060824 - Los Angeles Weekend Edition

Helping AAPI communities heal from the pain of racism

AGAINST historic surges in anti-Asian hate since the pandemic, a new pilot program is helping AAPI communities heal from hate crimes.

The Healing Our People Through Engagement (HOPE) program uses a “Radical Healing Framework” to help the five largest Asian communities in Los Angeles County — Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese and Korean — respond to past and ongoing racism. The project is funded by the California Department of Social Services and led by the AAPI Equity Alliance, an LA-based coalition of over 40 community-based AAPI organizations. Racism and the Radical Healing Framework

During the pandemic, Asian Americans — comprising over 15% of California’s population, or six million people — experienced “brutality on a scale not seen for generations in this country,” said Michelle Sewrathan Wong, managing director of programs for AAPI Equity Alliance. “They were scapegoated by politicians for transmission of COVID, targeted for violent physical attacks, made to feel unwelcome in their own communities and bullied by neighbors and strangers alike.”

Since 2020 alone, over 11,000 cases of AAPI

TO close racial and ethnic birthing outcome disparities, Medi-Cal is expanding access to maternal health services — most notably, doula care.

Doulas — trained professionals who provide physical, emotional and informational support to patients before, during and after childbirth — are essential to closing these disparities for parents and infants, as doula care can help improve birth outcomes and reduce C-sections, epidurals, premature deliveries, low birthweight, anxiety and labor length.

A maternal health overview

Alongside more doula care, first added to Medi-Cal in January 2023, newly expanded services include a birthing care pathway for members from conception through 12 months postpartum, dyadic care which serves the parent and child together, postpartum mental health treatment, licensed midwife services, culturally-specific community health resources and other benefits for pregnant

MANILA — Three out of four Filipinos consider China to be the biggest threat to the Philippines, a perception that has remained steady since December 2023, findings of a survey conducted by OCTA Research suggested.

Results of the poll conducted in March showed that 76% of adult Filipinos view China as the top threat to the country.

OCTA noted that although the figure was down slightly from a three-year high of 79% in December, the change fell within the

margin of error of ±3%.

These findings come as maritime encounters between the Philippines and China grow more tense, with Beijing intensifying its pressure off Manila’s coastline. China asserts sweeping claims over the South China Sea, dismissing an international ruling rejecting its territorial basis.

“Comparing March 2024 with the figures during the first survey under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. in October 2022, the percentage of adult Filipinos perceiving China as

MANILA — Former Senator

Richard Gordon calls the Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. scandal the “biggest scam.”

“What happened at Pharmally is the biggest scam and the president of this country masterminded it. I can say that without batting an eye,”

Gordon said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum on Wednesday, June 5 adding that it would never have happened without former President Rodrigo Duterte.

When Gordon was the chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, the former

senator said they had at least 18 hearings and submitted the committee report to the ombudsman.

“In fact, we filed the case,” he said.

Gordon detailed the misappropriation of funds, stating that Duterte transferred P47 billion and “when the COA investigated, Duterte cursed us. He was angry because Christopher Lao was exposed.”

“Duterte’s administration never answered for it. Now they are scared. Former Senator (Franklin) Drilon said Duque is afraid and is now pointing to Duterte,” Gordon said.

He added that he told Duque

in part “The Board of Supervisors recognizes the importance of this day to Filipino residents in Los Angeles County and the contributions made by Filipino employees who are a vital part of our County workforce and continually dedicate themselves to serving our communities.” Los Angeles County has the largest Asian American population of any county in the nation and is home to more than 340,000 Filipino Americans.

“Filipino heritage is part of LA County's DNA. I'm proud to lead our Board in honoring our historical ties with the Philippines and in celebrating the Filipino culture that has enriched us,” said Hahn. "I also want to recognize the Filipino employees who have made

MANILA – Calling the complaint as “erroneous accusation,” suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo on Thursday, June 6 asked the Office of the Ombudsman to lift the prevention suspension imposed against her.

“All accusations against herein respondent (Guo) are an amalgam of exceedingly distorted, exaggerated, and fabricated stories viciously designed to hoodwink this Honorable Office that herein respondent committed grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service,” read the motion for reconsideration.

In an order dated May 31, Guo was preventively suspended for six months while an investigation is ongoing against them.

Aside from Guo, ordered suspended is Municipal Business

JUNE 12 will be recognized as Philippine Independence Day in Los Angeles County, according to a proclamation from the county Board of Supervisors.

The motion, authored by Supervisor Janice Hahn and coauthored by Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, reads

PAUNAWA UKOL SA PAMPUBLIKONG PAGDINIG

SA PAMAMAGITAN NITO AY IBINIBIGAY ANG PAUNAWA na magsasagawa ang Lupon ng mga Superbisor ng County ng San Diego ng isang pampublikong pagdinig sa Ordinansa para sa Bukas sa Lahat na Pabahay (Inclusionary Housing) na ayon sa sumusunod:

IMPORMASYON SA PAGDINIG:

Petsa: Hunyo 26, 2024

Oras: 9:00 a.m.

Lokasyon: County Administration Center, 1600 Pacific Highway, Room 310, San Diego, California 92101

APLIKANTE: County ng San Diego

(MGA) NUMERO NG PROYEKTO/KASO: POD 20-007

LOKASYON:Ang proyektong isinasaalang-alang ay isang ordinansang makakaapekto sa mga property sa hindi saklaw na lugar.

PAGLALARAWAN NG PROYEKTO: Isa itong kahilingan sa Lupon ng mga Superbisor na suriin at pagpasyahan ang iminumungkahing Ordinansa para sa Bukas sa Lahat na Pabahay (Ordinansa) na ilalapat sa hindi saklaw na bahagi ng County ng San Diego. Isang pamamaraan ang bukas sa lahat na pabahay upang madagdagan ang pagpapagawa ng abot-kayang pabahay sa pamamagitan ng paghiling na magsama sa mga bagong proyekto sa pagpapagawa ng mga abot-kayang yunit ng pabahay. Noong Pebrero 10, 2021, inatasan ng Lupon ng mga Superbisor ang mga tauhan na bumuo ng isang ordinansa para sa bukas sa lahat na pabahay na may paunang itinakdang pagtatabi para sa lahat ng proyekto sa pabahay na lampas sa partikular na threshold. Noong Agosto 31, 2021, hiniling ng Lupon na magsama rin sa proyektong ito ng mga opsyong makuha ang mga pagtaas ng halaga ng lupa na nauugnay sa pag-apruba ng mga proyekto sa Pag-amyenda ng Pangkalahatang Plano. Hinihiling ng aksyong ito sa Lupon ng mga Superbisor na pagtibayin ang iminumungkahing Ordinansa at mga pamprogramang opsyon kabilang ang kung saan malalapat ang Ordinansa, porsyento ng mga abot-kayang yunit na dapat ibigay, mga potensyal na alternatibong opsyon sa pagsunod kapag hindi maaaring ibigay ang mga yunit sa site, at mga insentibo upang mabalanse ang mga gastos sa pagbibigay ng mga abot-kayang yunit ng pabahay.

KALAGAYAN NG KAPALIGIRAN: Pinapayagan ng Seksyong 15164 ng CEQA ang paghahanda ng addendum sa isang dati nang pinagtibay o pinairal na dokumentong pangkapaligiran kapag maliit na pagbabagong teknikal o pagbabago lang na hindi magdudulot ng mga bagong malaking epekto ang iminumungkahi sa isang proyekto. Inihanda ang mga Addendum sa Paguulat ng Programa sa Epekto sa Kapaligiran (GPU EIR) para sa Pagbabago sa Pangkalahatang Plano ng County ng San Diego (Numero ng Pangkapaligirang Pagsusuri na 02-ZA-001; Sch. 2002111067) para sa Ordinansa para sa Bukas sa Lahat na Pabahay (PDS2020-POD-20-007).

IMPORMASYON SA PAKIKIPAG-UGNAYAN SA TAUHAN: Para sa karagdagang impormasyon tungkol sa proyekto, mangyaring makipag-ugnayan sa tagapamahala ng proyekto sa impormasyon sa pakikipag-ugnayang nakasaad sa ibaba. Camila Easland (619) 929-7199

Camila.Easland@sdcounty.ca.gov

PAKIKILAHOK NG PUBLIKO: Maaaring lumahok ang publiko sa pulong nang personal o sa pamamagitan ng teleconference alinsunod sa mga regulasyon na ipinatutupad sa oras ng pagpupulong. Dapat bumisita ang mga nagnanais na lumahok sa pagpupulong at/o magkomento sa website ng Lupon ng Superbisor sa: https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/cob/bosa. html#watch. Kung mayroon kang anumang katanungan, mangyaring makipag-ugnayan sa Klerk ng Lupon sa (619) 531-5434 o sa publiccomment@sdcounty.ca.gov.

TULONG PARA SA MGA TAONG MAY KAPANSANAN: Makukuha ang mga agenda at talaan sa mga alternatibong format kapag hiniling. Makipag-ugnayan sa kalihim sa pagdinig sa (619) 517-4193 para magtanong o humingi ng suporta para sa may kapansanan. Dapat makipagugnayan ang mga indibidwal na nangangailangan ng mga tagapagsalin ng senyas na wika sa ADA Title II Coordinator sa buong County sa (619) 531-4908. Hangga't maaari, dapat isumite ang mga kahilingan para sa suporta o tulong nang hindi bababa sa 72 oras nang mas maaga sa pulong upang maihanda pa ang mga kinakailangan para rito. Maaaring italaga ang isang bahagi sa harapan ng mga silid ng pagdinig para sa mga indibidwal na nangangailangang gumamit ng silyang de-gulong o iba pang pantulong na kagamitan.

TANDAAN: Para sa karagdagang impormasyon tungkol sa Makukuhang Ulat ng Tauhan, Mga Tagubilin ng Tagapagsalita, at Mga Pamamaraan sa Pangkalahatang Pagdinig, mangyaring basahin ang Impormasyon sa Pampublikong Pagdinig ng County ng San Diego na makikita sa website ng Lupon ng mga Superbisor: https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/cob/bosa. html.

TANDAAN: Kung kinukuwestyon mo ang aksyon na maaaring gawin sa panukalang ito sa korte, maaaring limitahan ka sa pagpapaabot lang ng mga isyung inihain mo o inihain ng ibang tao sa nabanggit na pampublikong pagdinig sa itaas, o sa sulat na ipinadala sa Pangkat ng Pagdinig sa o bago ang pagdinig. Maaaring may limitasyon o kahingian ang Mga Tuntunin ng Pangkat ng Pagdinig sa pagsusumite ng nasabing sulat.

6/12/24

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ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.)

Despite external threats, PH...

threat has been reduced. We now have to also think about the external threat, and that again is a different strategy that we will have to employ,” Marcos was quoted by the Presidential Communications Office as saying.

