061524 - Los Angeles Weekend Edition

NEW YORK — If elected to a second term, former President Donald Trump could reinvoke the public charge rule, creating a climate of fear among immigrants who have availed of public benefits.

“We will absolutely be addressing public charge,” said key Republican strategist Rodney Whitlock, vice president at McDermot Consulting.

“We’ve got more people flooding in to the U.S. than ever before. You can’t have millions of people pouring into the country without consequences,” he said June 7 — responding to a question by Ethnic Media Services — during a panel discussion at the Association of Health Care Journalists annual conference here. Whitlock did not respond to EMS’ emails with follow-up questions.

Green card denials

The public charge rule, on the books for decades, has seldom been implemented. But six months into his term, Trump announced he would begin enforcing it. Trump’s rule denied a green card to any U.S. resident who had received one or more forms of federal public benefits.

Philippine divorce bill advances to Senate

bill, which was approved by the House on May 22.

"The absolute divorce bill under House Bill No. 9349, entitled ‘An Act Reinstituting Absolute Divorce as an Alternative Mode for the Dissolution of Marriage’, which was approved on third and final reading on May 22, 2024, by the House of Representatives, was finally transmitted to the Senate as contained in a letter dated June 10, 2024, from House Secretary General Reginald S. Velasco to Senate President Francis 'Chiz' G. Escudero," Lagman’s statement reads.

AMERICANS would no longer have to worry about medical debts dragging down their credit scores under federal regulations proposed Tuesday, June 11 by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

If enacted, the rules would dramatically expand protections for tens of millions of Americans burdened by medical bills they can’t afford.

The regulations would also fulfill a pledge by the Biden administration to address the scourge of health care debt, a uniquely American problem that touches an estimated 100 million people, forcing many to make sacrifices such as limiting food, clothing, and other essentials.

“No one should be denied access to economic opportunity simply because they experienced a medical emergency,” Vice President Kamala Harris said Tuesday.

The administration further called on states to expand efforts to restrict debt collection by hospitals and to make hospitals provide more charity care to low-income patients, a step that

MANILA — Stressing that police officers followed standard operating procedures, the Philippine National Police is pushing back against former president Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of “overkill” when authorities served arrest warrants against pastor Apollo Quiboloy and his five associates.

Police did not use excessive force when they raided Quiboloy’s Davao properties on Monday, June 10 in search of the evangelist who is wanted for human trafficking and child abuse, the PNP said.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, whose department has jurisdiction over the PNP, also said the raid was properly planned and

the operation prioritized everyone’s safety.

Raiding teams of the Special Action Force, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and other police units swooped down on Quiboloy’s three properties: the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound in Buhangin district, the 25-hectare Glory Mountain in Barangay Tamayong and the adjacent 50-hectare Prayer Mountain.

Quiboloy’s high-profile nature and his thousands of followers prompted the PNP to deploy hundreds of police officers for the operation to prevent violence from erupting.

“Before the operation, the PNP coordinated closely with local officials to ensure a peaceful and orderly execution,

by dennis HeruelA

IN celebration of this year’s Philippine Independence Day, a dedication sign that recognizes two significant historical and cultural Filipino American community hubs – Radio Manila and Philippine Village – was unveiled on Thursday, June 13 at 4515 Eagle Rock Blvd. in Los Angeles. The ceremony was led by Los Angeles City Councilmember Kevin De Leon, Oscar L. Jornacion of Philippine Village, and Awee Abayari of Radio Manila.

Historically, Eagle Rock was dubbed as “Little Manila,” being

home to a significant population of Filipino Americans in the Northeast Los Angeles area. This paved the way to the establishment of the Philippine Village complex which also became the home of the United States’ first 24-hour radio station dedicated to Filipino Americans, Radio Manila. Thus, the marker inscripts: “Philippine Village: Former Hub of Eagle Rock’s Filipino Community and home to the nation’s first 24-hour radio station dedicated to Filipino American, Radio Manila.”

Over the years it was onair, Radio Manila served as a community service station that

connected Filipinos living and working in the United States and abroad.

Councilmember De Leon, who represents District 14 and is a known champion of Filipino Americans in the district, extolled the contributions of both cultural legacies which contributed to the stories that shaped the past and present lives of FilAms in the city.

“Today we honor the legacy of Radio Manila, the first 24-hour radio station in the United States dedicated to Filipino Americans. This station right here in Eagle Rock was a beacon of hope and a

by AdriAn PArungAo Inquirer.net

— The Philippines is again among the world’s 10 worst countries for workers, as indicated in the 2024 Global Rights Index of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). Based on the survey, the country is one of the countries worldwide where workers are “exposed to unfair labor practices” and “have no access to their rights.”

The Philippines is included in the ITUC study’s 10 worst countries for workers since 2017. In the 2024 Global Rights Index, the country obtained a rating of five as workers are found to have “no guarantee of rights.” The Philippines was given the same rating in ITUC’s review in 2023. It likewise noted that unions and unionists in the country face many challenges, citing alleged obstacles in union formation and the deaths of trade unionists.

DAVAO CITY — Is the UniTeam still intact?

It was only for the 2022 elections, according to Vice President and Education

Secretary Sara Duterte, and it has served its purpose when it launched her and President Marcos to victory.

“The UniTeam was a tandem during the 2022 elections. The elections are over, we won

and we are grateful to those who supported us,” Duterte told reporters on the sidelines of the 126th Independence Day rites here in Rizal Park on Wednesday, June 12.

“We are not candidates anymore,” Duterte added when pressed by reporters about the status of the UniTeam.

She also joked that an oppressed person must remain attractive.

“If you are oppressed, make

LA District 14 Councilmember Kevin De Leon (extreme right) helps unveil the Philippine Village historical marker along with Oscar Jornacion and Awee Abayari.

Photo from Instagram/@kdeleoncd14

Philippine divorce bill advances...

Lagman stated that the transmittal adhered to his request for the immediate forwarding of the approved bill to the Senate, in line with the House's unanimous approval.

"This means that the transmittal to the Senate will not wait for the plenary action of the House when the sessions start on July 22, 2024, as previously announced by Velasco," Lagman said.

On May 29, Lagman revealed that the Office of the Secretary General had deferred the transmittal of the bill to the upper chamber as the plenary needed to correct the affirmative votes from 126 to 131. The divorce bill approved by the House explicitly lists marital infidelity and domestic violence as valid grounds for divorce. It also includes all the grounds for legal separation, annulment, and declaration of nullity of marriage under the Family Code. g

Sara: UniTeam good only for 2022...

sure you can still wear twopiece,” Duterte quipped when reporters told her that she had lost weight.

Speculations about the status of the UniTeam have swirled, especially after the statements of First Lady Liza Marcos against the vice president and the suspension of known allies of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

The vice president also refused to comment on the memorandum circular of the president to include the “Bagong Pilipinas” song and pledge in weekly flag ceremonies.

At the Independence Day rites here, the hymn and pledge were not sung and recited.

Local government units are only encouraged to follow the circular.

Several teachers’ groups have expressed disapproval of the

order, saying it is reminiscent of the abusive practices during martial law.

“Today, we are gathered to commemorate 126 years of sovereignty as well as to honor the great legacy left to us by our forefathers, who displayed true courage and bravery. On Independence Day we do not only celebrate our liberation but also place emphasis on the importance of remembering the adversities we overcome and the ideals we fight for,” Duterte said as she led the celebration. She also stressed that the freedom Filipinos have at present is a result of the unyielding resolve of ancestors to reclaim their rights to govern themselves as a sovereign nation, “as well as pursue the aspirations of our people and manage our own economic resources.”

