, pointing to the burden it created on the taxpayers and the lack of accountability for the borrowed funds. It was found during the hearing that the government secured a total of $2.21 billion for the Philippine COVID-19 Emergency Response Project and the Health System Enhancement to address and limit COVID-19 in 2021 and 2022. “So, if you translate that to pesos, considering the P51 conversion rate (in 2021), that’s

Comelec vows clean 2025...

1

peaceful and credible BARMM elections, as well as in other parts of the country.

“We will not leave any voter behind, meaning the Comelec will ensure that every qualified voter would be able to vote in the upcoming [2025] elections,” he said.

“Nobody should be disenfranchised. Not under the present leadership, not under the present administration, not under the present process or system,” Garcia said.

Garcia gave his assurance that Comelec would act accordingly based on developments that would happen in a certain area during the election.

“We will assess the level of potential violence, the level of manipulation or irregularity of the locality before it will be placed under Comelec control. It will be a difficult process because doing so would impute stigma on the people in the area,” he said in Filipino.

Garcia said the purpose of the summit was to gather all

regional parties in the BARMM that wanted to be accredited and participate in the first BARMM parliamentary elections in 2025.

“We wanted to orient them on our implementing rules and regulations, how to apply for a petition for accreditation,” he said, adding that “most importantly, we wanted them to be friends even as they would be adversaries in the upcoming polls for the sake of the motherland.”

BARMM is composed of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi Tawi. The regional center is the City of Cotabato. It also includes the cities of Lamitan and Jolo, 116 municipalities, and 2,590 barangay.

Many of the perennial election hotspots in Mindanao are within the BARMM and surrounding areas.

In 2022, placed under Comelec control were the towns of Buluan, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Datu Piang, Mangudadatu, Pandag, and Sultan Kudarat in the province of Maguindanao, Marawi City, and the towns of Maguing Tubaran

tantamount to P112,719,180,000. But because the conversion rate has increased… it has increased to P129 billion. That’s how big our loan is,” Garin said.

Earlier, the Office of the Ombudsman ordered the filing of graft charges against Duque and former budget undersecretary Christopher Lao, who was reportedly a fraternity brother and campaign leader of Duterte. More than one-fourth of the contract with PS-DBM was bagged by Pharmally Pharmaceuticals Corp., which was linked to Michael Yang, Duterte’s former economic adviser. n

and Malabang in Lanao del Sur.

Under Comelec Resolution 10757, an area can be placed under Comelec control if there is a history of/or current intense rivalry among contending parties. Such rivalries could motivate people to engage in violent acts, incidents of politically-motivated violence involving aspirants/ candidates and other supporters. Violence may be facilitated by the employment of Private Armed Groups and serious armed threats posed by the Communist Terrorist Groups and other threat groups, including the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, the Abu Sayyaf Group, the Maute Group, and other analogous threat groups as may be declared by the competent authority, or other paramilitary forces, private armies or identifiable armed bands widely perceived to have committed terrorism, fraud or other election irregularities, and threaten or disrupt the holding of free, peaceful, honest, orderly and credible elections in any political divisions, subdivisions, unit or area. n

Meet the first Filipino American judge in the US

Judge Mel ‘Red’ Recana and his son, Judge Julian Recana, have made history as the first Fil-Am father and son to serve in the California judiciary

by Mary Villegas Inquirer.net

LOS ANGELES Superior Court

Judge Mel “Red” Recana, the first-ever Filipino American judge in the United States, has been serving in the California judiciary for 40 years.

It all still seems surreal for Recana, given his humble beginnings in the Philippines.

In an interview with ABC7, he said his family was poor and his father, a town police officer, only had a third-grade education.

Recana said his father discouraged him from pursuing his dream to become either an Army general or an actor.

“My dad said, you know what son, to be an actor, you’ve got to be good looking or extremely ugly. You’re just an average guy. So, what am I going to do now? My dad said, you love to talk, maybe you should be a lawyer,” the Fil-Am judge recalled.

Inspired by American Defense Counsel Clarence Darrow, Recana pursued law.

Juggling stints as a court reporter to sustain his studies, the Fil-Am judge graduated from the University of the East in Manila in 1964. A few years later, he migrated to California

and started a blue-collar job at the Southern Pacific Railroad Company.

An encounter with a Filipino lawyer following a car accident turned the tide for Recana.

“He said, Mel, I heard you’re a lawyer from the Philippines. I said yes. Well, you can take the bar without going back to law school. I said, why is that? Well, because the Philippines is a common law jurisdiction country,” Recana recalled. In the mid-’70s, Recana passed the bar exam. He later went back to school, earning a master’s

in

He became the first Fil-Am deputy district attorney in Los Angeles County. His career took a monumental leap when Governor Jerry Brown appointed him as a judge on May 27, 1981

making history as the first ever Fil-Am judge in the U.S. A golden legacy

forward to 2015, Governor Brown also appointed his son, Julian, as a Superior Court judge. Recana proudly swore in his son. They made history as the first Fil-Am father and son to serve in the California judiciary.

“I really do owe everything to (my father) for this one. He was the big dreamer,” Judge Julian Recana told ABC7. “He put in the idea that I could also become a judge or become an attorney. I never thought I couldn’t be that because I had him as a father.” Judge Mel Recana has recently been honored by the Philippine American Bar Association with its Lifetime Achievement Award. Recana expressed gratitude for his journey saying, “God was with me all this time. I’ve never wavered in my faith. It was quite an adventure, really.” n

Photo screengrabbed from ABC7.com

degree

public administration from Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Former Health Secretary Francisco Duque III Philstar.com file photo

RED, WHITE AND BLUE. A vendor sells mini Philippine flags along Osmeña Highway in Makati City on Monday, June 3. The National Flag Days commenced on May 28 and will end on Independence Day (June 12), with offices and residences encouraged to prominently display the Philippine flag. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

Three more Filipino athletes earn spots in 2024 Paris Olympics

by Hans Carbonilla Inquirer.net

AFTER Samantha Catantan recently made history as the first Filipino fencer to compete in the Olympics since 1992, three more world-class Filipino athletes have joined the 2024 Paris Olympics contingent.

Filipino American gymnast and UCLA varsity member Emma Malabuyo added to the excitement as she became the fourth gymnast to represent the Philippines at the Olympics, following Carlos Yulo, Aleah Finnegan and Levi JungRuivivar.

She clinched her Olympic berth on May 24 at the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Asian Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where she bagged bronze in the individual all-around category.

Taking to Instagram, Malabuyo expressed that she was terrified to go for her Olympic dream one last time, but thought she was “even

more terrified of not trying at all.”

“From four world cups: Cairo to Cottbus to Los Angeles to Baku to Doha, and finally in Tashkent at Asian Championships, I did it,” she continued. “What a dream come true! I have never fought for something so hard in my life. Went out there with passion, fight, resilience and grit. I am so thankful to my family, who never stopped believing in me. To my Bruin family, to all my coaches, to the Filipino community, this is for you, and I am so honored to represent the Philippines.”