“We will do everything so you will have the capability. You have the capability to do the job, that is this new job that you have to face. You have the capability. You have the training. You have the equipment and that we will be able to present at least a deterrent force,” he added.

Marcos made the remark as tensions continue to surround the West Philippine Sea because of Beijing’s aggressive behavior, including its brazen efforts to block Manila’s resupply missions to the Ayungin Shoal.

West Philippine Sea refers to the part of the South China Sea that is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. In 2016, an international arbitral court nullified China’s expansive maritime claim in the South China Sea but the Chinese government refused to recognize the landmark ruling.

Chinese ships have resorted to water cannon attacks and dangerous maneuvers to stop Philippine vessels from providing supplies to Filipino soldiers

stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre, a rusty ship that serves as a navy installation in Ayungin Shoal. On Tuesday, June 4, the military released a video showing Chinese boats chasing after food supplies airdropped for Filipino troops in the shoal.

Marcos said the civilian government and the AFP commanders are doing all they can to make sure that soldiers are “completely capacitated,” but clarified that the goal is not to pick a fight.

“We are not waging a war with anyone. We do not want to invade. We are just defensive and we are just defending our country,” Marcos, also the commander-inchief of the military, said.

“That is the new threat we are facing, but as I said, if you were able to do it because of the internal threat, I am confident that you can also do it once the external threat comes,” he added.

Marcos also congratulated the division for its achievements and called on members to be peacekeepers by encouraging communist rebels to return to the fold of the law.

Various sectors should collaborate to improve peace and order in the countryside, he added.

At the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Coast Guard Forum in Davao City last Wednesday, June 5, Solicitor

said the Philippines would “always seek peace in its relations with other countries” as it continues to assert sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea.

“Even in the face of formidable challenges to the enforcement of our rights to our maritime domain, the Philippines will always seek peace in its relations with other countries. Peace and adherence to international law are values that are written in the Philippine Constitution where we have expressly renounced war as an instrument of national policy,” Guevarra said in his keynote address.

Guevarra also commended coast guard agencies from the ASEAN for carrying out responsibilities that “provides the stability and security necessary for the development of the region free from crime and illicit activities.”

“It is in your everyday patrolling the seas, consistent conduct of law enforcement activities, and aiding distressed mariners at sea that the purposes of the Convention are realized,” he said, referring to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS.

He also noted the ASEAN’s “approach to consensus-building and mutual respect for each other’s processes” helped prevent conflicts in the region. n

General Menardo Guevarra

MASTER. A weaver displays her skills during the opening of “Likha 3: Likha ko, Lahi Ko” at Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on Thursday, June 6. The event, open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until June 11, celebrates Filipino artisans and their creations in pottery, wood and stone carving, embroidery, filigree, basketry, mat weaving, and shell craft, among others. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc

Cal State LA receives grant to create program to support AANHPI students

CAL State LA has received a $370,000 state grant to develop a new program focused on Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) student achievement efforts.

The award is part of a $8 million appropriation directed by Assembly Bill (AB) 190 to the California State University to enhance culturally responsive support for underserved students, including Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander populations across the CSU campuses.

Cal State LA’s new Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Student Achievement Program addresses the support that AANHPI transfer students need to achieve twoyear graduation outcomes. This program also aims to improve retention rates for first-year first-time AANHPI students during their first two years at the university, slow and reverse the trend of declining enrollment, and increase outreach and recruitment.

“Cal State LA is committed to serving our AANHPI students and community,” said Amy Bippus, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs at Cal State LA. “We look forward to working with the CSU Chancellor’s Office and the statewide central office on the AANHPI Student Achievement Program. We are developing new initiatives while enhancing our existing programming.”

“To ensure that the AANHPI students succeed at equitable rates, we will raise awareness of and offer support to subgroups within the AANHPI community without viewing them as one monolithic group,” said Andre Ellis, associate vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion and principal investigator on the grant.

The funding will also provide support to student affairs programming and AANHPIfocused entities on campus, including the Asian Pacific Islander Student Resource Center (APISRC), the Department of Asian and Asian American Studies, and the AAPI Faculty and Staff Affinity Group.

The APISRC is one of the four identity-based centers within the Cross Cultural Centers at the University-Student Union.

The APISRC was established in 1993 to address the growing needs and concerns of the Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi American student population while enriching and raising social

The grant will go toward developing cross-campus collaboration as well as professional development for professors and staff members through Faculty Learning Communities, workshops, and awareness programs. Student Learning Communities will also be implemented to improve student retention and sense of belonging by sharing academic and cultural knowledge and skills, as well as increasing connections with peers and other campus community members.

awareness for the entire campus community.

The Department of Asian and Asian American Studies is an interdisciplinary program housed within the College of Ethnic Studies that emphasizes the connections between Asian Studies and Asian American Studies. The program is built on the foundation of languages, literature, cultures, and histories of Asia and the experience of Asians and Pacific Islanders as a racial minority in the U.S.

The AAPI Faculty and Staff Affinity Group was formed in 2023 at Cal State LA, coinciding with the development of the university’s first community calendar honoring AAPI Heritage Month. The group was established by the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in an effort to support the campus community and increase sense of belonging.

“Cal State LA is a proud Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution,” said Patrick K. Day, vice president for student affairs and enrollment management.

“We are deeply appreciative of this new opportunity to better serve this incredibly vibrant and diverse population of students and advance their levels of success at the university and beyond.”

Cal State LA has federal designations as a MinorityServing Institution, and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution. n

Mag-aaral ng College Corps iniuugnay ang mga kultura ng AAPI sa San Diego

Arlene Nagtalon — isang mag-aaral sa ikatlong taon sa UC San Diego — ay hinahandog ang kanyang pangalawang taon sa #CaliforniansForAll College Corps sa isang programa upnag ipagdiwang ang kulturang Asian American sa San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD). Kasalukuyan niyang pinagpapatuloy ang major sa molecular at cell biology, kasabay ang pangawalang major kanyang binuo sa community research at education, at isang minor sa paglilingkod bayan. Ang College Corps ay tumutulong sa mahigit sa 3,000 mag-aaral bawa’t taon gaya ni Nagtalon na maiwasan ang utang ng magaaral nang hanggang $10,000 nang naglilingkod nang hanggang 450 oras sa mga pangkat pangsambayanan sa K-12 sa mga larangan ng education, climate action o food insecurity. Inilunsad noong Setyembre 2022, ang programa ay matatapos ang pangalawang taon nito sa huling bahagi ng 2024.

“Nalaman ko ang tungkol sa College Corps mula sa iba’t ibang mga social media platform at college newsletter at nakita ko ito bilang aking pagkakataong makapagbigay pabalik sa mga paaralang aking pinasukan,” sabi ni Nagtalon, na pinanganak at lumaki sa katimugang San Diego.

“Ang aking gawain ay nagumpisa nang nakaraang taon sa SDUSD’s Youth Advocacy department, na nagpapaangat

New poll: Majority of Californians want clean energy neighborhoods

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 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.”

Arlene Nagtalon sa identity-related na mga pangkat ng mag-aaral, ito man ay batay sa lahi, o sa pangkaraniwang hilig gaya ng sa sining,” ipinagpatuloy niya. “Sa Morse High School — kung saan ako nagtapos noong 2021, ang aking ina noong 1991, at aking kapatid na babae ay magtatapos sa 2027 — tinulungan ko ang ilang 30 mgaa kasapi ng isang club na SALAS, ang Student Association para sa Local Asian American Support, na isagawa ang kauna-unahang Asian American cultural celebration.”

Pinagsama-sama ng pagdiriwang ang mga tagaganap at mga nagtitinda — mga dating mag-aaral ng Morse at mga mag-aaral at dating mag-aaral mula UCSD — kasama ang isang a cappella group, spoken word poetry, mga Pilipinong kultural na mananayaw, mga Asian American pre-med undergrad association, mga pampook na nagtitinda ng pagkaing

Asyano, karaoke at mga pangkat ng mananayaw ng K-Pop.

“Bilang nagtapos sa kapwa Morse at UC San Diego, isang nakakalubag na pakiramdam na mapanood na ang dalawang mundo kong ito at magsama,” sabi ni Nagtalon, “Ang principal sa Morris ay natuwa kung paanong ang pagdiriwang ay dumakop sa maraming mga henerasyon –mga mag-aaral at dating magaaral ay dinala nag kanilang mas batang mga kapatid, mga magulang at mga lolo’t lola pati na ang mga kaibigan pamilya,” pinaliwanag niya.

“Ang aking mga magulang dumayo dito mula sa PIlipinas bilang mga bata, at ang aming pamilya dinala dito ang kanilang ay My parents immigrated here from the Philippines as kids, and our family brought with them their pagkaunawa sa magiliw na pagtanggap, na sinuman at kapamilya sila man ay kadugo o hindi ,” she continued. “Yan ang bagay na nakita ko sa pagdiriwang. Sa palagay ko ang paniniwala ng maraming mga Asyano minsan na tayo ay medyo mahiyain, nguni’t hindi I think the stereotype of many Asians sometimes is that we are quite shy, but no — if I see an opportunity to uplift my community, who says I can’t?”

For this year’s celebration, Nagtalon says, “I hope that the new faces we bring feel like they can belong someplace new, whether or not they’re Asian. That sense of belonging can be fostered to follow them wherever they go.”

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 cost-effectively 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 zero-emission 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. (AJPress)

FOOD WARRIORS. It’s

Ni Selen Ozturk

Cal State LA student Trisha Panganiban receives her bachelor's degree in biology with magna cum laude honors during Commencement 2024. Photo courtesy of Myles Bridgewater-Jackson/Cal State LA

76% of Filipinos see China as biggest threat...

posing the greatest threat to the Philippines increased by 17% from 59% to 76%,” the polling firm said.

China is seen as a major threat by a large majority of Filipinos across the archipelago, with at least 71% of respondents in all major areas holding this view.

Metro Manila recorded the highest percentage, with 86% of residents viewing China as the top threat. In terms of socio-economic classes, 77% of those in Class D and 76% of those in Class E perceive China as the greatest threat. Meanwhile, 63% of Filipinos in Class ABC share this

perception. The Philippines recently denied a claim by Chinese state media that Filipino troops stationed at BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal pointed guns at the China Coast Guard (CCG).

The OCTA survey also found out that 44% of Filipinos do not view Beijing as positively impacting the Philippine economy. Other threats Russia is a distant second, with only 9% of Filipinos perceiving it as the biggest threat to the country.

“The figure is higher in Visayas at 14%, 9% from Mindanao, and 8% from Balance Luzon… In

NCR, only 6% of adult Filipinos perceive Russia that way,” OCTA said. The pollster noted that 15% of Filipinos initially saw Russia as the biggest threat after it invaded Ukraine. This concern dropped to 9% by March. Other countries that Filipinos think pose threats to the country include North Korea (2%), Pakistan (2%), Japan (2%), and Saudi Arabia (1%).