“While we pay tribute to

their countless sacrifices and reflect on the past, we must also look forward to the future,” she said, adding that Independence Day is not only a historical milestone but also an unceasing journey.

“It is our duty and moral responsibility to maintain our freedom by learning from our past mistake and tackling issues that obstruct our growth as a nation,” she said.

Duterte called on the youth to uphold the values of patriotism and democracy as they hold the key to the future as they go out into the world, make wise decisions that not only benefit them but the greater good.

Duterte’s younger, brother Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, was not around during the Independence Day celebration anchored on the theme “Kalayaan, Kinabukasan, Kasaysayan.” g

Abalos, PNP: No overkill on...

minimizing any potential disruptions to the community,” the PNP said.

PNP chief publicist Col. Jean Fajardo said they will not file criminal complaints against

Quiboloy’s

Historical monument sign recognizing...

LOS ANGELES — Insurance

Commissioner Ricardo Lara on Wednesday, June 12 released further details of his transformative plan to increase the writing of homeowners and commercial insurance policies in areas of the state with high wildfire risk. This action is the next step of his Sustainable Insurance Strategy that will help restore coverage options for Californians across the state while safeguarding the integrity of the state’s insurance market.

Commissioner Lara is keeping California on course for the most significant insurance reform in 30 years by releasing regulatory text outlining the commitments that insurance companies must make in order to use forwardlooking catastrophe models for ratemaking. The release of this regulatory text and announcement of a June 26 public workshop is part of the package of regulatory language designed to incorporate the use of catastrophe models in California ratemaking.

“Californians in every corner of our state are frustrated with outdated regulations and desperate for change,” said Commissioner Lara.

“Whether you live in the Sierra or the foothills, along the coast or in a city, California is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ place, and we need to be inclusive. We are enacting a major reform that will result in insurance companies writing more policies, so if you are stuck on the FAIR Plan because of your unique wildfire risk, there will be help for you.”

Under Proposition 103 enacted by voters in 1988, insurance companies are legally free to choose where they will write policies in California. As a result, insurance companies are writing more and more in areas of the state deemed less risky, especially with the continued threat of climate change. This most affects residents and business owners in areas with wildfire risk where the California FAIR Plan has become the only

option for insurance, not the last resort as it was intended. Under Commissioner Lara’s strategy, insurance companies will be allowed to use forward-looking catastrophe models if – and only if – they increase writing of policies in these wildfire distressed areas, helping fix a fundamental shortcoming of Prop. 103.

“We are addressing this crisis of insurance availability head-on.

For the many Californians who live anywhere where wildfires are a threat, my Strategy will increase their options while requiring insurance companies to take their wildfire safety actions seriously,” continued Commissioner Lara.

“This builds on my first-in-thenation Safer from Wildfires regulation by requiring insurance companies take into account wildfire mitigation efforts at the individual property, community, and regional level.”

Under this regulatory package, insurance companies must detail where they are writing policies in submitted rate filings and the Department will use its existing enforcement authority to hold them accountable. Insurance companies using catastrophe models also will be required to take into account the steps taken by policyholders to mitigate wildfire risk.

“Technology is harming consumers not helping them when it comes to making insurance more available and affordable. I commend the Department for insisting that there be a tangible benefit for consumers,” said Amy Bach, executive director of United Policyholders, a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization founded in 1991 that informs and advocates for insurance consumers across the country. “The Department is intent on this being a twoway street where consumers are better served. We need a public model as a benchmark and strong regulations to prevent overcharges and unfair underwriting practices.” First-ever

As part of

INDEPENDENCE

CELEBRATION IN DAVAO. Vice President Sara Z. Duterte arrives at the Rizal Park in Davao City to lead the wreath-laying ceremony for the celebration of the country’s 126th Independence Day on Wednesday, June 12. Duterte called on Filipinos to reflect on the courage and patriotism of their ancestors, who fought for the country’s freedom from foreign oppression. PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.

Quiboloy

Jackielyn

Cemanes,

District 14 Councilmember Kevin De Leon (4th from right) holds a replica of the historical monument marker that was recently installed in Eagle Rock, recognizing the lasting contributions of Filipino Americans to the community. Photo from Instagram/@kdeleoncd14

How climate change is worsening the home affordability crisis

by Selen OzTurk Ethnic Media Services

AS climate change worsens, so does the home affordability crisis as insurers raise rates, withdraw coverage and underpay damages. Even non-homeowners are affected, both by the increasing severity of U.S. climate disasters and by the spillover effect of the home insurance market on broader housing markets and local economies.

At a Friday, June 7 Ethnic Media Services briefing, home insurance and climate policy strategists and leaders explained how this climate change insurance crisis will affect Americans’ lives, and discussed how the insurance industry, government and Americans themselves can bring solutions.

Climate risk driving insurance

unaffordability

A November 2023 report on home insurance affordability by the Insurance Research Council, a non-lobbying nonprofit, studied the nationwide affordability index through 2021. This index was found by taking homeowners’ average paid insurance premiums, and dividing it by median household income, to find the share of household income dedicated to paying for home insurance.

In 2021, the most affordable state was Utah, where homeowners spent less than 1% of income on insurance.

In the least affordable, Florida, homeowners spent over 4%.

Among factors causing this range in affordability, “natural hazards, especially weather hazards, are at the top of the risk list” in terms of claim frequency and severity for disasters like hurricanes, hail, flooding and storms, said Vicky Kilgore, assistant vice president at The Insurance Research Council.

Driving home her point, heavy rains across much of south Florida this week — with more intense rains forecast Thursday — left much of the region underwater, causing widespread damage and travel disruption, with more than 1200 flights canceled or delayed.

Kilgore added that in the 20 years up to 2021, “expenditure growth outpaced income growth by a considerable margin” for insurance spending nationwide — from 1.27% of household income

in 2001 to 1.99% in 2021 — “and we predict that this number will surpass 2% when we get updated data.”

A climate-induced financial crisis? These “challenges that climate risk is creating for insurance companies are creating the possibility of another big financial crisis like in 2008,” said Jordan Haedtler, Climate Financial Strategist with the Sunrise Project.

Alongside climate insurancerelated crisis warnings in recent years by the Financial Stability Oversight Council which was created in the aftermath of 2008, “This past week, one witness in a U.S. Senate Budget Committee hearing on this drew parallels between the housing and insurance markets in Florida, and the subprime mortgage markets up to 2008, citing evidence that credit rating agencies are exaggerating the financial health of small insurers new to the Florida market. The public could be on the hook for mortgages that may have a really high risk of being underwater in the near future,” Haedtler explained. The risk of an economic crisis is worsened by what U.S. Treasury Secretary deemed the “protection gap,” whereby uninsured or underinsured households and businesses unable to pay rebuilding costs abandon bankheld mortgages and loans.

The Consumer Federation of America estimates that 6.1 million U.S. homeowners representing $1.6 trillion in property values have no insurance, a number likely to grow as climate disasters intensify and more insurers withdraw policies.

“This is a major, arguably the primary way, climate change is becoming a pocketbook issue,” said Haedtler. “Earlier this year, Federal Reserve chair Jay Powell confirmed that insurance prices are driving up housing costs, a big part of why inflation remains above the federal target.”