Meanwhile, from the heartpounding ring battles, Olympic silver medalist Carlo Paalam emerged victorious once again.

With unwavering determination, the Cagayan de Oro boxer clinched victory at the Men’s 57 kg semifinals of the 2nd World Boxing Qualification in Bangkok, Thailand, solidifying his place in the Paris Olympics on June 1. His qualification increases

the Philippine boxing contingent to four.

Following his decisive victory against India’s Sachin Siwach, Paalam expressed his gratitude on social media, writing, “Thank you so much, Lord.”

Lastly, Hergie Bacyadan etched her name in Philippine sports history as she punched her way to the Paris Olympics. The former world champion in vovinam displayed her dominance in the women’s 75 kg category at the World Qualification Tournament in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 2.

In a series of Instagram posts, the boxer wrote “PROUD PINOY” and “BOUND TO PARIS.”

With each qualification, Filipino athletes continue to prove their mettle on the global stage, embodying the spirit of excellence and resilience. As the nation rallies behind these athletes, anticipation builds for the moments of triumph they will bring to Paris in July. n

FLiRT variant detected in Philippines, but DOH says COVID-19 risk remains low

MANILA — The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed on Tuesday, June 4 the detection of flagged Omicron subvariants, including KP.2, in the Philippines, but stressed the increase in cases remains slow and the country faces low COVID-19 risk.

Recent sequencing by the University of the PhilippinesPhilippine Genome Center detected two cases of KP.2, 2 cases of JN.1.18, and 30 cases of JN.1.

“Their detection, along with the slow increase in the number of new cases and the plateau in number of occupied COVID-19 beds, aligns with the international observation that the new variants under monitoring continue to be clinically mild and manageable,” the DOH said.

Currently, there are four COVID-19 variants under monitoring: JN.1.7, JN.1.18, KP.2, and KP.3.

So-called “FLiRT” variants of COVID-19, which include

KP.2 and KP.3, appeared to be contributing to a rising wave of COVID-19 cases across the globe. However, there is still no evidence suggesting that KP.2 and KP.3 cause severe or critical COVID-19, either in the Philippines or internationally.

Health spokesperson Albert Domingo said the earliest collection date for KP.2 was May 2024.

“It may be likely that there are earlier KP.2 cases, but because of limited sequencing we have not detected and reported this earlier,” Domingo told reporters.

Low hospital occupancy

The Philippines reported an average of only 319 COVID-19 cases daily for the week of May 21 to 27.

The DOH said the figure was higher than the previous week’s 202 cases, but still less than half of the around 500 per day reported at the start of this year and around 1,750 per day in mid-May 2023.

Data from the department

showed that hospital occupancy for COVID-19 patients remained low. Only 14% of 1,235 intensive care unit (ICU) beds and 15% of 10,910 non-ICU beds dedicated to COVID-19 patients were occupied.

Only 185 severe and critical cases were admitted, accounting for 10% of the country’s total COVID-19 hospital admissions.

The DOH also recorded 20 deaths due to COVID-19, with five occurring in the recent two weeks.

The department urged the public to continue practicing these preventive measures: proper mask-wearing, frequent handwashing, avoiding crowded spaces and ensuring good ventilation.

“Similar to the ministries of health of other countries, the DOH still does not see any need for travel restrictions, especially as these may impair the flow of other essential health goods and services,” it said. (Gaea Katreena Cabico/Philstar.com)

PH reaffirms commitment to uphold rights, welfare of refugees

MANILA — Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Tuesday, June 4 assured that the Philippines is "taking great strides towards an active role" in upholding the rights and welfare of refugees.

Remulla made the assurance in a statement read by DOJ

Undersecretary Raul Vasquez in Manila, ahead of the official launch of the country's inaugural National Refugee Day on June 20. "Through the very first commemoration of National Refugee Day, the Philippines sends a strong message of our continuing commitment for a long humanitarian legacy of opening our doors and providing support to people who have crossed international borders to seek safety and protection,"

Remulla said. Under Proclamation No. 265 series of 2023 issued by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., June 20 of every year is National Refugee Day in the Philippines to honor refugees and stateless individuals. To further affirm the country's commitment, the Refugees and Stateless Persons Protection Unit (RSPPU) was created under the DOJ, which was granted its own budget under the 2024 General Appropriations Act. "Resources which help in our efforts will be of service, and to further improve our capacity in order to help those seeking refuge in the Philippines, and which we hope, will continue for many years to come, given the growing number of forcibly displaced all over the world,"

DOJ-RPSU head Chief State Counsel Dennis Arvin Chan said. "As Chief State Counsel and head of the DOJ-RSPPU, I hope that the National Refugee Day would pave the way for stronger, more nurturing, inclusive and sustainable communities here in the country," he added.

National Refugee Day 2024 kicks off with the first National Refugee Forum on June 20, discussing the experiences of the displaced and how to help them.

There would also be the 2nd Refugee Film Festival and Short Film Competition at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde and "Hope Away from Home" traveling exhibit of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees at the Supreme Court, both in Manila, on June 20 to 22. (PNA)

House, Senate discuss priorities ahead of 19th Congress last session

MANILA — The House of Representatives and the Senate have started coordinating on their legislative priorities ahead of the 3rd and last regular session of the 19th Congress.

In a media interview in San Mateo, Rizal on Tuesday, June 4, Speaker Martin Romualdez said he initially discussed their common legislative agenda with newly installed Senate President (SP) Francis Escudero on Monday, June 3 in Malacañang during the signing of the law increasing the teaching supply allowance of public school teachers.

“Nag-agree kami ni (We agreed with) Senate president that even before the LEDAC (LegislativeExecutive Development Advisory Council) na sa third week ng buwan na ‘to, mag-usap kami (that in the third week of this month, we will talk). Ah siyempre naman, ‘yung (Of course, the) coordination between SP and myself of course, we have each other’s numbers,” he said.

He said House Majority Leader Jose Manuel Dalipe and his Senate counterpart, Senator Francis Tolentino, have their own coordination.

“So mukhang (it’s like) we’re on our way. We will allow the

Senate to fully organize itself or reorganize itself and the common legislative agenda will be outlined as well as the priority legislation,” he said. Romualdez said Escudero and the other new leaders of the Senate are aware that the House had already passed all the priority measures of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

“So the coordination will be particularly dito sa mga (here in the) bicameral conference committees on how we reconcile the differing versions,” he added. He pointed out that he and his colleagues would also “just await the Senate in prioritizing which

Expect rough sailing on Sogie bill – Escudero

by Bernadette e tamayo ManilaTimes.net

SENATE President Francis Escudero expects the proposed Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression (Sogie) equality bill to "face rough sailing" in the Senate.