The nationwide survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews of 1,200 respondents. The poll had a ±3% margin of error at a 95% confidence level and ±6% for regional breakdowns. n

LA County proclaims June 12 as Philippine...

invaluable contributions to our County family.”

On July 13, Hahn will host the third annual Philippine American Friendship Day Festival at Don Knabe Park in Cerritos.

The celebration hosts music, performances, food, and vendors from across the Filipino American community.

“As the Supervisor who represents the largest concentration of AAPI residents in Los Angeles, including Historic

Filipinotown, as well as the San Gabriel Valley I’m proud to join Supervisor Hahn today to lead a motion to proclaim June 12 as “Philippine Independence Day” to celebrate the day the Philippines gained its independence from Spain after 300 years of Spanish rule,” said Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, who represents the First District. “We need to both honor the historical struggle and sacrifice required to secure that freedom and celebrate the incredible economic and

cultural contributions our Filipino brothers and sisters are making right now every day that are strengthening the diverse fabric of our County.”

After 300 years of Spanish colonial rule, Filipino rebels declared independence on June 12, 1898. After its defeat of Spain in the Spanish-American War, the United States subsequently annexed the Philippines, and governed the archipelago until full independence was granted on July 4, 1946. n

Suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo appeals...

Permits and Licensing Officer

Edwin Ocampo, and Municipal

Adenn Sigua.

Legal Officer

The center of the complaint is the issuance of a business permit, allowing the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos) to do business in Bamban.

The Pogo hub was raided early this year and rescued

hundreds of foreign workers.

Guo was investigated after an electric meter of Zun Yuan was registered under Guo’s name, and authorities also found a vehicle inside the facility registered under the mayor’s name.

Helping AAPI communities heal from the...

hate have been reported to Stop AAPI Hate, an organization cofounded by AAPI Equity.

“Exploring the devastating toll this was taking on our community, and its root causes … led us to a Radical Healing Framework that moves beyond individuallevel approaches to coping with racial trauma.” she continued.

“Our community was suffering an epidemic of isolation, anxiety, and depression … Racism doesn’t just occur on an individual level, and healing, hoping for a different future, requires collective action.”

“Decades of research shows that racism can harm both physical and mental health, leading to symptoms of depression, anxiety and PTSD, as well as headaches, trouble sleeping, hypervigilance and withdrawal from other people,” Dr. Anne Saw, associate psychology professor at DePaul University and one of the designers of the HOPE program.

“This program is the very first community-based program developed from Radical Healing psychology, to address the mental health impacts of racism for Asian Americans,” she continued.

public made them feel like targets for attack, or when they saw another Asian American person in a crowd, they would feel the need to protect them,” Wang explained, “given all the violence on the news.”

“A big concern for new Japanese immigrants was the loss of culture, while Japanese Americans who had been here longer feared the loss of history; for instance, of grandparents surviving the internment camps,” she continued.

“We had a call to action about an issue they saw in Little Tokyo today, which was gentrification, which we realized also encompasses this loss of culture and history … it was empowering to express these fears as something we could tackle rather than feelings to push aside.”

“I shared how my parents were worried to the point where they were afraid of stepping out of their homes, just going to the grocery store, because we kept hearing about all these crimes nationwide,” she said.

“Why won’t she issue a mayor’s permit if the applicant is compliant? Because we have the Anti-Red Tape Act and the Ease of Doing Business. If you don’t issue a mayor’s permit, you are the one who will be charged,” Guo’s lawyer Stephen David said.

The Framework, developed by a multiracial team of psychologists in 2020, builds upon decades of Black liberation psychology research, Saw explained. “It emphasizes healing rather than simply coping with the traumatic impacts of racism by helping communities see how their experiences are connected to histories of injustice and brainstorming actions we can take to protect our own wellbeing.”

Regarding her lavish lifestyle, the motion for reconsideration said, “She was able to buy, through legal means, the land comprising more than seven hectares when she was a private, ordinary citizen.” n

Ex-senator blames Duterte for Pharmally scandal...

A1

to resign if he didn’t want to follow orders.

“If he followed, he’s liable. His only chance is to be a state witness against Duterte,” Gordon said.

Gordon also responded to statements that Duque’s comments were taken out of context, insisting that the former health secretary “cannot hide.”

“He should stand by his

statement for his own salvation,” Gordon said.

Meanwhile, former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV warned Filipinos not to be complacent as Duterte might again seek higher office, even in the Senate, in the 2025 polls.

“Duterte might run for senator in 2025. So, we have a year to spread the truth about him to awaken his moderate supporters and so he’d be shunned by the new voters,”

Trillanes wrote on Facebook.

“Let’s not be passive or else he will win again,” he added, using the hashtag #IbasuraSiDuterteSa2025.

Trillanes vows not to stop criticizing Duterte to make sure that the 78-year-old politician will not win any national post in next year’s polls. (With reports from Alexis Romero, Mark Ernest Villeza, Edith Regalado, Sheila Crisostomo, Delon Porcalla)

“After this pilot phase of the program where we learn what works best, we hope to offer it to any Asian American who wants it,” she added. “To fight against racism as a whole requires solidarity across races, so we’d also like to work across different communities of color.”

Radical Healing in action

“Initially, there were doubts about whether this program was needed in the Japanese American community,” said Xueyou Wang, HOPE facilitator and social services program assistant at Little Tokyo Service Center. “We soon realized how much we needed it.”

In weekly community action groups, participants ranging from new Japanese immigrants to fifthgeneration Japanese Americans “talked a lot about micro-stressors building up during the pandemic; for example, that being Asian American and wearing a mask in

“Our weekly group had four Chinese American participants including a man who had lived and worked in the U.S. for many years, two international students who recently entered the workforce and a women in her 40’s who grew up in a predominantly white community in California,” said Yu Wang, HOPE program facilitator, and associate marriage and family therapist at Asian Pacific Counseling and Treatment Center.

“Although the woman initially expressed distrust and hopelessness about our community, saying she didn’t feel Asian or Chinese, after seeing others share their stories of traumatic experiences she said it was the first time she felt truly accepted in wanting to explore her own identity,” she said.

“The students said that before the group, they didn’t see this community as a resource, whereas after they did see it as a way to improve their well-being,” Wang explained. “The older man initially often dismissed other participants’ parallel stories of racism, but after a few sessions, reflected that racism can occur on a structural level.”

Joann Won, Psychology BA graduate from UCLA, HOPE Program Facilitator and Program Facilitator at the Koreatown Youth + Community Center, shares the shock and fear brought on by the surge of anti-Asian hate during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“One first-generation immigrant participant revealed such pain and catharsis expressing her experiences for the first time, including how being outcast within her neighborhood and being looked down on for cultural differences and her accent affected her mental health,” she added.

“We were strangers when we started HOPE, but by six weeks we were going out to lunch together,” Won said, “having built a community on the shared understanding that we’re no longer isolated in our pains.”

“It all made me think about how wonderful this program would have been for older generations, like my own parents, if they could have had the space of connection to heal from trauma relating to racism,” she added. “What really set us up for success was understanding that just because we’re all Korean, or Asian American, doesn’t mean we have the same experiences — but we can hold space for our differences.” (Selen Ozturk/Ethnic Media Services)

“Our group had five Korean participants between their 20s and 30s,” said Joann Won, HOPE facilitator, at Koreatown Youth + Community Center,. “As someone who is Gen Z growing up in Koreatown, I always understood racism on a theoretical level but had the privilege of not personally facing it in any explicit or aggressive way. Sharing stories, we quickly learned that this changed for all of us during the pandemic.”

Protesters demand an end to anti-Asian hate. Photo from Ethnic Media Services

City of San Gabriel honors AAPI youth, multicultural leaders in National AAPI Heritage Month ceremony

by Klarize Medenilla AJPress

IN honor of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, community leaders and government officials of San Gabriel, California honored members and volunteers of an AAPI youth advocacy organization that seeks to foster multicultural connection.

On May 28, the Asian Youth Center hosted its 2nd annual AAPI Heritage Month Recognition Ceremony where the multicultural group of honorees shared their achievements and ideas for a more

The Asian Youth Center (AYC) describes itself as a “non-profit organization whose mission is to empower low-income, immigrant, and at-risk youth and families of all communities to overcome barriers to success.”

The May 28 recognition ceremony honored members of the Stop Hate Steering Committee, a consortium of local leaders that counsels the AYC’s community efforts to promote cultural diversity.

The committee itself is made up of individuals from high school students who’ve shepherded their own youth anti-bullying groups as well as older residents of the San Gabriel Valley who believe that the region, despite its rich diversity, has seen its fair share of racism and bigotry.

Billy Taing, a Chinese American who as a child fled Cambodia with his family to escape the violent Khmer Rouge, shared his story about being a troubled youth who got involved

with gangs. For more than 20 years, Taing was incarcerated in the California prison system, where he witnessed the worst of human nature.

This experience ignited Taing’s decision to turn his life around and promote acceptance across all cultures, currently serving as co-director of API Rise. He also co-founded Black x API Solidarity, a group that champions unity between the AAPI and Black communities.

“A lot of people I serve are like me: those who want a second chance and deserve a chance to be part of the community,”

Taing said, rejecting the model minority myth because AAPI youth “still need support.”

He said, “Serving my community is a lifelong process for me and I hope that others like me get to have a second chance. I’m very thankful for the work this committee is doing to accomplish that.”

Committee member Jeanne E. Raya, a fourth-generation resident of San Gabriel and businesswoman, shared that she believes that anti-discrimination work goes beyond educating one another about diversity, but that institutionalized measures that promote equality are also key.

“In my lifetime I can say I’ve experienced what exclusion feels like and what discrimination feels like even here in San Gabriel as a child,” she said, adding that discrimination is a “disease that constantly needs to be monitored and treated.”

“We need to be reminding ourselves of how important it is to be accepting and not just on a personal level, but to work toward policies that continue to work toward inclusion,” Raya

said.

The San Gabriel Valley is home to dozens of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities and is widely known as a nerve center for Asians across Southern California. Religious centers, Asian-owned retail businesses, landmarks, and Asian cuisine color the region from Alhambra to Rowland Heights.

However, the ethnically diverse region was not immune to the scourge of anti-Asian hate and violence propped up by the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting elected officials and groups like AYC to double down on efforts to combat racism and discrimination.

A recent survey from Savanta Research found that 1 in 3 Asian Americans believe that antiAsian hate is still surging.

Like other AAPI groups, AYC has also launched the Unconscious Bias and Allyship Training and Train-The-Trainer Program, which offers in-person and virtual training that “provides actionable steps to change our biases and become effective allies,” according to AYC.