“This is not just a problem on the coasts,” he continued. “Some of the most dramatic hazards have been from wind and hail storms in states like Iowa and Minnesota, not just hurricanes in Florida or wildfires in California. And this is not just a problem for homeowners; landlords can and do pass on insurance costs to

renters … You don’t have to wait for a crisis to see that it’s a huge issue. In a special Florida election last January, insurance was the key issue that enabled Democrats to pick up a seat that Ron DeSantis had carried by 12 points.”

What can be done?

Although lack of insurance widens economic inequality after a climate disaster, it’s also true that “disaster insurance often fails to deliver financial benefits” equitably, said Carol Kousky, associate vice president of economics and policy at the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).

“We find that lower-income households are less likely to report finding insurance useful, and that points to affordability challenges,” she continued, including steep rates and unfair claim payouts, as well as the exclusion of certain disasters like flooding, or the exclusion of postdisaster emergency needs like generator, fuel, commuting and temporary lodging costs.

“Ever-higher climate risks are driving destabilization in the insurance market right now,” Kousky said, “and stabilizing this stress can only be done through transformative investments in risk reduction” — for example, building homes to the Institute for Building and Home Safety storm and fire standards means “your losses are a lot lower, and your insurance is lower as well.”

She also suggested legislative policy and insurance market reforms that could mitigate a climate risk-induced economic crisis, including measures like state regulators mandating baseline homeowners coverage policies; “micro-insurance”; community-based insurance models; simplifying the insurance claims payout process; and federal means testing for flood insurance discounts.

Policies to meet this problem are needed at the state and federal level because “Risk is now migrating from the private market into our public sector programs” intended to supplement coverage as insurance companies themselves are raising rates beyond affordability, withdrawing entirely from high-risk areas like South Florida, or going bankrupt, as a dozen Louisiana insurers have over the past few years,

Isang mag-aaral sa College Corps natagpuan ang daang panghanapbuhay sa San Luis Obispo

Nang si Ria Patel ay sumali sa College Corps sa kanyang unang taon sa kolehiyo sa Cuesta College sa San Luis Obispo, hindi lang niya nakita ang kanyang daang paghanapbuhay sa pagtulong sa mga mga nangangailangan; kumita rin siya ng sapat na salapi upang mabayaran ang kanyang utang sa pag-aaral . “Nagpunta ako rito mula sa Arkansas para mag-aral ng psychology at nag-apply sa College Corps dahil nakita ko ang hindi pagkakapantaypantay sa pabahay at pagkakamit ng magandang kalusugan at nais kong maging bahagi ng kalutasan,” sabi ni Patel. Ngayong siya ay nasa ikatlong taon, siya ay nagkaroon ng gawain sa mga homeless shelters at health clinics habang kumikita nang halos $10,000 para pambayad sa mga student loan.

Ang #CaliforniansForAll College Corps ay tumutulong sa mahigit 3,000 mga magaaral bawat taon gaya ni Patel na makaiwas sa utang ng mag-aaral habang kumikita nang hanggang $10,000 sa paglilingkod nang 450 na oras sa mga samahang pampook sa mga larangang K-12 education, climate action o food insecurity. Ang programang inilunsad noong Setyembre 2022, ay matatapos ang pangalawang taon nito sa katapusan ng 2024. Sa shelter 40 Prado kung saan naglingkod si Patel, siya ay namahala sa hanay ng

Ni Selen Ozturk

Patel mga tatanggapin o nagtugma sa anim hanggang sampung mga recuperative care bed para sa mga pinauwi na galing sa ospital. Sa mga gabi, siya ay tumulong na maghanda ng may mga 250 pagkain, nagsagawa ng mga donasyon o nagtugma ng mga 150 hanggang 200 overnight bed. “Ang isa sa aking tinatanging mga bahagi ay ang pagkakataong makasama ang mga taong may mga iba’t ibang kuwento at pinanggalingan, at makita ang isang dumarating nang nakagawian sa isang taon ay naihanap ng matutuluyan sa wakas at mapunta sa mga mas malaki at mahusay na mga bagay,” sabi ni Patel. “ito rin ang pinakamahirap na bahagi, kung kailan ang isang nakilala at natulungan nang malapitan, kung gaano kadali na mapasama ang mga bagay dahil sa usapin sa kalusugan, pamilya o droga. Ito ay isang pagsusurii ng katotohanan.”

Sa taong ito, tinuon ni Patel ang higit sa kanyang mga gawain sa Corps sa SLO Noor Foundation , isang volunteer-based organization na nagbibigay ng walang bayad na mga medical, dental, vision at women’s health clinic sa mga katandaan walang insurance sa San Luis Obispo County at hilagang Santa Barbara County.

“Ang ilan sa aming mga pasyente ay walang matitirahan at walang mapupuntahan, at lahat ay walang insurance. Nakakalubag ng loob na

PH is among world’s worst countries for...

Joining the Philippines in the category are: - Bangladesh

Belarus

Ecuador - Egypt

Eswatini

Guatemala

Myanmar

Tunisia

Turkey.

On the other hand, the 2024 Global Rights Index of ITUC said the best countries for workers are the following:

Austria

Denmark

Germany

Iceland

Ireland - Italy - Norway - Sweden.

Trump will likely reinvoke public...

Immigrants receiving Medicaid, public housing, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, among other benefits, were deemed ineligible to receive green cards, even if they were applying for those benefits on behalf of their U.S. born children.

The Trump Administration rule also allowed consulates abroad to determine whether prospective immigrants to the U.S. eventually would become public charges. Immigrants seeking to settle in this country had to prove they could earn at least $41,000 a year, eliminating many elderly people and separating families.

Biden guts rule Several states sued to block the rule from being re-implemented, but the Trump administration prevailed. It rolled out the enforcement February 24, 2020, just as the COVID pandemic began taking its toll in the U.S. Even before the rule was formally re-implemented, many immigrant families had stopped using public benefits — including programs like school lunches, which do not fall under the criteria of public charge — fearing they might be denied permanent U.S. status.

The Biden Administration gutted most of the public charge rule, leaving in just two factors for ineligibility: Temporary

Assistance for Needy Families, and institutionalization for longterm care.

Chilling effect

Kerri Talbot, executive director of the Immigration Hub, told Ethnic Media Services she was concerned about Trump reinvoking public charge, and using it as a tool to gain support for his anti-immigrant policies on the campaign trail.

“There will definitely be a lot of panic in the immigrant community and a chilling effect,” she said, noting that Trump has consistently demonized both legal and undocumented immigrants in his campaign rhetoric.

Sohrabji/Ethnic Media Services)

makatulong sa sinumang nagkasakit at nabawi ang kanilang magandang kalusugan,” patuloy ni Patel. “ang pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga pasyente ang aking tinatanging bahagi, at gaya ng sa shelter, pinapaalala nito kung bakit ko pinagpapatuloy ang psychology at medicine noong una pa.”

Si Patel ay naghahandang lumipat sa San Diego State para sa huling dalawang taon sa pagkakaroon ng isang bachelor’s degree.

“Sinabihan ko ang aking kapatid na babae sa San Jose State ng tungkol sa College Corps, at siya ay nagaapply sa susunod na taon,” sabi niya. “Mahal ko ang programang ito. Ang aking oras dito ay nagpakita sa akin kung gaano nakakatagumpay na naramdaman ang pinagsamang social psychology at individual care, at ngayon naiisip kong kumuha ng isang Master’s at ako mismo ay maglingkod sa larangang ito.”