Escudero was asked to comment on the call of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for Congress to pass the Sogie bill.

The measure calls for the protection of all persons, regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.

"Unless the proponents of the Sogie bill accede to some amendments, it will continue to face rough sailing in the Senate," Escudero said in a text message Monday, June 3.

On the other hand, he sees the anti-discrimination bill as having a better chance of getting approved.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros disagrees with Escudero, saying 19 senators support the proposed Sogie equality law.

Senate Bill 139, or the proposed Sogie Equality Act, filed by Hontiveros in July 2022, passed the committee level in December of that year, but had been pending for second reading.

SB 139 will protect foremost LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) persons from discrimination and harassment in schools, workplaces, and public spaces.

"Nineteen of my colleagues signed the committee report on the Sogie Equality Bill. That should speak to its acceptability across the aisle," Hontiveros said in a statement. She said she has asked Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino to look into the committee report, which has remained pending in the Committee on Rules, "and he has promised to do so."

Hontiveros expressed hope that the new Senate leadership "would stand up for our LGBTQ+ community this Pride Month and to their daily lives as individuals."

Pride Month is traditionally celebrated in June by the LGBTQ+ community due to its historic link to Stonewall in 1969 in New York City, which signaled LGBTQ+ activism.

of the local legislations that we have also passed and transmitted to the Senate will be acted upon.”

“Pero maganda po naman ang usapan natin ni Senate president (But my discussion with the Senate president is fine),” he said. Asked about the proposed amendments to the Constitution’s restrictive economic provisions he and his House colleagues have been advocating, he said “these are pending with the Senate as well.”

The 3rd regular session of Congress will open on July 22, also the third State of the Nation Address of the president. (PNA)

In 2023, the Philippines broke the record for the biggest Pride March in Southeast Asia, with more than 110,000 people in attendance, the Philippine Anti-Discrimination Alliance of Youth Leaders (Pantay) said. "This Pride Month, our legislators should commit to hear the Sogie Equality Bill in the Senate," Pantay convener Vince Liban said in a statement. n

"For the United Nations Population Fund, Pride Month is a call to action. It's a time to amplify our commitment to ensuring that every individual, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, is entitled to their human rights, including access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights information and services without discrimination," UNFPA Philippines Country Representative Leila Joudane said in a statement.

SATURDAYS | NOW THROUGH JULY 27 | 7PM - 10PM

Senate President Francis Escudero Philstar.com photo

Speaker Martin Romualdez

PNA photo

BREAK. Davao Gulf fisherfolk take advantage of the closed fishing season by mending and repainting their boats on Monday, June 3. The June to August restriction is being implemented by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Department of the Interior and Local Government to allow small pelagic fishes to replenish and meet the demands in the region. PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.

OpiniOn Features

More rice importation

WITH rice prices refusing to go down and even likely to further increase in the coming months, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will soon issue an executive order reducing the tariff on rice imports from 35 percent to just 15 percent until the end of his term in 2028. This comes on the heels of the final approval by the House of Representatives of a bill that seeks to restore the power of the National Food Authority to import rice during emergency situations.

The further liberalization of rice importation, according to Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, is meant to bring down rice prices to P29, to be offered to the country’s poor. Rice farmers, however, are among those poor, and they are worried that further rice import liberalization would bury their livelihood. The government cannot brush aside the farmers’ concerns. Rice prices are a particularly sensitive issue for the Marcos administration, which rose to power on a campaign “aspiration” of bringing rice prices down to P20 a kilo. As the administration enters its third year, not even the heavily subsidized Kadiwa outlets can offer rice at that retail price. Several agriculture experts have noted that rice at P20 a kilo in regular retail outlets is not possible even by 2028. This year, rice prices have remained high due to the lingering impact of an El Niño event that has caused prolonged drought in many areas. Rice prices have fueled food inflation. Despite a slight dip in rice prices that tracked trends in the world market, food and transport costs pushed up the

Editorial

headline inflation rate last April for the third straight month. Boosting domestic rice production is the ideal approach to stabilizing rice supply and prices. Being a net exporter of rice need not remain a dream or an aspiration for the country. President Marcos, since the early days of his administration when he was the concurrent agriculture secretary, had enumerated the problems that plague domestic rice production, along with the solutions.

Those solutions and interventions have been promised by previous administrations: sufficient irrigation, fertilizer and pesticide subsidies, post-harvest facilities, mechanization support, assistance in marketing, and for beneficiaries of agrarian reform, support in forming cooperatives to promote economies of scale.

These support services were supposed to be boosted with the allocation of billions annually from rice import tariffs that went to the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund. Farmers say the full promise of RCEF, which will be

March.

EVERYONE’S waiting with bated breath, as if waiting for the next episode of an edge-ofyour-seat Netflix drama – how would President Marcos handle the ghost employee scandal that has rocked the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas?

A source close to the halls of power said Marcos will come up with a decision in the next ten days. Anything can happen but clearly, the fate of the two Monetary Board members (MBM) at the center of the jaw-dropping ghost employee issue is in the hands of Marcos because MBMs are presidential appointees.

BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr. has already submitted to Malacañang the results of the central bank’s internal investigation.

The BSP charter is clear and all the president needs to do is to look at it.

According to Republic Act 7653, otherwise known as The New Central Bank Act, Section 10 of Article II states that the president may remove any member of the Monetary Board for several reasons, one of which is:

“If the member is guilty of acts or operations which are of

fraudulent or illegal character or which are manifestly opposed to the aims and interest of the Bangko Sentral.”

There’s the rub, though. Some sources speculate that Marcos, the Mr. Nice Guy that he is, does not want to widen or worsen the rift between his family and the Dutertes. The two MBMs involved in the issue are Duterte appointees.

BSP insiders and former MBMs, however, said that in this case, Marcos may not have a choice given that the law is clear when it comes to dealing with members who are guilty of illegal actions, unless of course the concerned MBMs are able to explain that hiring ghost employees was not illegal or that they weren’t ghost employees to begin with.

In a statement, the BSP already called such acts as irregular.

“The irregularities appear unprecedented in an organization that upholds integrity and professionalism at all levels.”

The BSP also said that in January, an investigating team of the BSP’s Office of the General Counsel submitted its final investigation report. “The Office of the General Counsel signed it.”

From late February to early March, four of the employees and one direct supervisor implicated in the report tendered their resignation. Administrative disciplinary cases were filed in

Indeed, the BSP has acknowledged the irregularities following its internal investigation. It is now up to President Marcos to act on the matter.

Former BSP executives and ex-MBMs I’ve talked to believe that the law must prevail. They said that it took decades to rebuild and protect the integrity of the country’s monetary institution after its past life, the old central bank, was mired in its own controversies.

They lament that the scandal has tainted the BSP’s integrity and must therefore be rectified.

As for me, I’m also curious how it happened. What could be the justification? Could it be possible that the MBMs involved did not know that there were ghost employees in their offices?