The Stop Hate Steering Committee also spearheaded the Multicultural Art Popups, wideranging art installations and interactive activities designed to educate others about different cultures and customs of various API communities.

The Multicultural Art Popups is a series of art showcases that the AYC hosted at different community festivals across the San Gabriel Valley: the Cherry Blossom Festival in Monterey Park, the Play Day in San Gabriel, the Moon Festival in West Covina, and the Lunar New Year Festival in Arcadia. n

Medi-Cal maternal care expanded to counter...

members, including some over the Medi-Cal income limit.

Medi-Cal eligibility has also been extended from 60 days postpartum to 12 months postpartum, with premiums eliminated for families.

As Medi-Cal covers about half of all California births and nearly 5% of all U.S. births, this expansion is “transforming the maternal health landscape” statewide, said Erica Holmes, benefits division chief at the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS).

In California and much of the U.S., maternal disparities are starkest for Black mothers.

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) reports that Black mothers are nearly four times more likely to die than white mothers from pregnancyrelated causes and at a 1.7 times higher risk of preterm birth. Black babies are twice as likely to die before their first birthday as white babies.

CDPH data also shows that California’s 2020 maternal mortality rate was 18.6 deaths per 100,000 live births — a 45% increase from a rate of 12.8 in 2019, while the rate for Black mothers was three times higher than the rate for white, Asian, and Hispanic mothers.

The mortality rate for those with Medi-Cal in 2021, before the expansion of services, was 2.8 times higher than for those with private health insurance.

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, “one of the most effective tools to improve labor and delivery outcomes” — including reductions in pain, Cesarean deliveries, and labor length — “is the continuous presence of support personnel, such as a doula.”

“To reduce access barriers, Medi-Cal members now don’t need a separate, written referral to get a doula; they can use our regularly updated doula directory,” which includes ethnicities and languages spoken, to get care directly from doulas, who get the highest Medicaid reimbursement in the nation, said Holmes.

As of May 31, 2024, DHCS has approved 455 doula applications, with 336 of these being individual doulas, rather than group doulas.

Two doulas’ stories

“For so many years, in order

to do the work, we had to focus on the outcome at the exclusion of the income, what we were investing,” said Kairis Chiaji, a doula for over 25 years who founded Children of the Sun Doula Project, worked a DHCS doula pilot program in Northern California and now works as a Medi-Cal doula in Sacramento.

By developing the doula benefit with DHCS through policy advocacy and implementation advice over the past two years, “we finally have the ear of state decision-makers to shift away from treating pregnancy as a pathology to be cured,” she continued.

“To move our state into understanding that leveraging community relationships is crucial to maternal health, that pregnancy is just not the body producing a baby, disconnected to what comes before and after, is historic.”

Once an 18 year old man, in the hospital with a girlfriend with a baby, wasn’t feeling safe with the care they were getting,” Chiaji said. “I went, and immediately there was a shift. The questions they were asked changed, and that they were being asked at all. The dad’s role in his family was protector, but how do you protect someone when you don’t know what is supposed to happen or not?”

Over 80% of U.S. pregnancyrelated deaths are preventable, she said, adding that “As a doula, we’re able to fill the gap by amplifying the voices of families, recognizing issues before they reach a crisis.”

“The origin of the Greek word ‘doula’ can mean ‘woman who serves’ or ‘slave,’ but we’re not slaves. We serve our community, and thanks to our great state, we don’t have to work for free,” Chiaji continued.

“I witness miracles for a living … If you had asked me 10 years ago, if this would have been possible, I’m not sure I would have believed it.”

“One of the ways this is so unique to California is its focus on community care,” said Khefri Riley, co-founder and director of Frontline Doulas — serving over 700 families, mainly African American, through community programs in LA County — and a Medi-Cal provider who worked with DHCS to build doula services. “Having given birth on Medi-cal over 20 years ago,

none of this was available then.”

“Doulas are likely to encounter families with socioeconomic hardships impacting perinatal health, but they also typically come from the communities they serve, and can connect them to the resources they need to prevent adverse outcomes,” she explained. “We cannot afford to have one more demise when it’s unnecessary.”

In one Frontline Doulas program, “we had a younger mother in transitional housing who was birthing alone and facing the threat of having her baby taken away,” Riley continued. “Our doula was able to help her avoid a Cesarean by voicing her needs to the health care team because the mother didn’t want to be on her back anymore … and we connected her to community resources so she could keep her baby and recover postpartum.”

“After we’ve given birth, we’re in such a vulnerable time; we still need to be taken care of,” she added. “While we cannot put this maternal health crisis solely on birth workers’ backs, what we can do is understand the evidencebased impact that doulas have by their very presence alone, by centering the voices of birthing individuals … that’s why this benefit is so historical.”

SOUTHERN

The Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) is seeking quotes for Railroad Frogs. Bid documents may be obtained at https://metrolinktrains.com/doing-business (free registration). Electronic Bids are due at 2:00 P.M. (PT) on 7/9/2024. For further information, contact Arisa Hicks, Contract and Compliance Administrator, at (213) 452-0250 or hicksa@ scrra.net

6/8/24 CNS-3819165# ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.)

The Stop the Hate Steering Committee is a multicultural group of individuals whose community outreach efforts have been recognized by local government officials. AJPress photos by Klarize Medenilla

Billy Taing, a Monterey Park native, is the co-director of API Rise and co-founder of the Black x API Solidarity group. A reformed former gang member and ex-convict, Taing says his experience within the prison system mobilized him to combat hate and advocate for cross-cultural unity.

OpiniOn Features

Stopping ‘POGO politics’

THERE’S narco-politics, so it isn’t farfetched that Philippine offshore gaming operator firms have financed election campaigns and other political activities in this country. The specter of “POGO politics” is being raised as one of the arguments for the abolition in this country of all forms of offshore gaming, where funds are difficult to trace.

This reform effort targeting dirty money, however, shouldn’t stop at the narco politicians, some of whom saw their families annihilated during the bloody crackdown on illegal drugs in the previous administration. And the reform effort should go beyond the suspected POGO politicians led by embattled Mayor Alice Guo of Bamban, Tarlac.

Editorial

Dirty money can finance election campaigns in this country because there is an enabling environment for it. The reform should start with campaign finance regulation, which election officials have been prodding Congress to legislate for many years now. Lawmakers, however, have consistently resisted any attempt to genuinely regulate and promote transparency in campaign finance.

Election campaigns are among the biggest funnels for dirty money in this country. Jueteng lords, drug traffickers, kidnappers, terrorists, smugglers and a slew of corrupt figures have laundered the proceeds of criminal activities to

LAST week, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. became the first-ever Filipino leader to deliver the keynote speech at the ShangriLa Dialogue in Singapore. As Mr. Marcos correctly pointed out, his selection as this year’s keynote speaker was “a recognition that there are [major] challenges that are facing the Philippines,” namely the increasingly perilous maritime spats in the West Philippine Sea.

It’s safe to say that it’s also a recognition of our growing importance as a rising middle power in the Indo-Pacific as well as our principled resistance to Chinese aggression.

Back in 2018, I witnessed how Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi essentially debuted his country’s emergence as a global power during his keynote speech at the vital dialogue. A year earlier, then Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull leveraged the same privilege speech to project his country as a responsible “bridging power,” which would transcend the dictates of superpowers and instead stand in solidarity with other medium- and small-sized nations.

In fairness, Mr. Marcos made the most out of his opportunity to

WE have returned to the geopolitics of the Cold War. It has become fashionable once more to speak in terms of “containment” and “deterrence.” The first Cold War ended when the Soviet Union broke up.

After that cataclysmic event, the West celebrated the emergence of the unipolar world. Liberal democracy has triumphed – or so we all thought. Political theorists spoke of “the end of history” with optimism.

It was in such a celebratory climate that the West, in the nineties, encouraged Ukraine to turn over its rather substantial nuclear force back to Russia. The old superpower, after all, seemed to be moving towards some form of democratization and some degree of modernity. This was all before Putin happened and the romanticization of the old Russian empire was reborn. The optimism, it turns out, was

enter politics. There are rudimentary rules governing campaign finance, such as the mandatory reporting of contributions and expenditures to the Commission on Elections.

Comelec officials, however, have admitted difficulty in verifying the declarations.

Alice Guo is now facing a tax probe in connection with allegations that she is a coddler of illegal POGO activities. Similar probes should be conducted on many other public officials with questionable wealth. This shouldn’t prove too difficult since such officials usually flaunt the wealth, in violation of Republic Act 6713, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Tax declarations can be compared with the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth that every government official is required to submit, to ferret out not just tax evasion but also money laundering. The protection provided by Ombudsman Samuel Martires through his impressive shielding of the SALNs from the public does not apply to investigations conducted by the

Zelenskyy, Marcos, and rules-based int’l order

present his vision for an inclusive regional security architecture.

He astutely recognized the need to not significantly deviate from the hedging stance of majority of Southeast Asian nations by, inter alia, emphasizing how, despite our treaty alliance with America, he is not fully aligning with any superpower against another since “[i]t’s never a choice” and that both the United States and China are “important” for regional peace and prosperity.

Nevertheless, he highlighted China’s “illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions [which] continue to violate our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction” in the West Philippine Sea. He warned of China’s hegemonic ambitions via achieving “determining influence over the security situation and the economic evolution of this region,” thus the need for the “stabilizing presence of the United States” as a balancing counterforce and foundation for “regional peace.”

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s warrior-president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, donning his trademark olive green t-shirt, made a surprise appearance at the event, where he invited regional leaders to attend a Global Peace Summit in Switzerland later this month to help end Russian aggression against his war-ravaged nation. He also implicitly exposed China’s pretension to “neutrality” by calling

on the Asian power to act responsibly rather than aiding Russia.

Subsequently, the Ukrainian leader made a historic visit to Manila to upgrade bilateral ties, thank the Philippines for its diplomatic and moral support throughout the past two years, and invite our leaders to the peace summit. Together, Zelenskyy and Mr. Marcos have stood as champions of a rules-based order in direct opposition to the “might is right” logic of Russian and Chinese contemporary statecraft. But as experts such as Ziad Haider of McKinsey and Co. have correctly pointed out, we live in a “broken-rules” international order. The U.S.-backed rulesbased international order is more like the “Holy Roman Empire,” which was neither Holy and Roman (it was Austrian!) nor truly an “empire” (barely in control of Germanic statelets). Our current global system is neither “rulesbased” nor particularly “ordered,” but instead deeply fragmented and compromised by double standards and inconsistencies of world powers In fact, the Philippines and Ukraine have aligned with nations that have either flagrantly violated international law and/ or threatened international judicial bodies. Authoritarian superpowers—the biggest threats to democracy and global peace— have deftly exploited real and perceived hypocrisy of Western

Symmetrical

not very well founded. Despite some significant gains in nuclear disarmament negotiations, Russia continued developing its first-strike nuclear weapons capability. Moscow continued to think in terms of maintaining a buffer zone of contiguous countries that the Kremlin wants to remain submissive to Russian dictate.