RESCUE

Ria

Activists demanding higher pay and more benefits for personnel in public and private hospitals and health institutions mark National Health Workers’ Day with a protest march in Manila. Inquirer.net photo

(Sunita

Bird flu tests are hard to get. So how will we know when to sound the pandemic alarm?

STANFORD University

infectious disease doctor Abraar Karan has seen a lot of patients with runny noses, fevers, and irritated eyes lately. Such symptoms could signal allergies, covid, or a cold. This year, there’s another suspect, bird flu — but there’s no way for most doctors to know.

If the government doesn’t prepare to ramp up H5N1 bird flu testing, he and other researchers warn, the United States could be caught off guard again by a pandemic.

“We’re making the same mistakes today that we made with covid,” Deborah Birx, who served as former President Donald Trump’s coronavirus response coordinator, said June 4 on CNN.

To become a pandemic, the H5N1 bird flu virus would need to spread from person to person. The best way to keep tabs on that possibility is by testing people.

Scientifically speaking, many diagnostic laboratories could detect the virus. However, red tape, billing issues, and minimal investment are barriers to quickly ramping up widespread availability of testing. At the moment, the Food and Drug Administration has authorized only the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s bird flu test, which is used only for people who work closely with livestock.

State and federal authorities have detected bird flu in dairy cattle in 12 states. Three people who work on separate dairy farms tested positive, and it is presumed they caught the virus from cows. Yet researchers agree that number is an undercount given the CDC has tested only about 40 people for the disease.

“It’s important to know if this is contained on farms, but we have no information because we aren’t looking,” said Helen Chu, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Washington in Seattle who alerted the country to covid’s spread in 2020 by testing people more broadly.

Reports of untested sick farmworkers — as well as a maternity worker who had flu symptoms — in the areas with H5N1 outbreaks among cattle in

Texas suggest the numbers are higher. And the mild symptoms of those who tested positive — a cough and eye inflammation, without a fever — are such that infected people might not bother seeking medical care and, therefore, wouldn’t be tested.

The CDC has asked farmworkers with flu symptoms to get tested, but researchers are concerned about a lack of outreach and incentives to encourage testing among people with limited job security and access to health care. Further, by testing only on dairy farms, the agency likely would miss evidence of wider spread.

“It’s hard to not compare this to covid, where early on we only tested people who had traveled,” said Benjamin Pinsky, medical director of the clinical virology laboratory at Stanford University. “That left us open to not immediately recognizing that it was transmitting among the community.”

In the early months of covid, the rollout of testing in the United States was catastrophically slow. Although the World Health Organization had validated a test and other groups had developed their own using basic molecular biology techniques, the CDC at first insisted on creating and relying on its own test. Adding to delays, the first version it shipped to state health labs didn’t work.

The FDA lagged, too. It didn’t authorize tests from diagnostic laboratories outside of the CDC until late February 2020.

On Feb. 27, 2020, Chu’s research lab detected covid in a teenager who didn’t meet the CDC’s narrow testing criteria. This case sounded an alarm that covid had spread below the radar. Scaling up to meet demand took time: Months passed before anyone who needed a covid test could get one.

Chu notes this isn’t 2020 — not by a long shot. Hospitals aren’t overflowing with bird flu patients. Also, the country has the tools to do much better this time around, she said, if there’s political will.

For starters, tests that detect the broad category of influenzas that H5N1 belongs to, called influenza A, are FDA-approved and ubiquitous. These are routinely run in the “flu season,” from November to February.

An unusual number of positives from these garden-variety flu tests this spring and summer could alert researchers that something is awry.

Doctors, however, are unlikely to request influenza A tests for patients with respiratory symptoms outside of flu season, in part because health insurers may not cover them except in limited circumstances, said Alex Greninger, assistant director of the clinical virology laboratory at the University of Washington. That’s a solvable problem, he added. At the peak of the covid pandemic, the government overcame billing issues by mandating that insurance companies cover tests, and set a lucrative price to make it worthwhile for manufacturers.

“You ran into a testing booth on every other block in Manhattan because companies got $100 every time they stuck a swab in someone’s nose,” Greninger said.

Another obstacle is that the FDA has yet to allow companies to run their influenza A tests using eye swabs, although the CDC and public health labs are permitted to do so. Notably, the bird flu virus was detected only in an eye swab from one farmworker infected this year — and not in samples drawn from the nose or throat.

Overcoming such barriers is essential, Chu said, to ramp up influenza A testing in regions with livestock. “The biggest bang for the buck is making sure that these tests are routine at clinics that serve farmworker communities,” she said, and suggested pop-up testing at state fairs, too.

In the meantime, novel tests that detect the H5N1 virus, specifically, could be brought up to speed. The CDC’s current test isn’t very sensitive or simple to use, researchers said.

Stanford, the University of Washington, the Mayo Clinic, and other diagnostic laboratories that serve hospital systems have developed alternatives to detecting the virus circulating now. However, their reach is limited, and researchers stress a need to jump-start additional capacity for testing before a crisis is underway.

“How can we make sure that if this becomes a public health u PAGE A5

Biden administration advances plan to...

could prevent more Americans from ending up with medical debt.

And Harris urged state and local governments to continue to buy up medical debt and retire it, a strategy that has become increasingly popular nationwide.

Credit reporting, a threat traditionally used by medical providers and debt collectors to induce patients to pay their bills, is the most common collection tactic used by hospitals, a KFF Health News analysis has shown.

Although a single unpaid bill on a credit report may not hugely affect some people, the impact can be devastating for those with large health care debts.

There is growing evidence, for example, that credit scores depressed by medical debt can threaten people’s access to housing and fuel homelessness. People with low credit scores can also have problems getting a loan or can be forced to borrow at higher interest rates.

“We’ve heard stories of individuals who couldn’t get jobs because their medical debt was impacting their credit score and they had low credit,” said Mona Shah, a senior director at Community Catalyst, a nonprofit that’s pushed for expanded medical debt protections for patients.

Shah said the proposed regulations would have a major impact on patients’ financial security and health. “This is a really big deal,” she said.

Administration officials said they plan to review public comments about their proposal through the rest of this year and hope to issue a final rule early next year.

CFPB researchers have found that medical debt — unlike other kinds of debt — does not accurately predict a consumer’s creditworthiness, calling into question how useful it is on a credit report.

The three largest credit agencies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — said they would stop including some medical debt on credit reports as of last year. The excluded debts included paid-off bills and those less than $500.

Those moves have substantially reduced the number of people with medical debt on their credit reports, government data shows. But the agencies’ voluntary actions left out many patients with bigger medical bills on their credit reports.

A recent CFPB report found that 15 million people still have such bills on their credit reports, despite the voluntary changes. Many of these people live in lowincome communities in the South, according to the report.

The proposed rules would not only bar future medical bills from appearing on credit reports; they would also remove current medical debts, according to administration officials.

Officials said the banned debt would include not only medical bills but also dental bills, a major source of Americans’ health care debt.

Even though the debts would not appear on credit scores, patients will still owe them. That means that hospitals, physicians, and other providers could still use other collection tactics to try to get patients to pay, including using the courts.

Patients who used credit cards to pay medical bills — including medical credit cards such as CareCredit — will also continue to see those debts on their credit scores as they would not be covered by the proposed regulation.

Hospital leaders and representatives of the debt collection industry have warned that restricting credit reporting may have unintended consequences, such as prompting more hospitals and physicians to require upfront payment before delivering care.