No, this is not possible, former and current MBMs told me. They said the MBM approves every employee in his or her payroll and likewise signs every staff member’s vacation leave and sick leaves.

This issue, according to BSP insiders and ex BSP executives, is now being closely watched by the international community including central bank organizations in Southeast Asia and beyond, as well as international credit ratings agencies.

What happens next is anybody’s guess but for sure,

affected by the looming tariff cut, has yet

be realized. In further liberalizing rice importation, the government must see to it that the

everyone’s waiting.

I hope that Marcos, who has been busy trying to court international investors to do business in the country, knows the urgency of addressing the issue properly.

Taxing mega corporations I recently had a chat with former BIR Commissioner Kim Henares who was in Brazil last month as a speaker at the G20 International Tax Symposium.

Comm. Kim discussed the problem of base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS), taking off from the OECD’s move to form the Global Forum For Taxation on addressing BEPS. This tax base erosion and profit shifting happens because multinational enterprises exploit gaps between different countries’ tax systems.

The OECD, she said, has estimated that between four percent to 10 percent of global corporate income tax revenues, or around $100 to $240 billion, were lost as of 2013, because of BEPS.

“It’s a scandalous situation where large companies like Apple, Starbucks and Amazon, though reporting large revenues, are paying little or no corporate taxes,” Comm. Kim said in her presentation.

Against this backdrop, she said it’s good that the OECD recognized the problems of base erosion and profit shifting. However, she also said the OECD missed specific problems

affecting developing countries like the Philippines due to a lack of consultation.

For example, she said that OECD attempts a reallocation of residual profits of megacorporations but applies this to only a few firms and allocates only a small portion of profits. She said the OECD must consider revisiting and potentially overhauling double taxation treaties to better fit developing countries like the Philippines as well as the global and digital world.

Moving forward, Comm. Kim said that countries like the

Philippines must also support the UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation so that their difficulties in taxing cross border transactions can be heard and they can come up with a solution that will fit their economies. (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.

* * * Follow her on X, formerly Twitter @ eyesgonzales. Column archives at EyesWideOpen (Iris Gonzales) on Facebook.

THIS is a plea, especially to our nation’s leaders, especially the politicians who wield power in both the political and economic realms. I know I’m far from being the only one who believes that if only most of you loved our country enough to put it ahead of furthering and perpetuating your personal power and wealth, our country and the bulk of our fellow Filipinos would be much better off today. You would well know how the Philippines had progressively slid from the top to bottom position among its regional peers since the 1960s. We were the most dynamic economy in Southeast Asia and second richest in East Asia (next to Japan) in the 1960s but now rank the worst in most social

and economic indicators that matter. A Korean friend once told me how on his first visit to Manila in the 1960s, he was awestruck with envy at our infrastructure and level of development that was well ahead of his own country then. Neighbors from whom we now import rice and other farm products once sent their students to learn agricultural sciences in our country in my hometown of Los Baños, once the region’s knowledge center on the field. South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, and India sent people to train at the Agricultural Credit and Cooperatives Institute in Los Baños, and have since demonstrated the power of farm cooperatives in uplifting their farms and farmers. Yet our own farm coops more often than not fail and collapse, leading many to believe that cooperativism simply will not work in the Philippines. We may have lost our cherished tradition of bayanihan,” and have become

too individualistic or “kanyakanya” for sustained collective endeavors to prosper. Our concern for the common good now seems a casualty in the pursuit of selfish interest.

We need you, our leaders, to be always guided by the principle of the greatest good for the greatest number in the decisions you make and the actions you take. We need you to prove by your example that the common good and your personal welfare can actually come together. Many temptations come your way every day that pull you into decisions and actions that would increase your own wealth and power. Vested interests always surround you and strive to push you into actions that will lead to their gain, even if it means harm or loss to many, especially the powerless among us. But please think constantly of our country and how far behind it has fallen because people in power like you had chosen to set the

common good aside, in favor of personal gain.

If you are a local chief executive, please do not be one whose first question to a potential investor is “What’s in it for me?”—then throw hurdles in their way if the answer is not to your liking. And please make it as easy as possible to start, register, and renew a business in your area, and recognize that these create jobs and incomes among your constituents, help uplift their lives, and ultimately strengthen your local economy.

If you are a member of either house of Congress, please take to heart your avowed mission of being a true representative of your constituents, whether they voted for you or not. Please also be mindful that the loudest voices and the strongest lobbies do not necessarily push in the right direction that will lead to the greatest good of the greatest number, which ought to be your yardstick. We implore you to be guided by evidence and

sound analysis in the policy directions you take, which may not necessarily be what seems popular. And please focus on your role as lawmakers, as that is your only proper mandate from the Filipino public.

If you are a policymaker in the executive branch, please immerse yourself among the people you serve to be able to feel their problems firsthand and understand their true needs. If you are a member of the judiciary, please remember that you ultimately decide the fate of our people who count on the protection of the rule of law, which applies equally to everyone regardless of their social and economic stature.

And if you are a public servant in whatever government department or office, please take on an enabling mindset rather than a restricting and regulating one to the point of inhibiting worthwhile private initiatives and enterprises.

Lastly, please be mindful that

our country is in crisis on many fronts, the most fundamental of which is the very real threat to our future posed by our failure to care enough for our youngest children who are the very future of our nation. Too many of them are hungry and malnourished due to lack of income and unduly high food prices, and unable to obtain the right education due to numerous failures in our educational system. If we do not reverse these problems now, our very future as a nation is in great peril.

In the end, we pray that you show and practice genuine love for our country that would serve as a worthy example for all Filipinos to emulate. (Inquirer.net)

* * * 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.

* * * cielito.habito@gmail.com

to

support

measures to increase domestic rice production do not remain in the realm of aspiration.

(Philstar.com)

NOW that the Eddie Garcia Law has been signed, actor and Quezon City 1st District Representative

Juan Carlos "Arjo" Atayde said the law should be strictly implemented to ensure the safe working conditions for those in the movie and TV industry.

According to Atayde, if implemented properly, the Republic Act 11996 should result in overall better movies and shows as workers will be more motivated knowing their safety and security will be prioritized.

Atayde, one of the principal authors, emphasized that the law, which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently signed, should ensure that local movie and TV sets are "safe spaces" for everyone involved in the production. Their work will also become more efficient under a safer condition.

The law has been named after veteran actor Eddie Garcia, who died in 2019 when he tripped on loose cables while shooting a TV series, suffering fractures in the process.

"It's very appropriate that the Eddie Garcia Law was signed into law by the president in the birth month of Eddie Garcia, who would have turned 95 this May if not for an accident that could have been avoided — the kind of accident that the Eddie Garcia Law now seeks to prevent," Atayde said in a statement.