While the triumphalist West pursued a strategy of inclusion and cooptation towards the former Soviet republics, Moscow seethed over the fact that NATO was moving closer to its borders.

The Russian mind feels naked without surrounding itself with acquiescent countries.

When Russia attacked Georgia, annexed a large part of its territory and ensured a submissive regime there, the West did not take this as a signal of renewed expansionism. In 2014, Russia annexed parts of Ukraine, including Crimea, in a disguised military maneuver. Most of Europe, however, continued reducing military forces. They imagined this was

the peace dividend they earned by winning the Cold War. The U.S. has to keep pressuring the Europeans to keep their military spending at two percent of GDP.

Then in February 2022, a large Russian military force assembled on the border under the guise of “military exercises” and invaded Ukraine. The invasion force managed to overrun large parts of the country, including the suburbs of Kiev, before being turned back by Ukrainian resistance. About a fifth of Ukraine, however, remains under Russian occupation.

The NATO countries were unable to respond in adequate force, given that most European countries had been keeping their militaries lean. Instead, the West imposed layers of economic sanctions against Russia for this act of aggression, hoping that economic isolation would break Moscow’s expansionist will. Russia is now investing about seven percent of its GDP in military spending – and this will soon tell on its ability to meet her

powers to their own advantage.

As spokeswoman of Russia’s foreign ministry Maria Zakharova recently argued, “Washington fully supported, if not stimulated, the issuance of ICC (International Criminal Court) warrants against the Russian leadership [but] the American political system does not recognize the legitimacy of this structure in relation to itself and its satellites.”

She was, of course, referring to the surreal situation whereby

people’s needs.

The West took the same attitude towards China. With its spectacular economic growth, Western analysts believed that a burgeoning middle class will create fertile ground for some form of democratic political order.

This expectation, it turns out, was unfounded. Under the grip of the Communist Party, China maintained tight social controls even as it allowed a free-wheeling economy. Strict censorship was maintained. A comprehensive surveillance apparatus was put in place as digital technologies evolved.

Moreover, China was spending lavishly in building its own military prowess. Not only does it have the world’s largest standing army, its naval force should now have overshadowed the U.S. Navy. The armed forces of China are well-trained and well-equipped. It has progressed far over the army that saw action in the Korean War, reliant on human wave tactics in the battlefield.

Together, Russia and China are capable of challenging the global political order that the West imagined had become

the Biden administration at once enthusiastically supported the ICC’s warrant of arrest against Russian president Vladimir Putin, but threatened the same body with sanctions when issued warrants of arrest against a key U.S. ally in the Middle East over the ongoing conduct of war in Gaza. Responding to the recent conviction of his chief election rival, Donald Trump, U.S. President Joseph Biden correctly emphasized that “no one is above the law.” But we can’t have a “rules-based international order” when no one (is supposed to be) above the law, but laws are effectively above some more than others. (Inquirer.net)

unipolar after 1990. Both are nuclear powers maintaining large conventional forces. Both, in alliance, seek to redefine the global geopolitical order according to their own terms.

It took a while for the Western powers to shed their delusions about a unipolar world. Today, they are scrambling to contain the expansionist tendencies of both Russia and China.

The expansionist tendencies of both Russia and China are almost symmetrical. Russia is pushing westward towards the original NATO borders. China is pushing eastward towards Taiwan and the South China Sea.

Russia, by itself, does not have the industrial capacity to match its grand vision of rebuilding the old empire. It is China that provides the economic muscle for this partnership. Short of a total financial collapse owing to over-investment in an overheated property sector, China will continue to provide for the technological needs of this partnership.

In the coming period, all the major trade and investment policies of the West will be governed by the dynamics of the new Cold War. We see that in the

* * * 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.

* * * rheydarian@inquirer.com.ph

constraints imposed by the U.S. on leading Chinese high-tech companies. It is nearly certain, regardless of the outcomes of the presidential elections in the U.S., that tariffs on Chinese exports will be raised. To contain China’s expansionist impulses, her economic prowess will have to be tamed.

The symmetrical equivalent of Ukraine in the east is Taiwan.

The self-governing island nation is claimed as a province by China even if it was never governed by her in all of recent history. Beijing has been threatening to invade Taiwan for years.

Unfortunately, the Philippines is caught up in the revival of Cold War geopolitics. We are at the receiving end of Beijing’s consolidation of control over the South China Sea. We are part of the “first island chain” that is essential to deterring Chinese expansionism.

This is the reason Manila has been receiving such global attention lately. (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.

ManilaTimes.net photo

anti-money laundering and tax police. The ongoing scrutiny of Alice Guo’s finances and activities should open the doors to a wider reform effort. (Philstar.com)

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a courtesy call at the Malacañan Palace on Monday, June 3. Malacañang photo

Dateline PhiliPPines

El Niño over, but here comes La Niña

by arliE calalo ManilaTimes.net

THE El Niño phenomenon, which combined with the dry season brought weeks of extremely hot days and drought conditions to the Philippines, has officially ended, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Friday, June 7.

Pagasa Administrator Nathaniel Servando said the conditions in the Pacific Ocean have returned to El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)neutral levels.

However, there is a 69 percent possibility of a transition from ENSO-neutral to La Niña as early as July, Servando said.

He said "the final advisory for El Niño (2023-2024) is issued, and the Pagasa ENSO Alert and Warning System is now lowered to inactive (ENSO-neutral), while the La Niña Watch remains in effect."

Servando said the impacts of El Niño, such as warmer-thanusual surface temperatures and below-normal rainfall, may linger in some areas of the country.

Pagasa would now focus on monitoring La Niña, "which would be more likely towards

MANILA – Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros on Friday, June 7 said her panel is determined to look into the possible information leak during the recent raid of a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Porac, Pampanga.

Hontiveros made the assurance after the "unfortunate" news reached her office that an undetermined number of Chinese nationals were able to flee before the Presidential AntiOrganized Crime Commission (PAOCC) was able to reach the POGO site.

"We will get into the bottom of who is accountable,” she said in a statement.

the last quarter of this year," he said.

During La Niña, many areas across the country can expect higher-than-normal rainfall.

"Tropical cyclones tend to hit land masses and will bring more rains, so we need to be doubly prepared," Servando said.

During El Niño, 37 provinces experienced drought conditions (three consecutive months of more than 60 percent lowerthan-average rainfall), 22 provinces had a dry spell (three consecutive months of 21 percent to 60 percent reduction in rainfall average), and 12 provinces had dry conditions (two consecutive months of below-normal rainfall).

The government's El Niño Task Force said 131 areas in the country were declared a state of calamity because of El Nino.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said 1,342,501 families, or 5,168,354 persons, in 6,672 barangay (villages) were affected.

A total of P535,510,043 worth of assistance was provided to affected families, composed of P487,362,115 from the DSWD, P39,161,928 from local government units, P1,711,000 from nongovernment organizations, and P7,275,000

from charitable groups.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) reported that the scorching heat induced by El Niño resulted in P4.39 billion in agricultural damage.

The dry spell affected 85,232 farmers and fisherfolk in 11 regions in the country.

Also on Friday, Pagasa said that over the weekend, the southwest monsoon or "habagat" is expected to bring overcast skies, and scattered rain and thunderstorms to Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) and Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan).

The monsoon will also bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies over Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Pagasa has tracked no new weather systems forming or entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) in the coming days.

Typhoon Aghon was the first storm to hit the country this year. Pagasa forecasts that 13 to 16 tropical cyclones will enter PAR until the end of the year. n

‘Barbaric and inhumane’: China ship rams boat carrying sick PH soldier

by John Eric MEndoza Inquirer.net

MANILA — A China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel “intentionally rammed” a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) boat transporting a sick member of the Philippine Navy from Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.

Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, revealed Friday, June 7, that the incident took place on May 19.

“The barbaric and inhumane behavior displayed by the China Coast Guard has no place in our society,” Tarriela said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “What should have been a simple medical evacuation operation was subjected to harassment.”

According to Tarriela, the PCG high-speed response boat (HSRB) from Buliluyan Port in Palawan was deployed to a rendezvous point with the Philippine Navy rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB), which carried the sick soldier who was stationed at the grounded BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal.

“During our attempt to bring the PCG HSRB alongside the PN RHIB at the rendezvous point, we were harassed by vessels and small boats from the China Coast Guard through blocking operations,” Tarriela said.

nearest hospital in Bataraza, Palawan and received immediate medical attention.

“They successfully outmaneuvered the numerous CCG assets and completed the transfer of the sick personnel, ensuring their safe arrival at Buliluyan Port,” Tarriela said.

The CCG also hounded the resupply mission for BRP Sierra Madre also conducted on May 19.

CCG personnel aboard two rigid hull inflatable boats seized and dumped overboard food and other supplies which were airdropped by a military aircraft for the naval outpost.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) also showed a three-minute video where Filipino voices could be heard ordering personnel in their own rubber boats to retrieve the supplies quickly to prevent the Chinese from getting a hold of them. One of the voices was heard instructing the troops to make sure their guns were on standby as the scramble for the supplies drew closer and closer to the naval outpost, coming within five to 10 meters, the AFP footage further showed.

become one of the flashpoints of tension in the West Philippine Sea, as Chinese vessels previously resorted to usage of water cannons during previous missions which even injured Philippine navy personnel at one point. Such actions are in line with Beijing’s assertion of sovereignty in almost the entire South China Sea, including most of the West Philippine Sea, even if such a claim has been effectively invalidated by a July 2016 international tribunal ruling that stemmed from a case filed by Manila in 2013. n

PAOCC spokesperson Dr. Winston Casio earlier said the raid on Wednesday, June 5 led to the arrest of “only” 158 Chinese, Vietnamese, and Malaysian nationals, whereas they expected to arrest more than 1,000.

He said information on the operation “may have been leaked.”

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said he suspects that Chinese syndicates may already have people within the country’s court systems.

The Supreme Court, for its part, has assured that it would investigate allegations that some

“Sinumang nakikipagsabwatan sa mga sindikatong Chinese ay mananagot (Anyone colluding with Chinese syndicates will be held accountable). Our Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality will ensure that victim-survivors of abuse and exploitation will get the justice they deserve.”

individuals behind POGO hubs might have an influence on the judiciary.

Hontiveros, meanwhile, commended the efforts of the PAOCC against illegal POGOs.

"Dahil sa mga raid, nailalantad ang mga paulit-ulit at karumaldumal na krimen na dala ng POGO, tulad ng scamming, torture, at human trafficking na natagpuan dito sa (Due to the raids, the heinous crimes carried out by POGO are exposed, such as the scamming, torture, and human trafficking, which were discovered in) Pampanga," Hontiveros said.