But consumer and patient advocates continue to call for more action. The National Consumer Law Center, Community Catalyst, and about 50 other groups last year sent letters to the CFPB and IRS urging stronger federal action to rein in hospital debt collection.

State leaders also have taken steps to expand consumer protections. In recent months, a growing number of states, led by Colorado and New York, have enacted legislation prohibiting medical debt from being included on residents’ credit reports or factored into their credit scores.

Other states, including California, are considering similar measures.

Many groups are also urging the federal government to bar tax-exempt hospitals from selling patient debt to debt-buying companies or denying medical care to people with past-due bills, practices that remain widespread across the U.S., KFF Health News found.

About this project

“Diagnosis: Debt” is a reporting

partnership between KFF Health News and NPR exploring the scale, impact, and causes of medical debt in America.

The series draws on original polling by KFF, court records, federal data on hospital finances, contracts obtained through public records requests, data on international health systems, and a yearlong investigation into the financial assistance and collection policies of more than 500 hospitals across the country.

Additional research was conducted by the Urban Institute, which analyzed credit bureau and other demographic data on poverty, race, and health status for KFF Health News to explore where medical debt is concentrated in the U.S. and what factors are associated with high debt levels.

The JPMorgan Chase Institute analyzed records from a sampling of Chase credit card holders to look at how customers’ balances may be affected by major medical expenses. And the CED Project, a Denver nonprofit, worked with KFF Health News on a survey of its clients to explore links between medical debt and housing instability.

KFF Health News journalists worked with KFF public opinion researchers to design and analyze the “KFF Health Care Debt Survey.” The survey was conducted Feb. 25 through March 20, 2022, online and via telephone, in English and Spanish, among a nationally representative sample of 2,375 U.S. adults, including 1,292 adults with current health care debt and 382 adults who had health care debt in the past five years. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points for the full sample and 3 percentage points for those with current debt. For results based on subgroups, the margin of sampling error may be higher.

Reporters from KFF Health News and NPR also conducted hundreds of interviews with patients across the country; spoke with physicians, health industry leaders, consumer advocates, debt lawyers, and researchers; and reviewed scores of studies and surveys about medical debt. (Noam N. Levey/KFF News) KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.

Bird flu tests are hard to get. So how will...

emergency we aren’t stuck in the early days of covid, where things couldn’t move quickly?” Pinsky said. A recent rule that gives the FDA more oversight of labdeveloped tests may bog down authorization. In a statement to California Healthline, the FDA said that, for now, it may allow tests to proceed without a full approval process. The CDC did not respond to requests for comment. But the American Clinical Laboratory Association has asked the FDA and the CDC for clarity on the new rule. “It’s slowing things down because it’s adding to the confusion about what is allowable,” said Susan Van Meter, president of the diagnostic laboratory trade group.

Labcorp, Quest Diagnostics, and other major testing companies are in the best position to manage a surge in testing demand because they

can process hundreds per day, rather than dozens. But that would require adapting testing processes for their specialized equipment, a process that consumes time and money, said Matthew Binnicker, director of clinical virology at the Mayo Clinic.

“There’s only been a handful of H5N1 cases in humans the last few years,” he said, “so it’s hard for them to invest millions when we don’t know the future.”

The government could provide funding to underwrite its research, or commit to buying tests in bulk, much as Operation Warp Speed did to advance covid vaccine development.

“If we need to move to scale this, there would need to be an infusion of money,” said Kelly Wroblewski, director of infectious disease programs at the Association of Public Health Laboratories. Like an insurance policy, the upfront expense would be slight compared with the economic blow of another pandemic.

Other means of tracking the H5N1 virus are critical, too. Detecting antibodies against the bird flu in farmworkers would help reveal whether more people have been infected and recovered. And analyzing wastewater for the virus could indicate an uptick in infections in people, birds, or cattle.

As with all pandemic preparedness efforts, the difficulty lies in stressing the need to act before a crisis strikes, Greninger said.

“We should absolutely get prepared,” he said, “but until the government insures some of the risk here, it’s hard to make a move in that direction.”

This article was produced by KFF Health News, a national newsroom that produces indepth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF — the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism.

How climate change is worsening the...

Koutsky added.

Solutions in California “Insurance can no longer be an afterthought in discussions around climate and development,” said Ricardo Lara, insurance commissioner of California, which has the country’s largest insurance market. “This is why, in California, I’m doing the largest reform in over 30 years”: the state’s Sustainable Insurance Strategy.

This plan, on-track to be fully implemented by December 2024, will “strengthen the Insurance Commissioner’s authority to protect consumers and hold insurance companies to task” like expanding data used in the rate review process; improving the California FAIR Plan offering lastresort high-risk fire insurance; modernizing tools used to assess prices and risk; and using future climate risk projections alongside historical data for this assessment, explained Lara. “Climate is changing everything, and we can’t just be using historical data to tell us when we’re going to be most at risk.”

“We’re already seeing results,” he continued. “Farmers Insurance, the state’s secondlargest insurer, announced that it will reopen several of its commercial coverage lines,

As climate change worsens, so does the home

withdraw coverage and underpay damages.

including for HOAs, apartments and condos … Mercury Insurance is working with Tokio Marine to pick up the bulk of its personal homeowners insurance business … and this week my department authorized State Farm to offer a difference in condition policy so non-renewed policyholders have more comprehensive options than the FAIR Plan.”

“Part of climate insurance is about strengthening our natural defenses,” Lara said. “It’s much less expensive to prevent damage than to have to fix it after a disaster. So a local community could take out an insurance policy on a wetland, for example, and restore it quickly if it is

damaged. This has never been done before in the U.S., and we want to do it here in California first … in March, we adopted our first-ever National Climate Resilience Strategy for Insurance” coordinating insurance markets nationwide.

“Climate risk is really a global phenomenon,” he added. “We’ve had town halls in every county in the state, and people are scared. They don’t think about insurance until they need it. But when you talk about how climate is disrupting every part of our life and health, and why it’s risky to live here … We all have to come together and figure out how we bring down the risk.” g

Commissioner Lara unveils next steps in...

considered high risk by a review of that county’s aggregate fire risk scores. Finally, as part of new growth benchmarks, insurance companies must take FAIR Plan policies facing wildfire risk from more urban areas.

The map aligns with recent work by CAL FIRE identifying fire hazard zones where mitigation resources are targeted, thus amplifying those efforts. The Department will update this information from time to time but no less than once every year.

“This type of coordination and alignment between state agencies is a critical part of our success in preparing communities for wildfire,” said State Fire Marshal Daniel Berlant. “Commissioner Lara’s work aligns with CAL FIRE’s wildfire mitigation efforts and builds on major investments the state is making to protect residents.”

Insurance companies must write more policies

This hybrid approach enacts an agreement that Commissioner Lara reached with insurance companies last year to cover at least 85% of properties in distressed areas. The new regulatory text also recognizes the complexity of California’s insurance marketplace which is made up of large and small companies, including some serving geographical regions with fewer homes at risk of wildfires.

Larger insurance companies with a major presence in distressed areas will need to write no less than 85% of properties within two years of a rate filing being adopted and report their progress to the Department. Companies already meeting the threshold will be required to maintain those policies in force for three years. Smaller companies, new entrants, and companies that largely write outside of wildfire risk areas and cannot meet the 85% requirement will need to expand their writings by at least 5%. Companies will be able to craft plans subject to the Department’s review and approval that expand policy writing in areas of wildfire risk anywhere in the state, helping all parts of California benefit from greater insurance options. Commercial insurance companies will need to increase coverage by 5% in

wildfire distressed ZIP Codes statewide, which will increase coverage options for farms and wineries, homeowners and condo associations, and other businesses.