"This law is a fitting tribute to an artist who was loved, admired and respected by his peers in the entertainment industry. If properly implemented, the Eddie Garcia Law will protect personnel in the creative industry and will ensure that local movie and TV sets are literally and figuratively 'safe spaces' where artists and crew members can work knowing their welfare is a priority."

Atayde, an award-winning artist who now is currently the Vice Chairperson of the House Special Committee on Creative Industry and Performing Arts, pointed out that "for the Eddie Garcia Law to achieve its intended purpose, it is critical that the agencies involved in its implementation strictly monitor entertainment productions to ensure compliance with the law's provisions."

Aside from the vigilance of government agencies, Atayde urged those in the entertainment industry "to cooperate with efforts to implement this law."

"This should be a team effort. Those in the creative industry should familiarize themselves with the law's provisions... compliance should come naturally because this is for the benefit of everyone."

RA 11996 mandates employers in the movie and television industry to "promote safety and provide safe working conditions."

Section 19(f) states that employers are required to "ensure that all sets and locations have been properly assessed for any potential safety and health issues and that proper remedies and safeguards are implemented to deal with these issues."

Meanwhile, under Section 13(g), the law requires employers to designate safety officers and dedicated vehicles for emergency purposes, regardless of whether the productions are done in Metro Manila or out of town.

Arci on how to save up while mixing work and play

THE best financial advice that singer-actress Arci Muñoz has received came from her mom, whom she said worked hard to secure her future and enabled her to live a comfortable life.

“She told me to save up,” said Arci. “I’ve always been the happy-go-lucky type. Right now, I’m at a point in my life when I should be making wiser decisions financially. I’m 35 and I really have to set my priorities. My mom would tell me, ‘Enjoy your money. You worked hard for it.’ But she also instructed me that when I get my talent fee every month, I should put half of it in a separate bank account. This is the money that I cannot touch. I keep half and the other half I spend to travel.” Arci admitted that travel is really her biggest expense. “I’m not materialistic. Instead of buying a new bag, I spend it on travel. I also don’t shop often. I just love to try out food that is new to me. Traveling excites me because I get to learn different cultures,” she pointed out.

For those who aspire to be able to afford travel, she has this to say:

“I always list down my expenses, the places I want to go to and the things I want to do. I make sure to put a limit on how much I can spend, except for food because I love to eat. I’m willing to pay for that. We discover cultures through their food.

“I don’t mind flying economy especially if I’m using my own money. This is because most of the time, I travel for work. When I go abroad, I try to extend my stay for a couple of days to explore the country. As they say, combine work and play.”

Arci said she has several dream destinations, but would love to see more of China soon. “There are so many beautiful places in China that are still unexplored. It’s the first country I visited when I got a passport. I find China so beautiful. I can’t wait to go back,” she added.

She said she’s fortunate that she never struggled financially when she was younger. “For that, I’m grateful. I’m just really blessed that my parents provided for us and made sure that we live a comfortable life. They worked all their lives to be able to give us a good education. For sure, they also had their struggles as parents, but they didn’t make these known to us.

“I guess every family experiences struggles, but our

parents really prepared for our future. Right now, I promise to do the same, especially for friends in need; I will share if I have something to spare,” Arci said during a recent virtual gathering organized by the online cash lending platform, JuanHand, of which she is an endorser.

Investments When it comes to her investments outside show biz, Arci has quite a few. “My friends and I recently opened a yakiniku restaurant in Greenhills called Yoshimeatsu. It’s a franchise. We are relaunching it this month,” she began. “We also launched VIP Life, which is a beauty and lifestyle project. We offer collagen and glutathione supplements, as well as slimming coffee. We’re also expanding and planning to bring it to the United States.” Arci also runs a film production company called NDM Studios with Palanca-winning writer and director Njel de Mesa. In fact, she will be seen alongside Kiray Celis in the comedy film “Malditas in Maldives,” for which she also serves as producer and creative director. The film premiered at the recently concluded 2024 Jinseo Arigato International Film Festival in Japan, where she won the best international Filipino actress award.

“We have our studio in Nagoya. We’re also producing movies there. I love Japan so much. It’s my dream to actually live there. We have so many plans. I’m excited and I’m really looking forward to achieving them all,” she beamed.

‘Sweet Escape’ Arci has also finished

shooting Rommel Ricafort’s romantic drama “Sweet Escape” with Kang Donggun as leading man. Recalling her experience working with the Korean actor, Arci said: “We struggled because of the language barrier. It’s still hard for him to speak English. In terms of acting, he is very good. I was able to see the emotions he was trying to express through his facial expressions. That’s what’s important. It’s a great experience to work in Korea. I’m also a big fan of their industry. They’ve mastered storytelling,” she said.

The film was also partly shot in Bohol province. “For me, it’s one of the most important places in the Philippines. I’m proud that we have effectively managed to sustain biodiversity in the area. We should really take good care of it—it’s our responsibility. I’m glad we were able to show him one of the most beautiful places in our country. I can’t wait for everyone to see our movie,” the actress said.

This then led reporters to ask Arci, who has not publicly admitted to dating, if she has plans to settle down and have a family of her own. “There’s no point in worrying about that now. I refuse to feel pressured about it but, of course, I would sometimes ask myself, ‘Am I capable of doing it? Have I prepared myself for the future in all aspects?’ My answer is ‘yes.’ It’s easier to just leave it all up to God. Our parents prepared for our future. What I only need to do is to take care of whatever resources I have, and try to expand,” Arci declared.

CLAUDINE Barretto gave her two cents on the much talked about topic of divorce, saying she believes it gives an individual the chance to “right [their] wrongs.”

The actress, whose annulment process with estranged husband Raymart Santiago is still ongoing, shared photo quotes on the matter through her Instagram page on Sunday, June 2.

At present, the Philippines and the city-state of Vatican are the only governments that have not legalized divorce.

The divorce bill was approved by the House of Representatives on third and final reading last May 22. The legislation, however, will still have to muster enough votes in the Senate for it to become a law, provided that it will not be vetoed by the President.

The Senate then had an informal survey conducted by Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, which showed

that six senators were in favor of divorce—namely Robin Padilla, Grace Poe, Risa Hontiveros, Imee Marcos, Pia Cayetano and Raffy Tulfo. Those who opposed were Estrada himself, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Francis Tolentino, Joel Villanueva and

IF his current projects don’t convince you just how prolific theater star Joaquin Pedro Valdes is, we don’t know what will.

The latest adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s “Pacific Overtures,” which was headlined by the homegrown Filipino actor, had yet to officially open late last year when we asked what was up next for him. Answering with unconcerned nonchalance, Joaquin said, “Oh, nothing yet.”

Fast-forward six months later, Joaquin isn’t just about to tick off yet another coveted item on his bucket list, he’s also staking his claim as one of the London theater scene’s most sought-after heartthrobs.