She said her office is “still receiving reports” of POGOs engaging in illegal activities, but remains hopeful that all of these would be raided by PAOCC, and all perpetrators will be arrested. (PNA)

Despite this harassment, Tarriela said the sick naval staff was eventually brought to the

Some Chinese personnel had taken supplies for themselves as well, according to a Philippine Daily Inquirer report, citing information from a ranking military official.

The regular resupply mission in the BRP Sierra Madre has

Asian Journal WKND

Joaquin’s ‘wicked’ double feat, from ‘Songs’ to Schwartz

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 soughtafter 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 composerlyricist 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 takehome 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

By Rito P. Asilo Inquirer.net

Joaquin Pedro Valdes

Photo by Ruth Crafer

New FDCP head Jose Javier

Reyes lists agency’s priorities

By Kristofer Purnell Philstar.com

MANILA — Filmmaker Jose Javier Reyes wants to focus on education, professionalization and sustainability as the new chairman of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).

Reyes succeeded veteran actor Tirso Cruz III as the FDCP chair after the latter resigned from the post earlier this year for “personal reasons.”

Reyes officially assumed the post last April.

During an Asian Academy of Creative Arts Networking Event last June 6, the first to be held in Manila, Reyes detailed the three things he wants the FDCP to prioritize.

He began with film education not just for the next generation of Filipino filmmakers, but also for Filipino audiences and teachers.

His next priority is professionalization, or having more trained filmmakers for safety and professionalism in the entertainment industry.

“[We need to] change the attitude of artistic endeavor,” Reyes explained. “Actors are artists and not just celebrities.”

Reyes stressed on sustainability, saying it was pointless to go to multiple film festivals with a lack of local films, making these events appear as press junkets.

“Co-productions are important; [we should]

work with [the] region, especially around Asia,” Reyes ended, noting Filipinos should become strong producers of content as many Filipinos are avid consumers of entertainment content. n

‘Nepo Baby’? Angel Aquino’s daughter Iana Bernardez reacts

By C. mendez legasPi Philstar.com

MANILA — The December 2022-January 2023 issue of New York Magazine went into a deepdive into the Internet’s latest obsession — Nepotism Babies or Nepo Babies. They are the celebrity children of celebrities who were fairly or unfairly perceived to have an edge over others who want to break into the fame business.

In Hollywood, there are some who didn’t seem to struggle to get into showbiz. But there are others who had one foot in and who thrived, such as Jane Fonda (father is Henry), Liza Minnelli (mom is Judy Garland), Jamie Lee Curtis (mom is Janet Leigh, dad is Tony Curtis), Anjelica Huston (of the Huston dynasty), Kate Hudson (mom is Goldie Hawn).

Time will tell if Maya Hawke (mom is Uma Thurman, dad is Ethan), Mamie and Grace Gummer (mom is Meryl Streep), and Lily-Rose Depp (mom is Vanessa Paradis, dad is Johnny) will be as successful as their parents.

Locally, KC Concepcion, Lovi Poe, Janine Gutierrez, Karylle, and Luiz Manzano are making a name for themselves thanks as much to their innate talents as well as their parents’ connections.

As the daughter of the acclaimed actress Angel Aquino, what does a budding actress like Iana Bernardez think of being regarded as a “Nepo Baby”?

“Of course, you have to acknowledge the privilege.

People are nice to me. But, sana, naturally. Sincerely. Pero alam ko meron din, kasi nakatrabaho na nila si Mommy and nice si Mommy, so parang hawa ako sa niceness.

“Mom has planted the seeds that I’m reaping it. So people are nicer, kinder. Hindi naging maldita si Mommy. So people won’t think I’m maldita. Mas na-pe-pressure pa nga ako kasi parang mas maldita ako kay Mommy pero hindi ako pwede magmaldita. Kasi si Mommy

mabait. (laughs)

“But then it’s hard work. It’s hard work because there’s a bar that you have to prove yourself more. You have to prove yourself more. They already have expectations. When I got into it, they won’t expect me to just not know how to act and be okay. Kailangan, marunong ka na ngayon. So, dapat, it runs in the family and ganyan.

“And you have to prove that you’re not in the industry just because it was easy for you to get into it. But rather, you deserve to be into it. That you deserve the roles that they give you. Kasi otherwise, if people see naman na you’re not really talented, wala. They won’t get you anything.” n

Xian Lim thanks GMA, Viva for giving him ‘out-of-the-box’ characters

By Kathleen a llemit Philstar.com

MANILA — Among Xian

Lim’s first TV assignment in GMA in 2022 was as a husband who got pregnant on “False Positive.”

This year, he’s starring in another “out-of-thebox” character for the GMA Pictures and Viva Films movie “Playtime,” and these projects make him thankful for the

network and studio outfits for giving him varied roles in the span of his over a decade of career in showbiz.

“It feels really great because paulit-ulit akong magpapasalamat sa GMA and sa Viva because they always, ever since nagsimula po akong gumawa ng proyekto sa kanila, they’ve been giving me projects that are ‘out-of-the-box.’

“From nabuntis na lalaki to a killer who’s haunting these

women, to films that I’ve never done before,” said the actor.

Xian led his co-stars in answering the press with their questions regarding his suspense thriller “Playtime.” In the upcoming film set to release on June 12, Xian plays Lucas, a man who lures women and hunts them down while being trapped with him in the forest.

The women are played by

sister to the U.S. through an employment-based petition, to work for her business. She is also asking if she can bring her mother over as a tourist, and then process her mother’s papers in the U.S.

Lani, a nurse and an entrepreneur, wants to start her own business recruiting nurses. She wants to know if Atty. Gurfinkel can help her with that.

Dr. Feb is a green card holder (through her U.S. citizen spouse) and wants to know if she can now petition her mother.

Jonas, head cook at Gerry’s Grill Houston, recently obtained his green card. He wants to know how he can bring all his children to the U.S. and if he can also bring his live-in partner, who is the mother of his children.

Atty. Gurfinkel answers these questions in this special edition of “Your Tanong, My Sagot” – One More Time in Houston, Texas. Watch this encore episode of Citizen Pinoy on Sunday, June 2 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) Atty. Gurfinkel

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

Direk Joey Reyes STAR / File

Actresses Angel Aquino and Iana Bernardez do an exclusive sustainable fashion photo shoot with Philstar.com shot on location in Novotel Suites Manila in Mandaluyong City. Philstar.com / Efigenio Toledo IV

UST Alumni Gala in America set for July 2024 in SF

SAN FRANCISCO

– Lumina

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)

How a health issue led Kim Chiu to advocate for fitness

By nAthAlie tomAdA Philstar.com

MANILA — Kim Chiu revealed

that a health issue led her to become a fitness advocate.

When The STAR recently asked the actress if she had any personal story or experience that taught her to value her health, she shared, “Meron kasi talaga akong asthma attack. Tapos hindi ko kaya talaga kasi sa ASAP, ‘pag sumasayaw ako, ang bilis ko hingalin. Or every time na natapos ‘yung sayaw, nilalagyan ako ng oxygen dun sa backstage.”

She continued, “Minsan tatapusin ko lang siya (the performance), pero nahimatay na pala ako. So, parang ano ba ‘to? Ano bang kailangan kong gawin para lumakas ako?

“So, that’s how I started joining marathons. Na-enjoy ko magrunning, na-enjoy ko mag-bike, mag-workout. I joined duathlons. I also enjoyed triathlons. So (I realized) ang saya pala dito because of the camaraderie of the running group or biking group. They don’t treat you as an artista. Kanya-kanya kayo ng (encouragement), ‘Uy, kaya mo.’ ‘Pag sumasali ng laban parang kaya mo ‘yan, go lang. It’s really a new community for me.”

Then she also got more serious in her gym regimen. “‘Yung mga kaibigan ko ring mga mommies

na mukhang bata, ka-gym ko naman sila. So, ang galing!

Gusto ko ‘pag-50 ako, ganyan pa rin ako. So, I’m starting it now.”

Since she became more fitness-oriented, Kim said that she has not experienced an asthma attack again.

“Yung asthma, hindi na siya actually nagpapakita. Nakatulong talaga,” she added.

“Also during the pandemic (it didn’t happen). Di ba ‘yung may asthma daw ‘yung lapitin ng COVID, Diyos ko dinamihan ko ‘yung (indoor running) ko. It really helped. Now that my schedule has eased up, I might join (a triathlon) again.”

Kim granted The STAR an interview after she was launched as the celebrity endorser of Hello! Melo — a beauty drink that targets skin concerns with ingredients like Collagen, Hyaluronic acid, Ceramides and L-Gluthathione — from the health, wellness and skincare brand Brilliant Skin Essentials.

Kim joins the likes of Alden Richards, Andrea Brillantes and Paulo Avelino, Kim’s leading

man in “Linlang” and “What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim.”

Leading the welcome into Brilliant Skin Essentials’ roster of brand ambassadors was the young chief executive officer Glenda dela Cruz Victorio, who is also a social media personality popularly known as “Miss Glenda.” The event was jampacked by franchisees and distributors from different parts of the country.

On the subject of beauty and wellness, The STAR asked the newly single Kim about her Top 3 self-love and self-care routines.

“No. 1, I work out,” she said.

“Exercising really helps… Even just walking, jogging, or brisk walking helps with blood circulation, which also prevents skin dryness and sagging, keeping us looking fresh. Sweating helps release harmful toxins from our body, which is important for our health.

“Second is I give myself some time to destress. No cellphone. Sometimes it’s not obvious, but I recharge by myself.

“(I go to the beach) or my rest house. I don’t use the phone, no TV, no news, no anything… just three days or five days only… then, balik ulit

“Third is I listen to my body. Ano gusto ko kainin, bilhin for myself? Sino gusto kong kausapin, ‘yung ite-treat mo ‘yung self mo once in a while. I get a facial, manicure-pedicure, I eat delicious food, I have days like that where I just do things I want to do…

“What I’m saying is let’s not neglect ourselves. Na hindi natin i-treat na ay pang-sosyal lang ‘yan. Treat din natin kasi nagtatrabaho naman tayo para sa sarili din natin.”

The 34-year-old Cebuana further said that while aging is a natural process, she believes that how we manage it is within our control.

“Marami namang paraan, ‘wag ka lang magpabaya sa sarili mo, more on self-care, selflove.”

Ultimately, for her, having a positive mindset and confidence contributes to overall happiness and well-being.

And whenever she’s feeling down, Kim said she turns to her closest friends in the industry, Angelica Panganiban and Bela Padilla.

“It’s also a big help that I’m on ‘It’s Showtime’ every day,” she added. “Kasi parang kinokondisyon niya ‘yung utak mo na dapat happy ka ‘pag nandun ka. Or pati ‘yung family na nandoon. Sobrang masayahin ang lahat so makakalimutan mo talaga problema mo.