“California Farm Bureau members applaud Commissioner Lara's continued commitment to restore competition to the insurance market by bringing insurers back to write residential and commercial policies in our state,” said Shannon Douglass, president of the California Farm Bureau. “Competition is the first step to guide the market to a place where pricing reflects ongoing wildfire mitigation efforts undertaken by Californians, including by our farmers and ranchers who work to remove fuels and safeguard properties.

Our productive agricultural lands provide important buffers that can reduce the risk of catastrophic fire events. We hope our members can obtain comprehensive, affordable coverage through improved insurance offerings that recognize their contributions to protecting California from wildfires.”

Continued progress toward enacting transformative insurance reforms

The regulatory text that Commissioner Lara announced on Wednesday is part of his Strategy enabling insurance companies to use “forwardlooking” catastrophe modeling in rate making when they commit to writing and maintaining more policies. This is a companion to draft text that he released in March before receiving public input at an April workshop.

Following the public workshop on June 26, the Department will review public input before issuing the full catastrophe modeling regulation for adoption by year end.

Commissioner Lara detailed another part of his Strategy in February when he published a “complete rate application” regulation that creates clarity in the rate review process for all participants. This regulation is a critical part of reducing unnecessary delays that can cause rate filings to take more than a year. This regulation holds insurance companies accountable for providing the complete information that the Department needs to make informed and timely decisions on these filings, and also

helps prevent delays caused by intervenors raising issues not relevant to the rate review process.

The Department plans to introduce another major part of the Strategy with proposed regulation text in July to allow insurance companies that take on greater risks in California to incorporate a reinsurance cost component in their rate filings to cover those risks. That same month, Commissioner Lara also plans to require the FAIR Plan to increase coverage to $20 million per structure for larger homeowners’ associations, condo associations, farms, and other businesses. He also will require the FAIR Plan to have a sounder financial sustainability structure.

“We have been surviving with 20th century regulations for 21st century problems. We are compressing decades of deferral and delay into a one-year timeline of action,” Commissioner Lara told the Assembly Insurance Committee on May 15. “We have to remain flexible. We have to be responsive. The lesson of the past is that we cannot be locked into another 30 years of stagnant regulations.” (CA Dep’t of Insurance Release)

RFP NO. SP620-25 ON-TRAIN

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Pexels.com hoto by Serge Lavoie

OPiniOn Features

Widening gender gap

WHEN the World Economic Forum first published the Global Gender Gap Report in 2006, the Philippines ranked among the 10 best countries, placing an impressive sixth. The WEF’s Gender Gap Index is one global list where the Philippines has ranked high. The country’s ranking, however, has steadily deteriorated.

Nearly two decades since the launch of the Gender Gap Index, the Philippines has plummeted to 25th place out of 146 countries – down nine slots from its 16th rank in the 2023 GGI. The WEF noted that Filipino women still struggle particularly in terms of economic opportunities and political empowerment.

Editorial

The country began slipping significantly in the ranking amid the national debate over the Reproductive Health Act, which was finally signed into law during the presidency of Benigno Aquino III. But other factors have since pulled down the country further in the index. After 2018, the country fell out of the top 10.

Gender Gap Index rankings are based on four subindices: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment. Despite the heavy participation of Filipino women in politics and government, the country slipped from 30th to

34th place in political empowerment, also ranking 94th out of 146 in the percentage of women appointed to ministerial posts. The Philippines’ ranking also fell in economic participation and opportunity, and in terms of women’s participation in the labor force. Women were also found to be paid less than male counterparts for performing comparable work. Its lowest rank was in health and survival, maintaining its 86th place in 2023 out of 146 countries. One area where the Philippines did well was in educational attainment, surging to the top from 32nd place last year with a score indicating perfect gender equality for educational access. The rankings reflect the work that still lies ahead in bridging the gender gap. The message of the WEF in the release of the latest report resonates: there remains an urgent need for a renewed global commitment to achieving gender parity. (Philstar.com)

Declaration of dependence

civil service, and so on).

A FORMER Cabinet man reveals a former president specifically wanted control over COVID-related funds, and a former senator gets interviewed reminding everyone how he went down to defeat after gambling on investigating that former president. An incumbent senator speaks up, pleading for people not to play fast and loose with implications over Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) funding and activities. Indeed, after generally turning a blind eye to them, officials high and low, are suddenly filled with a new appreciation of the evils of Pogos. The Senate, under

Virtual Reality

Tony lopez

SINCE 1988, the Philippines and China have been quarrelling over six pieces of reefs whose total land area, thanks to unbridled Chinese reclamation, today has expanded to a total of 1,253 hectares, 25 percent larger than the original Makati town. Since 2012, the Philippines and China have been quarrelling over a rock with an area of 15,000 hectares and height of five feet. It is 1.5 times the size of Hacienda Luisita.

This is the Scarborough Shoal (Panatag Shoal), 200 kms from the main Philippine island of Luzon and 850 kms from mainland China. Today, it is a pain in the ass of at least three countries – the Philippines, China and the United States. It has the potential to trigger a global war. If proximity is ownership, then Scarborough Shoal properly belongs to the Philippines. Indeed, Scarborough Shoal is part of the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), resources above and below a formation in the seas in a country’s EEZ belong to that country, and not to any other country. China is a signatory to UNCLOS, yet it refuses to give up the Scarborough which it seized by subterfuge in 2012. China’s seizure prompted Manila to bring the issue to the International Arbitration Court at The Hague.

On July 16, 2016, the arbitral

new management, is filled with new zeal over the building of its new home, something its membership had signed on to, but the contracts of yesterday seem suspicious today. What gives? Think of these as a declaration of dependence, one that comes every three years. Back when things were wilder, there was a rule of thumb that went like this: A year ahead of elections, you could expect a sudden spike in stories of bank and other spectacular robberies as “funds-raising” for the coming elections. You could also expect a steady escalation of exposes and innuendo which would lead to the reemergence of previously defeated candidates or the embarrassment of incumbent officials. The two coins of the realm, being, so to speak, either fame or

money come election time. And controversy affects both.

To understand the headlines even further, it would be good to review the political calendar in the context of next year being a midterm election year. Midterm because it comes in the middle of a presidential term, when the entire House of Representatives, and all local positions, are vacated and up for grabs, and where half of the Senate is also up for grabs. As far as the Commission on Elections is concerned, the last day for voter registration will be on Sept. 30; the period for filing candidacy will be from Oct. 1 to 8 (no substitutes allowed this time around!), and the election period kicks in starting Jan. 12 next year, with all the related bans (on guns, on suspending elective officials, on the movement of officers in the

Truth be told as far as the rise and fall of administrations are concerned, only the senatorial elections matter, because the permanent single party of incumbents in the House (the vast majority of whom have party affiliations dictated by acceptability to the ruling coalition of the day), and the nature of all local politics are such that administration control is guaranteed regardless of who wins and loses in local districts. This isn’t to say individual and collective contests don’t matter: part of the powers of the presidency is acting as referee in the selection of local candidates, and the administration has access to the resources all candidates crave. But it is in the Senate, and the midterms results, that fundamentally,

an administration is judged (even more crucially before martial law, when only a third of the Senate was up for grabs in every election: making the midterms even more make-orbreak in terms of control).