In fact, Joaquin plays the Lover in both “A Song of Songs”—running until June 15 at Park Theatre in north London—and “The Baker’s Wife,” the eagerly anticipated Stephen Schwartz musical that is scheduled to run from July 6 to Sept. 14 at Menier Chocolate Factory.

For the uninitiated, Schwartz is the 76-year-old composer-lyricist behind such musical behemoths as “Pippin,” “Godspell,” “Pocahontas,” “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” “Enchanted” and that precious little musical called “Wicked.”

Joaquin doesn’t even get to do much in “A Song of Songs,” but theater website WhatsOnStage still singles him out and describes his performance and presence as “commanding,” calling his solo song “Dance for Me” as “the evening’s take-home number.” The production follows the story of a young wife in a loveless marriage as she mulls over meeting her unseen admirer, simply referred to as the Lover (Joaquin).

Diverse music

“It’s very exciting because the music aspect of it is really gorgeous,” Joaquin told Inquirer Entertainment over Zoom. “It attempts to bring in the different kinds of music from the Middle East to Jewish klezmer music to the gypsy, flamenco and Andalusian sounds. It’s a play with a lot of music which helps create that atmosphere.

“I absolutely love it. I function more like a flamenco singer. The band, with our clarinetist, violinist and guitarist, is incredible. Our clarinetist specializes in Azerbaijani, Middle Eastern, Oriental sounds. Our percussionist is Spanish, so you’ll hear all these different flavors … flamenco, rhumba, tango, etc.

“The music is atmospheric and really embraces you. I found it challenging because I function more as a musician than an actor in this show. And there are lots of moments where the band improvises, so I improvise with them vocally, as well. When I started learning it and immersing myself in the Azerbaijani and Middle Eastern vocals, I found that I loved singing it so much!

“There’s a lot of dancing from the women in the cast, because there are loads of flamenco elements to it. But my character, the Lover, sings tunes that don’t necessarily push the plot forward, so they’re more ‘state of mind’ songs that set up the scenes and emotions. And so far, people have been responding well to them. The songs are ethereal, mystical …”

Cult following

As for “The Baker’s Wife,” theater lovers instantly remember the production for its gorgeous show tune, “Meadowlark.” While the musical has grown a cult following since it premiered in the West End in 1989 (yes, the same year as “Miss Saigon”), it has yet to be produced on Broadway.

“Over the years, there have been attempts to revive ‘The Baker’s Wife,’” Joaquin disclosed. “Gordon Greenberg, our director, who recently directed the Tony-nominated play, ‘The Heart of Rock and Roll’ on Broadway, has been with this title for a decade or so.

“He directed a revival of it at the Papermill Playhouse in the United States, with Alice Ripley and Max von Essen. So, it really means a lot to him and Stephen for the Menier to stage it on Schwartz’s 76th birth anniversary. It’s a big deal.

“It’s based on a 1938 French film [by Marcel Pagnol and Jean Giono] about a scandal that rocks a small community. It wasn’t received well initially,

but Gordon has been developing it for years. I met Gordon when he came to watch ‘Pacific Overtures,’ before I was even considered to audition for it. And the Menier, being so intimate [as a 200-seater venue], is perfect for this type of material. So even the performances are informed by the space.

“This version of ‘The Baker’s Wife’ is incredible—like, it features some of the biggest names in London, and I am so humbled to be part of it! They’re stacking it with a lot of not just good musical theater performers, but also fine actors [from straight plays] to breathe life into the text and the space. So, the [staging] is going to be ‘semi-immersive.’ It’s really exciting.”

Catalyst for change

Asked to talk about the story and his character, who is the baker’s wife’s lover, Joaquin said, “I play Dominique. The general plot revolves around a small, idyllic and quite province in the middle of France, whose residents are shaken when an older baker (Clive Rowe) and his beautiful young wife (Lucie Jones) move into town.

“This baker makes the best bread that everybody loves. Meanwhile, Dominique, my character, is the town playboy—a virile and good-looking young man who falls in love with Genevieve, the baker’s wife. He sweeps her off her feet, and they have an affair—and the whole town is just changed by it! So, this affair is the catalyst for everything that transpires thereafter.

“The central song, which I think conveys the quintessential sound and tone of the show, is this beautiful song called ‘Meadowlark’—one of Stephen Schwartz’s best songs ever. As Genevieve decides whether she should stay with her husband or run away with Dominique, she sings this fairy tale about a meadowlark who’s torn between the king who adores her and the Sun God. It’s a beautiful parable for what she’s going through.

“This unexpected turn of events causes a stir, and everybody is invested in this scandal. When you hear Dominique’s song, called ‘Proud Lady’—often every musical-theater tenor’s audition piece—it feels like it was initially written for someone like Gaston from ‘Beauty and the Beast’ … very bombastic, proud and almost twodimensional.

True love

“But I had a conversation with the director during my audition to explore Dominique’s authenticity and truth even more—how, on the surface, he looks attractive and is always in control, but he’s really just a simple guy from the province.

“All of a sudden, he falls in love and now you can explain why he does what he does. It’s the first time he’s feeling true love. He’s probably had a lot of relationships, but this is the first time he’s genuinely feeling it.

“Before this, Dominique was always vilified as the younger, hotter man, but now would be a great opportunity to show why the decision was hard for him to make. It isn’t just for carnal, animalistic pleasure. There’s genuine connection that Genevieve finds in Dominique that she probably couldn’t find with her husband.

by Anne PAsAjol Inquirer.net

by MArinel Cruz Inquirer.net

Joaquin Pedro Valdes Photo from

Claudine Barretto Photo from

Arci Muñoz bagged the best international Filipino actress award in Japan for “Maldita in Maldives” Photo from Instagram/@ramonathornes

Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. Juan Miguel Zubiri and Cynthia Villar, in separate interviews, also said they disapprove of divorce. Prior to Barretto, other celebrities who also expressed their support for the proposal to legalize divorce were Anne Curtis and Maxene Magalona.

Park happenings for June

THE East Bay Regional Park District is the largest regional park system in the nation, comprising 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,330 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and environmental education. The Park District receives an estimated 30 million visits annually throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Here are a couple of events that have taken place and will be taking place at the park district in June:

• An estimated 6,000 attendees celebrated the East Bay Regional Park District's 90th Anniversary at ParkFest at Lake Chabot Regional Park on May 11 and enjoyed a fun event filled with music, performances, food, and more. What a great time celebrating nearly a century of preserving open space and providing East Bay residents with access to nature close to home. Join us for more fun events throughout the year celebrating 90 years of East Bay Regional Parks, including "Explore Your Parks" programs, festivals, story sessions, picnics, and much more. For more information, visitwww.ebparks.org/celebrating-90-years.

• Alder and Leatherwood Creek Restoration and Public

Access Project completed – The largest creek restoration project in the Park District’s history was recently completed at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve, which removed several culverts and opened up 3,000 feet of creek to a more natural run. It is also the largest creek daylighting project in the entire Bay Area.