“And it feels like a complete family. You have a nanay in

Michele Gumabao, Arci Muñoz, Richard Armstrong share Pride Month message

By Armin P. AdinA Inquirer.net

ATHLETE and beauty queen Michele Gumabao

said she is so grateful to the LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and others) community because both fields she has thrived in had grown because of them.

“Thank you, because the [community] is the driving force for both pageantry and sports. Both industries won’t be where they are today if it wasn’t for the strong, passionate fans of the LGBT community, so thank you,” she said at the AIBC Asia forum on “Tech Trends in Sports, Media and Entertainment” held in Pasay City on June 4.

The 2018 Binibining Pilipinas Globe titleholder and member of the Creamline Cool Smashers professional volleyball team also encouraged content creators “to spread knowledge on certain things, so that we are all knowledgeable about the things we say, about the things we read, and how we react to certain things, and also to use our platform to send that message to others, and to

just create a safe space for everyone, and to also be an example for other people.”

For Gumabao, playing the sport she loves in front of a lot of people, and making a lot of people happy, is a “big blessing.” And she told the LGBTQIA+ community that “you’ve come a long way. And there’s still more to come, and a long way to go. And everybody, especially me, we’re all here to support and to rally behind you.”

Actress Arci Muñoz, who also spoke at the forum, shared the role the community played in her career. “We all know that in the show biz industry I am surrounded with these wonderful people who has helped me throughout my career, my manager, everybody,” she said.

“The technology right now can help us to be more authentic to ourselves, to be open. And we just want to remind them that it is okay to be you. And you know you’re equally loved and we are here to support you. I am here to support my brothers and my sisters. And that is okay to be yourself. And Happy Pride Month,” she continued. Thai actor and entrepreneur Richard Armstrong

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 goodlooking 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 musicaltheater 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 two-dimensional.

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. n

‘Don’t hold grudges’: Kim Chiu shares advice to fellow women on how to recover and regain their self-confidence and self-worth after going through a difficult period in life. Philstar.com photo

Michele Gumabao, Arci Muñoz and Richard Armstrong. Photo from Instagram/@gumabaomichele, @ramonathornes, @_richie77

Dealing with assets omitted in a divorce case

Barrister’s Corner

Atty. Kenneth

YOU and your spouse may have gone through a lengthy and contentious divorce proceeding. This is usually the most difficult period of a person’s life. Finally, time heals all pain. You and your spouse get tired of bickering and being mean to one another that you both decide to compromise each other positions and resolve all issues in your divorce case through settlement. Shortly thereafter, the divorce judgment is finally entered by the Court and you get a sigh of relief. Later you discovery that “Oops!,” your ex-spouse had community asset and/or debt that was left out of the divorce judgment. This may be a pension, retirement account, a hidden bank account, or a piece of real estate property which was not divided in the judgment. What is one to do in this situation? The answer can be found in California Family Code §2556 California Family Code §2556 provides “In a proceeding for dissolution of marriage, for nullity of marriage, or for legal separation of the parties, the court has continuing jurisdiction to award community estate assets or community

estate liabilities to the parties that have not been previously adjudicated by a judgment in the proceeding.” California Family Code §2556. Even if the parties did not expressly reserve jurisdiction on that piece of asset, the Court retains the power to divide a specific property if there is a community interest in it. The Court’s “continuing jurisdiction” over omitted community estate assets or debts is invoked by filing a post judgment Motion, or Request for Order in the divorce case. Family Code §2556 provides “A party may file a postjudgment motion or request for order in the proceeding in order to obtain adjudication of any community estate asset or liability omitted or not adjudicated by the judgment.” The postjudgment partition of the unadjudicated community estate claims is properly entertained by the court even absent an express reservation of jurisdiction in its prior judgment. Marriage of Moore & Ferrie (1993) 14 CA4th 1472, 1483, 18 CR2d 543, 549, fn. 9. The postjudgment motion is available to any omitted asset or debt not adjudicated by the divorce judgment. However, Family Code §2556 does not extend to division and adjudication of any separate property. Marriage of Klug (2005) 130 CA4th 1389, 1396, 31 CR3d 327, 331–332. If an asset was partially omitted, the Court can still

divide and adjudicate the portion that has been omitted postjudgment under family code §2566. Community Property adjudicated under § 2556 shall be divided equally “unless the court finds upon good cause shown that the interests of justice require an unequal division of the asset or liability.” Family Code §2556. *

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

Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APC. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com. (Advertising Supplement)

Michele Gumabao, Arci...

also flew to Manila after attending the Pride March in Bangkok with his sister to attend the forum. “This is something we extremely support. And for me, everyone is equal no matter what gender they are. So, I’m super supportive of that,” he said.

He also shared his observation that there will be “a lot of technology to advance towards the LGBTQ community. Because if you look at a lot of the Gen Z population, there’s a lot of LGBT pride in that area of society, and things like this. A lot of the industries that own technologies and apps, and things like this, will be geared towards also the LGBT community. And I think these can be very, very massive companies, and standalone businesses that impact millions of lives.”

Actress and content creator Ivana Alawi’s sister

Amira, CMO of Ivana Skin PH, revealed at the forum that she recently came out as bisexual. “A big part of the LGBTQ is being seen. And it might not be widely accepted, but I think with technology you can just create more visibility and hyper visibility, and you can choose to support who you’re supporting. The technology will just allow you to reach more people. And to create more acceptance, and change the narrative,” she said.

Public relations practitioner, magazine publisher, and Miss Universe franchise holder for multiple countries Josh Yugen, who moderated the forum, also shared his message for Pride Month: “Being a member of the LGBT community is both a pride and a responsibility. I think it’s also about taking risks. And my message is, take risks, especially when it comes to innovation and technology.” n

United in faith, love, and peace

Pastor’s Notes

reverend rodel G. BAlAGtAs

WE have abundant blessings to celebrate in our parish this month. Forty youth and young adults received the Sacrament of Confirmation last Saturday, and twenty-six 8th-grade students graduated from our school, with the majority of them pursuing a Catholic high school education. We are also looking forward to our annual parish carnival that brings together our parishioners and the neighborhood. Let’s bring smiles to the people who come to the carnival, welcome them, and wish them our good intentions. In a world ridden with conflicts and wars, we, as a parish community, must set an example of bringing peace and goodwill to those around us. This is one way to evangelize to other people.

As a church, we are also susceptible to the attacks of the devil, who seeks to divide us. We must not allow God’s enemy to sow hatred, division, malice, discrimination, and unforgiveness in our hearts.

Similarly, we must not let discouragement destroy our vision as a church to be joyful, loving, and filled with faith when crises, problems, and strife arise. Often, this feeling of discouragement is the work of the devil. Instead, we must remain hopeful and persevere in our faith. As St. Paul states in this Sunday’s (June 9) Second Reading (2 Cor 4:13, 5:1):

“Therefore, we are not discouraged; rather, although our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to what is seen but to what is unseen; for what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal.”

We have many plans for development and growth in

our parish. God has blessed us with resources, thanks to the generosity of parishioners both in the past and the present. Let us pray that our major building projects will commence soon upon approval by the City of Glendale.

One of our important tasks as a parish is to remain united. We are a family, and therefore, love, understanding, forgiveness, and kindness must reign within our community. We are brothers and sisters in Christ, forged by the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist. We must strive to worship together, relate to one another, and work in harmony. By doing so, as Jesus says in this Sunday’s Gospel, we are fulfilling the will of the Father.

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.

Xian Lim thanks GMA, Viva for giving...

Sanya Lopez, Faye Lorenzo and Coleen Garcia.

“I feel very grateful and I feel very blessed na nabigyan po ako ng pagkakataon to portray something out of the box, something like this, I would say, daring. Kasi hindi naman po lahat nabibigyan ng pagkakataon,” he added.

Xian said that he and his co-stars put their faith on their director, Mark Reyes V.

Reyes said the film had been at the back of his head for many years since he was in high school or college when he came across the work of Richard Connell titled “The Most Dangerous Game.” It was a short story published in 1924 and adapted into movies and series.

“I was in high school, I think college that stuck to me. Simple story was there is this hunter whose hobby is to hunt animals. He got bored because he can outwit animals so what he did was he started hunting down humans because they have intelligence. That stuck to me all these years. I said that if I would do a thriller, that would be the impetus of the story that I would want to do,” Reyes shared.

Reyes said that his upcoming movie produced by GMA Pictures and Viva Films is a sort of a homecoming, since his first major break was “TGIS,” produced by Viva and shown on GMA-7 as a weekend youth-oriented show back in the late 1990s.

The director said the film is a collaborative effort, with his four stars contributing their insights in his concept and with script by Noreen

Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California.

Capili and Dustin Celestino. Dapat kasama ang apat na ito for writing credits [referring to the lead stars]. It was a very collaborative film. It expanded to that,” the director added. n

Xian Lim Photo from Instagram/@xianlimm

Heart Evangelista on being Senate Spouses Foundation head: A job from the heart

HEART Evangelista

underscored that she does not get monetary compensation for being the Senate Spouses Foundation Inc. president, noting that all she does for the role is “done from the heart and for the love of our nation.”

Evangelista, who took oath as the organization head after her husband Francis “Chiz” Escudero became the Senate president, spoke about her position through her Instagram page on Wednesday, June 5.

“I am so honored to stand before everyone of you today as the new President of the Senate Spouses Foundation Inc. As I stand side by side with these men and women—my fellow spouses and officials who were involved in SSFI long before me, I could not help but be grateful for welcoming and supporting me in this challenging journey ahead,” she said.

“As I have said during our very first meeting, l am ready to honor the challenge of working together to find ways to uplift our people and our communities,” she stated.

The actress-fashion personality then acknowledged the legacies of those who led the organization before her, saying she will continue what they started.

“With your support, fellow spouses, SSFI support staff, the Senate community and of course of Senate President Chiz, I am bravely taking on these duties. It is inspiring to see what we can accomplish and what kind of changes we can all make together,” she added. In a separate post on her TikTok page, Evangelista then clarified that the foundation was initiated by the senators’ spouses in 1987 through their “private capacities.”

“It’s a non-stock-non-profit organization. All is done from the heart and for the love of our nation! Indeed it’s an honor to share this with my fellow senate spouses,” she wrote. She also added in her post: “This job is from the heart.” Evangelista took over from Audrey Tan-Zubiri, the wife of previous Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri. n

Philippine American Friendship Day to be celebrated on July 13 in Cerritos

From My Point of View

CERRITOS – On its third year run as Los Angeles County’s largest Philippine American Friendship Day, this year’s edition will be held on July 13 (Saturday) from 10:30 am to 8 pm at the Don Knabe Community Regional Park on Bloomfield Ave., this city.