What we are in, traditionally speaking, is the season for “initial benchmarking surveys,” which takes place in June the year before the election. This is when names are weighed according to their political viability. Then, in July comes the State of the Nation Address of the incumbent president; the time for setting the stage for the midterms which are viewed as a referendum on the president. Then July until October is what’s called the “consciousnessraising” period when there are activities meant to raise awareness of, and excitement/ interest/support for, potential

War in West Philippine Sea

candidates. This is to make it worthwhile for those who could potentially buy-in or chip-in to a potential candidacy. It is during this period that the selection of standard-bearers takes place: when, in other words, the parties pick their candidates or, more accurately, candidates pick the party that will serve as their electoral vehicle.

We shouldn’t forget that the president himself expressed a preference for including a constitutional plebiscite in the 2025 midterm ballot. Now you understand why. (Inquirer.net) * * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

* * * Email: mlquezon3@gmail.com; Twitter: @mlq3

tribunal ruled overwhelmingly in favor of the Philippines, and declared unlawful major elements of China’s claim –including its nine-dash line, recent land reclamation activities and other activities in Philippine waters.

The six reefs China illegally seized in 1988 and which the Philippines also claims are: 1) Mischief Reef (or Panganiban Reef), 558 hectares today; 2) Subi Reef (Zamora Reef), 395 hectares; 3) Fiery Cross Reef (Kagitingan Reef), 274 hectares; 4) Gaven Reef (Burgos Reef), 13.75 hectares; 5) Hughes Reef (McKennan Reef), 7.68 hectares and 6) Cuarteron (Calderon Reef), 5 hectares. Their total land area: 1,353.4 hectares.

The total Philippine land area is 30 million hectares. This is the territory over which the Philippines has sovereignty, meaning full ownership, without interference by other states.

The total area seized by China from the Philippines is 16,353 hectares – 15,000 hectares of Scarborough and 1,353 hectares of the six reefs. It is an infinitesimal .0005451 percent of the Philippines’ 30 million hectares of sovereign territory. This .00054 percent is not even Philippine sovereign territory. Manila has only sovereign rights over the 16,353 hectares, meaning only the right to use and exploit the reefs or rock’s natural resources, fisheries and minerals. The reefs and rock do not belong to the Philippines like a titled land. Yet, the Philippines will go to war over this .00054 percent.

Per Wikipedia, sovereignty, as applied to states, comprises “rights and power over a territory, responsibility and accountability over a population, general and specific authorities and recognition by other sovereign states;” sovereign rights under the UNCLOS “pertain to the entitlements or privileges of a state.”

The Philippines claims ownership of Scarborough Shoal using the 51x33 cm Murillo Velarde Map of 1744 which shows that an island identified as Panacot belongs to the Philippines.

China claims 90 percent of the South China Sea, invoking an imaginary “historic, legal title” manifested through its so-called nine-dash line.

In 2016 the Permanent Court of Arbitration debunked the Chinese claim. China had “no historical rights” based on their nine-dash line map.

China, however, has rejected the ruling and has used its naval might to enforce what it wants. China has 370 warships, the largest in the world. The fleet is expected to reach 395 ships by 2024.

Since around 2009, China has employed all kinds of tactics to enforce its claims, including using its military, coast guard and maritime militia to harass foreign ships; exploring and extracting resources in disputed areas and, starting in 2013, constructing artificial islands and basing military and civilian assets there.

China has the world’s largest maritime militia, a quasi-military

force of fishermen reporting to China’s People’s Liberation Army and trained in a variety of missions, including search and rescue, reconnaissance, deception operations, law enforcement and “rights protection,” which often entails activities like harassing foreign vessels in China’s claimed waters (Andrew Erickson and Conor M. Kennedy, “China’s Fishing Militia is a Military Force in all but Name”).

On April 11, 2024, during a Washington DC summit of three leaders (Joseph Biden, Fumio Kishida and Ferdinand Marcos Jr.), the U.S., Japan and the Philippines formed a Trilateral Alliance as part of America’s Pivot to Asia Strategy. In that summit, President Biden reiterated the so-called ironclad U.S. commitment to come to the defense of the

Philippines in case of an attack on Philippine armed forces, aircraft and public vessels, including the Philippine Coast Guard in the Pacific, including anywhere in the South China Sea. Said a senior American official: “The president’s (Biden’s) commitment to the Philippines and to President Marcos on South China Sea issues has been quite clear. He (Biden) has repeated many times that the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty applies to the South China Sea, including the Philippines’ vessels that may be underway there, including its Coast Guard vessels.”

After nearly 80 years of being banned from militarizing, Japan will now become a military power, to help the U.S. police Asia. Tokyo has always been scared of a future Chinese invasion.

Futurely, the Coast Guard fleets of the U.S. and Japan will help patrol the South China Sea even as Manila, Tokyo and Washington D.C. coordinate and monitor China’s so-called grey zone tactics, coercive tactics and what those tactics could imply. The trilateral alliance will expand under a so-called rulesbased Indo-Pacific strategy, to include U.S. treaty partners Australia, South Korea, Thailand and regional partners India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam and the Pacific Islands. (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.

* * * Email: biznewsasia@gmail.com

ManilaTimes.net

This frame grab from a handout video footage taken and released on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, by the Philippine Coast Guard shows the BRP Bagacay being hit by water cannon from Chinese coast guard vessels near the Scarborough Shoal. Philippine Coast Guard handout

Dateline PhiliPPines

PH warned about being US ‘tool,’ urged to ‘engage China responsibly’

by Franco Jose c. Baroña ManilaTimes.net

MANILA

— United States

intelligence and foreign policy

experts said America was just using the Philippines to create the conditions of potential conflict with China even if it knew it could not fight and engage China and win.

"[The U.S.] is using [the Philippines]. You are a tool, nothing but a tool. And when the tool ceases to be useful, we will discard you," says one of the experts, Scott Ritter, during an online media briefing early Thursday morning (June 13) at the U.S. National Press Club in Washington.

"It's high time the Filipino

people pressure their government to start sitting down and engaging the Chinese government responsibly... [because] China is not your enemy. China is your neighbor. China is your friend," said Ritter, former U.S. Marine Corps intelligence officer and former United Nations Special Commission weapons inspector.

And since Beijing does not want war, the Philippines can engage China in diplomacy, "a skill set America has long since lost."

"But the Filipinos, the Philippine people can reignite this, to relearn it, to use this skill to prevent a war," said Ritter, who was deployed to Subic in

1986 as a platoon commander.

"Grow up and act responsibly. Take control of your own future. America is not here to help you," he added.

Col. Richard Black, a retired military officer, agreed that it was time for the Philippines "to use diplomacy and to attempt to resolve the issue."

"Whatever you do, do not simply become a tool of the United States and be led into an armed conflict that ends up in disaster for the Filipino people. Because if you do, you will break the heart of a whole lot of us who just dearly love the Philippines and, and the people of the islands," said Black, a retired politician who served in the Virginia legislature. g

Duterte to sue police over Quiboloy arrest try

by aric John sy cua ManilaTimes.net

MANILA — Former President Rodrigo Duterte said he would file charges against the Philippine National Police (PNP) over the Monday (June 10) raid on the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KoJC) compound in Davao City.

In a statement on Friday, June 14, Duterte – a staunch supporter of the preacher –called the PNP-Special Action Force (SAF) and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group's (CIDG) raid to arrest Quiboloy, an "overkill in any language" and a "clear violation of the law."