The Alder and Leatherwood Creek Restoration and Public

Access Project, previously referred to as the McCosker Project, provides natural habitat for special status or protected species, including the California red-legged frog, California foothill yellow-legged frog, Alameda whipsnake, San Francisco dusky-footed wood rat, golden eagle, Cooper’s hawk, loggerhead shrike, northern harrier, and white-tailed kite. Water quality and streamflow were also improved by the project, providing new habitat for rainbow trout.

The project was made possible through $4 million in funding secured by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan in the 2019 state budget. Additional funding came from the Park District’s voter-approved Measure WW and other state and federal grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Wildlife Conservation Board, Coastal Conservancy, California State Parks, and voterapproved Propositions 1, 84, and 50 allocated by the California Natural Resources Agency.

For more information, visit www.ebparks.org/about-us/ whats-new/news/park-districtcelebrates-grand-opening-aldercreek-and-leatherwood-creek.

• Park District launches pilot program to streamline entry at Del Valle Regional Park – East Bay Regional Park District began a new pilot project on Memorial Day weekend to expedite park entry at Del Valle on weekends and holidays. Entry to Del Valle Regional Park on busy weekends and holidays can be very challenging as visitors line up at the entry kiosk to pay for park admission and parking. With the pilot project, visitors

will pay a single $10 flat fee to enter the park rather than individual fees based on park use. The $10 flat fee covers park parking, trailers, and dogs. Fishing and quagga inspection fees can be purchased at the marina area. The $10 flat fee does not apply to Regional Parks Foundation members, who receive free park entry/parking at all Regional Parks as part of membership benefits. To help expedite entry, a limited number of passes will also be available for pre-purchase online atwww. ebparks.org/parks/del-valle/prepurchase-parking. As vehicles approach the kiosk, there will be a separate line for pre-paid parking, staff, members, and residents.

For up-to-date information or to provide feedback, visit www. ebparks.org/parks/del-valle.

• Join the Park District to celebrate Juneteenth on June 19 – The Park District is celebrating Juneteenth with a Free Park Day and special naturalist-led programs on Wednesday, June 19, which is a state and federal holiday. All are welcome! Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Join the Park District to celebrate and reflect. For more information, visit https://www.ebparks.org/ we-celebrate/juneteenth.

• Briones Pilot Project meeting – A community meeting for the Briones Pilot Project on June 15 will share feedback on the progress made in the past year and what’s ahead for the project in its second year. The meeting is a chance for attendees to share their views on the pilot project, too. The inperson meeting will be held on Saturday, June 15, at 10 a.m. at the Alhambra Creek Staging Area of Briones Regional Park in Martinez. The Briones Pilot Project is a two-year project created to test new ways to safely share trails amongst bikers, hikers, and equestrians. The project also improves the trail experience for all users while protecting habitat, wildlife, and watersheds. For more information, visit www.ebparks. org/Briones-Pilot-Project.

• Pride Month at Park District – June is Pride Month. In celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community during Pride Month, the Park District will raise the

SAN FRANCISCO – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco wrapped up its celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month in the United States with the closing of “Bagong Liwanag 2: Baybayin Tattoos,” an exhibit that showcased the Philippine heritage customs of baybayin writing and body tattooing.

Following a three-week run at the consulate, the “Bagong Liwanag” (New Light) solo exhibit of San Jose-based Filipino tattoo artist Jeff Maronilla-Seva Quintano closed at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center in San Francisco on May 31, 2024.

The closing event featured a screening of the films “Ang Babae sa Likod ng Mambabatok” (The Woman Behind the Tattooist), featuring world renowned Kalinga tattoo artist and Presidential Medal of Merit recipient Whang-od, and Quintano’s “Bagong Liwanag” documentary, which made its world premiere during the event.

The Whang-od documentary was made possible by the Philippine Embassies Assistance Program of the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

Directed by Lauren Faustino, the official synopsis for “Ang Babae sa Likod ng Mambabatok” reads: “The film unravels the multiple layers of the almost mythological figure-living legend, who has been called the ‘Last Tattoo Artist of Kalinga’… Her body covered in tattoos is a landscape on its own mirroring the map of a woman who has chosen wittingly or unwittingly a road diverging from convention and in the process became a culture bearer.”

Following the screening, emcee Vice Consul Adrian Baccay read an excerpt from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s speech during the conferment of the Presidential Medal of Merit on Whang-od last February 2024,

which read: “She is a pioneer in shattering gender stereotypes, venturing into tattooing when it was just a man’s exclusive preserve… She is a keeper of oral traditions and a mentor, teaching a new generation of artists, thus ensuring that her art form lives on to tell tales of her community’s history.”

Meanwhile, the Bagong Liwanag” documentary follows

Quintano’s journey as a Filipino baybayin tattoo artist in the Bay Area, and tells the stories of Filipino American tattoo wearers who inked their skin as their unique way to connect to their ancestral roots and take pride in their heritage.

As part of the program, Filipino American historian Bernard Remollino, Ph.D. and San Francisco-based tattooist Tito Gavina held a discussion on the works of Hawaii-based Filipino tattoo artist Tino “Rosie” Camanga, who is considered a pioneer of the Filipino tattoo movement in the United States.

Among those in attendance included Daly City Vice Mayor Dr. Rod Daus-Magbual and San Francisco State University lecturer Dr. Arlene DausMagbual, who was featured in the “Bagong Liwanag” documentary.

(PCGSF Release)

Atty. Gurfinkel joins New York’s Filipino community...

independence, brought together a vibrant and diverse gathering of Filipinos and Filipino-Americans to honor their heritage and history.

Atty. Gurfinkel immersed himself in the festivities, joining the lively parade and engaging with the community through impromptu interviews with participants. Many attendees seized the opportunity to seek his advice on pressing immigration concerns for themselves and their families. Atty. Gurfinkel’s presence and willingness to offer on-thespot guidance were met with great appreciation from the community.

Among the groups he interacted with were members of the Philippine Nurses Association New York, Inc. (PNANY), officers and representatives of the Silliman University Alumni Association New York/New Jersey chapter (SUAA-NY/NJ), and members of Kinding Sindaw, an NYC-based nonprofit dance theater company composed of Indigenous traditionbearers, Filipino American artists, and educators from all

Jersey chapter (SUAA-NY/ NJ) (middle photo), and members of Kinding Sindaw (bottom photo).

backgrounds.

These interactions provided valuable insights into the concerns and aspirations of the Filipino comm

The parade was a spectacular and colorful celebration, filled with music, dance, and cultural displays that highlighted the rich traditions of the Philippines.

Atty MJG’s participation added a meaningful dimension to the event, as he not only celebrated with Filipinos, but also addressed important issues affecting their lives.