Hosted by the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) in collaboration with the Los Angeles County under the auspices of Supervisor Janice Hahn, this year’s theme is “Fostering Friendships Beyond Borders.” This annual festival of friendship had its roots in the City of Carson in 2021.

Among the pop and cultural entertainers lined up that will reprise their performances that left indelible imprints among the revelers were the Club Magkaisa of Cerritos High School, the Maranao Tata Malong Iligan-Maranao and Lanao Del Norte Dance Troupe, and the heart-stopping hip-hop Junior New Systems, a finalist in “America’s Got Talent” from the Philippines with their elevated shoes, among others. The kicker here is,” It’s free entertainment

and free admission,” the NaFFAA executive Committee said in a statement.

A fun parade will kick off the festivities that will snake through the sparkling and scenic Don Knabe Lake participated in by various community organizations. As an incentive, group participants will receive cash prizes for the Largest Delegation, Most Colorful Delegation and Liveliest Delegation. Last year’s community winners were the Holy Family Church Catholic Community (Largest Contingent), the combined forces of Alpha Phi Omega Greater Los Angeles and APO South Bay (Liveliest Contingent) and the Iligan City and Lanao Del Norte of Southern California (Most Colorful). Elected officials from various mainstream, local communities

and Philippine consular officials will be on hand to inspire, greet and mingle with the throng. Los Angeles County

Supervisor Janice Hahn in last year’s celebration enthused, ”I’m so proud to have been a part in launching this Filipino community event in the City of Cerritos and make sure that we not only keep this tradition alive but make it even bigger and better.”

The Supervisor added, “Los Angeles County is not only home to the largest community of Filipino-Americans in the country. We are home to the largest concentration of Filipinos in the world outside of Manila! And that’s why this event is so important. This festival is an opportunity to enjoy so many of the wonderful things Filipino American culture has to offer. But it is also an

‘Tween Hearts’ actress Joyce Ching pregnant with first baby

KAPUSO actress Joyce Ching and her non-showbiz husband, Kevin Alimon, announced that they are expecting their first child.

The couple happily shared the news on Instagram as they shared their photos holding the sonogram, saying she is now four months pregnant.

“The start of the year, God

placed a desire in our hearts to really start praying and believing Him for a baby. Was it scary? Yes. We thought about it hard and decided, ‘G, si Lord, naman bahala sa atin.’ And now, we’re 4 months pregnant,” she wrote in her caption.

The soon-to-be parents also shared their pregnancy journey on their YouTube vlog, detailing that they found out that she’s expectant on March 26 after a series of pregnancy tests and

visits to the OB-GYN.

“Okay naman daw everything. Kanina hindi ko na mapigil

‘yung iyak ko,” said Ching upon receiving the results that she was seven weeks and three days pregnant.

At the end of the vlog, the actress asked her followers for prayers: “Please keep us in your prayers.”

In Ching’s Instagram post, fellow celebrities Barbie Forteza,

By Jessica ann evangelista Inquirer.net

By anne PasaJol Inquirer.net

Heart Evangelista

Photo from Instagram/@iamhearte

Joyce Ching and her non-showbiz husband, Kevin Alimon Photo from Instagram/@chingjoyce

Binibining Pilipinas 2024 queens to win P1 million each; new crowns unveiled

By arMin P. adina Inquirer.net

JAWS dropped when the Binibining Pilipinas pageant announced that the winners in its 2024 competition will each receive P1 million, the biggest prize money in its 60year history.

The revelation was made at the press presentation held at the New Frontier Theater at the Araneta City in Quezon City on Friday, June 7, with members of the press and sponsors in attendance to see this year’s candidates.

The Bb. Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) will also donate P1 million to its chosen charity

institution this year, World Vision Philippines.

The 40 ladies paraded in identical black maillot swimsuits with plunging neckline, paired with gold accessories and nude stilettos.

As in last year’s competition, two winners will be proclaimed and will receive the Bb. Pilipinas International and Bb. Pilipinas Globe titles. Both queens will each take home the P1million prize, and will be the first to wear the new crowns designed by renowned jewelry and accessories maker Manny Halasan.

The Bb. Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) pulled out all the stops to mount an extravagant

celebration to mark six decades of championing the best Filipino women on the global stage, and cementing the Philippines’ status as an international pageant powerhouse.

The delegates are competing to take their spot among the roster of exceptional ladies who have been crowned Bb. Pilipinas, among them the country’s four Miss Universe winners— Gloria Diaz, Margie Moran, Pia Wurtzbach and Catriona Gray.

The national pageant also produced five Miss International winners—Aurora Pijuan, Melanie, Marquez, Precious Lara Quigaman, Bea Rose Santiago and Kylie Verzosa. Miss Intercontinental winners

Karen Gallman and Cinderella Faye Obeñita are also Bb. Pilipinas alumnae, and so are Maricar Balagtas, Ann Colis and Maureen Montagne who all brought home crowns from the Miss Globe pageant system.

The national pageant organization also boasts several other wins from lesserknown competitions, runnerup placements in the major pageants, and special awards recipients from a multitude of international contests.

Reigning Bb. Pilipinas International Angelica Lopez, who will compete in the 62nd Miss International pageant in November in Japan, will crown her national successor who will be sent to the global tilt’s 63rd edition next year.

The Miss Globe second runnerup Anna Lakrini will relinquish her title to her successor who will compete in the international pageant later this year.

The ladies will be seen next at the much-anticipated national costume competition, also at the New Frontier Theater, on June 11.

The 2024 Bb. Pilipinas Grand Coronation Night will be held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum at the Araneta City on July 7, with Gray sharing hosting chores with Verzosa, and their fellow Binibinis Nicole Cordoves and MJ Lastimosa. n

How a health issue led Kim Chiu...

Tiyang Amy (Perez) and a tatay in Sir Ogie (Alcasid). Then everyone else is your barkada. We’re really a family (there).

Kapag may pinagdadaanan, makakaramdam ‘yung isa sa amin ng ‘hoy, bakit tahimik ka? bakit ganyan?’ So, we are sensitive to each other.

“That’s one of the things I’m grateful for. I have friends like that. And of course, I have my own family (to help me), my Ate and my Tatay.” As for her advice to fellow women on regaining their self-confidence after surviving a tough period in their life, Kim said it’s not to hold grudges or harbor resentment.

“Huwag lang talagang magtatanim ng sama ng loob. That’s the No. 1 rule I’ve set for myself. Never talaga magtatanim ng sama ng loob dahil ikaw lang yung

mahihirapan eh. For example, may kaaway ka, ‘ayan na siya, magtatago ako, ayaw ko siya makita.’ Sino pinaparusahan mo?

Sarili mo lang.

“So might as well live in the moment and throw away all the negativities or (let go of your) enemies, whoever that be.”

That’s what she learned from her father, according to Kim. “Ganun kasi ugali ng Papa ko. Wala talaga siyang kagalit, parang ang sarap ng buhay ng Papa ko. Happy happy lang siya… He’s already 65 but he doesn’t look like one,” she noted.

Meanwhile, it’s not hard to notice how Kim is experiencing a career high. She’s all over in terms of TV shows and endorsements.

When this paper pointed it out to her, she laughingly reacted, “Hindi mo makukuha lahat, may isa kasing wala, charot! You can’t have it all!”

But it’s OK and she remains grateful. Nagpapasalamat nga ako tsaka sinuwerte lang talaga ako, yung mga projects ko nagkasunod sunod and sabay-sabay,” she said.

She particularly gave credit to the late ABS-CBN executive and Dreamscape Entertainment boss, Deo Endrinal, for pushing her to accept projects like the infidelity-themed thriller “Linlang” and the romantic-comedy “What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim,” as well as hosting duties in the noontime program “It’s Showtime.” Is there anything else that she looks forward to happening in her personal life this 2024?

She mused, “Personal life this year? Siguro ‘wag muna… Trabaho muna. Live in the moment. Yun muna. Huwag munang magplano ng pangmatagalan. Baka hindi rin mangyari and malungkot lang.” n

@richardgutz

Annabelle Rama gives low-key approval of ‘Barbie doll’ for Richard Gutierrez

By HannaH Mallorca Inquirer.net

ANNABELLE Rama made no confirmation of her son Richard Gutierrez‘s romance with Barbie Imperial, but she seemingly gave a low-key seal of approval to a certain “Barbie doll.”

Rama took to her Facebook account on Wednesday, June 5, to say that “Annabelle doll” is not going against “Barbie doll,” a week after entertainment insider

Ogie Diaz reported that Gutierrez and Imperial are “exclusively dating.”

“Hoy!! Yung walang magawa sa buhay tumahimik na kayo. Kasi

si Annabelle Doll hindi lalaban kay Barbie Doll maganda, maputi at makinis,” Rama said, although she didn’t address anyone in particular.

(Hey! To those who have nothing to do in life, shut up. Because the Annabelle doll won’t fight the beautiful, fair-skinned, and smooth Barbie doll.)

Rama then said that she would rather trade barbs with a certain “Chucky,” referring to the killer doll in a popular horror movie series.

“Ang gusto makalaban ni

‘Tween

PAGE B6

Megan Young, EA Guzman, Jackie Lou Blanco and Jak Roberto, among others, extended their congratulatory messages.

The couple tied the knot in 2019. At the time, Ching shared the perks of being in a relationship with someone not from show biz.

Annabelle doll si Chucky. Alam nyo na kung sino yun HAHAHA happy kana (What the Annabelle doll wants to fight is a Chucky. You know whom I’m talking about. Happy now),” she said. Rama’s post caught the attention of netizens in the comments, with some wondering if she was referring to herself, Imperial, and Gutierrez’s estranged wife, Sarah Lahbati. Others also noted that Rama seems to approve of Imperial for her son. Actor Chuckie Dreyfus, meanwhile, butted in the comments. Gutierrez and Imperial have been hounded with dating speculations since January 2024, after they were seen huddling together at an Alabang gastropub. Four months later, they are spotted at what seemed to be a getaway in South Korea. On Diaz’s showbiz vlog last May 30, the entertainment insider said they are “exclusively dating,” but that no overlap happened between Lahbati and Imperial.

Neither Gutierrez nor Imperial have confirmed their brewing romance. n

Hearts’...

Magkaiba [kayo] ng world, so marami napag-uusapan at marami kayong natutunan sa isa’t isa,” she said. “Yung advantage kapag showbiz (boyfriend), hindi ka kailangan mag-explain kasi alam niya yung mundo ng show biz. Kapag non-showbiz, kailangan mong ipaintindi yung ibang bagay.

Ching is known for her roles in “Tween Academy: Class of 2012,” “Endless Love” and “Anna Karenina,” among others. n

Binibining Pilipinas 2024 candidates.

Photo from Inquirer.net/Armin P. Adina

(From left) Annabelle Rama, Barbie Imperial, and Richard Gutierrez. Photos from Instagram/@annabelleramaig, @msbarbieimperial,