For those who missed the chance to speak with Atty. Gurfinkel at the parade, watch this special episode where “Atty. Gurfinkel Goes to New York” on a brand-new episode of Citizen Pinoy on Sunday, June 9 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)

Attendees and participants pose for a photo at the close of the exhibit. Photo by Carines Nevalga

Filipino American historian Dr. Bernard Remollino and San Francisco-based tattooist Tito Gavina give a talk on the works of Hawaii-based Filipino tattoo artist Tino “Rosie” Camanga.

Atty. Gurfinkel (with mic) conducted impromptu interviews and answered immigration questions during the recent Philippine Independence Day celebration in New York.

Atty. Gurfinkel’s interactions during the parade provided insights on the concerns, aspirations and issues facing the Fil-Am community in New York.

Atty. Gurfinkel in the midst of a sea of colors and cultural performances which highlight traditions of the Philippines. Atty.

UST Alumni Gala in America set for July 2024 in SF

Pandit is Latin for “Spread the Light”. Inspired by Saint Thomas Aquinas and one of the benchmark events of the University during its quadricentennial celebration in 2011, Thomasians USA, the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas Alumni Association in the United States, is staging an alumni homecoming event on July 6, 2024.

Initially planned to be held at the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption, co-sponsored by the Archdiocese of San Francisco, the supposed April 2020 event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rising from the pandemic hiatus, Thomasians USA will be holding the gala dinner at the Basque Cultural Center in South San Francisco on July 6, 2024, Saturday night – the choice of venue being a salute to our rich heritage as a royal university under the patronage of the Spanish crown, since the university’s establishment in 1611.

Apart from the huge number of Thomasian alumni now living in the United States, University of Santo Tomas enjoys great ties with the U.S. not only due to the University hosting American dignitaries, from General Douglas MacArthur (UST Doctor of Laws, 1945, honoris causa) to Secretary Hillary Clinton, but also due to the University’s bittersweet past as internment camp for thousands of Americans during the Second World War, when the Japanese occupied the Commonwealth of the Philippines. One may also remember that during the American occupation of the Philippines, UST was the oldest university under the American flag, as UST predates Harvard by a quarter of a century.

Since 1987, Thomasians USA has been actively engaged in efforts of the Filipino community in the United States towards educational empowerment and civil rights, with most of its years under the tutelage and leadership of renowned Filipino American civil rights leader, alumna and former UST Sociology department chair, Prof. Alice Peña Bulos, until her passing in 2016. Under the helm of succeeding alumni presidents: academic Amelia Fernandez (2016-2017), architect and urban planner Joseph Palafox (2017-2019), and model and entrepreneur Jeffrey Manalang (2019-present), Thomasians USA has continuously evolved and grown its network of community

partners and alumni alike in the fields of business, academe, and public service, among others. From a government-recognized non-profit based in the United States, Thomasians USA has recently been recognized as the official arm of the University of Santo Tomas Alumni Association in the United States. Efforts have been made to also establish official arms in Canada and other North America countries with significant alumni presence.

Apart from the continuing project to support deserving scholars and perform donation drives for disaster-stricken areas in the Philippines, Thomasians USA heavily lobbied and supported the California State Legislature’s resolution to rename a state highway in California, stretching long as Metro Manila’s Sucat Road. The scenic state highway set a stone’s throw away from the Pacific Ocean was unveiled in 2022 as the Alice Peña Bulos Memorial Freeway. Among others, UST alumni making waves in the United States include Golden Globe awardee Gini Cruz Santos, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 2018

Honor Awardee Engr. Benjamin Saldua, Telly Award winning host and singer Enteng Evangelista, University of Las Vegas Nevada (UNLV) med-school dean Dr. John Fildes, Scottish Rite 33rd Degree Masonic leader Froilan Ancheta, and musical theatre actress Lora Nicolas Olaes who co-produced the Tony-nominated Broadway musical Here Lies Love.

A night of food, music, and entertainment, the 2024 gala of Thomasians USA is open to the public and encourages participation of non-alumni friends and family members and civil society. The event also coincides with other significant events celebrated by the Thomasian community this year, most notably, the opening of the academic year for the University of Santo Tomas campus in General Santos City, Mindanao. As of now, the University of Santo Tomas system operates four campuses: UST Manila, UST Angelicum Quezon City, UST Legazpi, and UST General Santos. Two more campuses are in the pipeline with the integration of the Angelicum campus in Iloilo City and the establishment of UST in Santa Rosa, Laguna. (Thomasians USA)

California expands summer meal access for children

SACRAMENTO – On Tuesday, June 4, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) is launching SUN Bucks in California, a new federal food program designed to ensure that children in families with low incomes have adequate nutrition while school is out for the summer. This comes as 14 Republican-led states, often claiming to support families, refused to fund these programs that will help kids and families across their states.

“For kids who rely on school breakfast and lunch programs, summer break can be a stressful and challenging time. Building on our ongoing efforts to support healthy food access for children yearround, I’m proud that California is partnering with the Biden-Harris Administration to provide SUN Bucks for our families so that no child faces hunger during the summer months,” Gov. Newsom said.

“Summer should be a time for children to play, explore, and enjoy the sunshine — not worry about their next meal. Through SUN Bucks, California is partnering with the Biden-Harris Administration in the fight against food insecurity — creating a California for ALL Kids and ensuring no child goes hungry, regardless of if they are in school or not,” said First Partner Jennifer Jennifer Siebel Newsom.

Why this matters: SUN Bucks will provide $120 per child, which is equivalent to $40 per month, during the three months schools are typically closed during the summer – helping reduce food insecurity and making nutrition more reliably available to families and kids who need support.

Making it easier on Californians: Children who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals through a school meal application or an alternative income form, or who receive CalFresh, CalWORKs, or Medi-Cal, are automatically enrolled. California

is one of the first states in the nation to launch this new food program and get money to families. How we got here: In December 2022, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of

Pride Flag in parks where flag poles are present. Celebrate Pride Month with a hike at Tilden Nature Area Visitor Center or drop by the Pride Month table at Contra Loma, Castle Rock, Radke Shoreline, Bay Point Shoreline, or Black Diamond Mines to learn about the diverse plant and animal ecosystems the Park District protects. Join the Park District in celebrating diversity in parks and creating welcoming spaces for everyone to enjoy. All are welcome! For more information, visit www.ebparks. org/we-celebrate/pride-month.

• Father’s Day at Park District – Enjoy Father's Day at the East Bay Regional Park on June 16. Celebrate Father’s Day in nature or check out one of the themed activities planned in Regional Parks: Anthony Chabot Campfire: WILD Dads! at 8 p.m. at Anthony Chabot Family Campground, Father’s Day Celebration at 11 a.m. at the Doug Siden Visitor Center at Crab Cove, or Father's Day

statewide Universal Meals Program for school children. The CDSS supports delivery of CalFresh food benefits to families in need, Disaster CalFresh benefits for victims of natural disasters, emergency food resources to local communities, and other nutrition services to ensure the health and well-being of all Californians. The Department also