"Except for the overpublicized arrest warrants, the raiders did not present any search warrant in all of the church properties [they raided]," the former president said. Duterte, who serves as the administrator of church properties, said he would take "legal and appropriate action" against the police over what he called a "day of infamy" to the church's members and to "all citizens who uphold the rule of law."

"While I am saddened by this, given my personal, and in the past, official, support for the

police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, my duties as Administrator of Church Properties demand that I take legal and appropriate action," he said.

"In line with this, I have ordered not only the preparation of affidavits of all members aggrieved and traumatized by the said unfortunate incident but also an inventory of church properties destroyed as a consequence," he added.

Duterte said that it was unfortunate that the

administration of his successor, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., is obsessed with demonizing Quiboloy, who has always supported the former chief executive, is a "clear maneuver" in diverting attention from other issues in the country, particularly corruption, incompetence and abuse of authority.

Police operatives on Monday raided the KoJC compound, armed with a warrant for the arrest of Quiboloy, who is wanted in the United States for labor and sexual trafficking. g

Are POGOs China’s ‘Trojan

by Jose rodel ClAPAno Philstar.com

MANILA — National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) director Ricardo de Leon said that his agency is validating all information, including the angle that Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) may have been China’s “Trojan horse” –referring to Greek mythology that led to the fall of Troy.

“On Trojan horse, we continue to validate. We cannot say yet that they are capable,” De Leon said.

Cruz said that one of the equipment confiscated during a POGO raid in Pasay City was communication equipment with foreign characters, which experts said may have been used to directly communicate with China.

De Leon said this equipment, as well as other pieces of evidence, are being subjected to forensic examination.

“NICA is coordinating with our intelligence counterpart in other countries for experts to intervene,” De Leon said.

However, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said it is too early to say if the illegal POGO hub in Pampanga is

horse’? NICA investigates

involved in espionage.

PNP chief information officer Col. Jean Fajardo said investigators have yet to secure evidence that would show that the people inside the raided compound were spying on the country’s government facilities.

Fajardo said the hundreds of computers, cellphones and gadgets seized from the POGO hub have yet to be examined as police will still have to apply for a warrant to examine computer data from a court.

Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission also found what appeared to be military uniforms from the People’s Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Chinese Communist Party, during the raid. They also found a Chinese military sergeant badge, a handgun and several bullets on Wednesday, June 12.

Fajardo said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group is investigating if the uniforms and those who wore them are indeed connected with the Chinese military.

Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said on Tuesday, June 11 the presence of Chinese military uniforms may likely be used

as props in these illicit online transactions. The limited number of PLA uniforms found suggests they are more indicative of use in deceptive activities rather than any preparation for invasion.

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. said that while not yet a national security threat, POGO sites in the country are now a national security concern.

“The concern is that we should stop these syndicated criminal activities operating out of our base, which weaken our financial standing, our country ratings… corrupt our society,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.

De Leon said it is up to the policymakers whether to ban or to just regulate POGO operations in the country.

“We are calling on our policymakers to review POGO. Are we gaining or losing the war because it is affecting the youth. The policymakers are the ones making the laws. We gather inputs which we provide to our leaders,” De Leon said.

Speaker Martin Romualdez has expressed openness to the existence of POGO in the country, but issued a stern reminder that all Philippine laws must be strictly adhered to the letter. g

Former President Rodrigo Duterte with Pastor Apollo Quiboloy File photo

Asian Journal WKND

Atty. Gurfinkel was able to reconnect with former clients and speak with a diverse array of Filipino community members and organizations. He answered questions from several parade attendees, including members of the

Josue, a friend and realtor, and spoke with retired

Bea Alonzo on split with Dominic Roque

by Jessica ann evangelista Inquirer.net

By anne PasaJol Inquirer.net

PIA Wurtzbach ranked first among the celebrities who generated the highest media impact value (MIV) at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival held in May. The Miss Universe 2015 titleholder earned $8.1 million (about P474,951,600)

worth of MIV, as per data released by analytics company Launchmetrics earlier this month.

Following Wurtzbach is Indian actress-beauty queen Urvashi Rautela with $7.9 million (around P463,224,400) worth of MIV. Placing third on the list is Indian actress-entrepreneur Preity Zinta with $4.2 million

(approximately P246,271,200); and Indian actress Avneet Kaur in fourth place with $4.1 million (roughly P240,407,600).

Meanwhile, Wurtzbach also emerged as the top celebrity voice for a beauty brand that was one of the sponsors of the festival. The FilipinoGerman actress-beauty queen generated $2.1 million MIV for

BEA Alonzo revealed that she did not ask for the breakup with her ex-fiance Dominique Roque. The actress made the revelation during her interview with Nelson Canlas aired on the Thursday (June 13) newcast of “24 Oras.”

The GMA reporter remarked about the actress being the first who initiated the breakup and was the first to be affected by

their split.

“People forget that ikaw ‘yung unang nakipag-break. Ikaw ‘yung unang na-apektuhan,” Canlas said in the middle of their conversation after the actress admitted about being hurt by “false narratives” about her life.

“Actually, that’s false. Hindi. Hindi ako ang nakipag-break,” Bea replied. She was quick to say that she would not like to talk about her highly publicized breakup with

Atty. Gurfinkel converses with Edwin Josue (top right), retired nurses (bottom right) and Potri Ranka Manis (left).

Bea Alonzo

Photo from Instagram/@beaalonzo

Iwa Moto on Jodi Sta. Maria, Pampi Lacson’s annulment: ‘Let’s celebrate’

By Jessica ann evangelista Inquirer.ney

FOLLOWING the grant of annulment to Jodi Sta. Maria and her ex-husband Pampi Lacson Jr., former actress Iwa Moto also has a reason to celebrate the milestone.

Moto is the current partner of Lacson, with whom she has two children, Hiromi and Caleb.

How Kim Chiu deals with physical, emotional struggles

By Marinel cruz Inquirer.net

“DO not cultivate hate and anger,” said actress Kim Chiu when asked what for her is the most effective way to overcome any emotional struggle.

Kim, whose 12-year relationship with actor Xian Lim ended a few months back, has this advice for women struggling to find confidence again after going through difficult times. “Huwag lang magtatanim ng sama ng loob. That’s the No. 1 rule for me. Just get rid of that burden. For example, if you consider someone an enemy, you naturally don’t want to be near that person. You would try to avoid him or her. You are only punishing yourself, so you might as well throw all the negativity away and just live in the moment.” the actress pointed out.

“Let’s celebrate [loving emoji]. Love you, Amor!” wrote Moto, calling Sta. Maria with a moniker that she got playing the role of the vengeful Amor Powers in the remake of the hit TV series “Pangako Sa’Yo.”

Sta. Maria replied to the comment of the “StarStruck”

The two of them have been in a relationship for 12 years already, following Sta. Maria’s split with Lacson in 2011. Together, they have formed an unconventional blended family, with Sta. Maria and Lacson’s son, Thirdy, also being close to Moto since he was a kid. Moto made known her positive reaction to Sta. Maria’s announcement on Instagram, which the netizens found delightful.

Kim said she learned this lesson by observing her own father. “He has no enemies. Ang sarap ng buhay niya. He is just happy most of the time. He is already 65, but he doesn’t look it,” she added.

Kim talked about how to best deal with aging, too. “It doesn’t worry me because this happens to everyone, anyway. We cannot stop it. We can either ignore aging and let it happen naturally, or we can try to delay it. There are many ways to do that, so just pick one that suits you. In the end, it is all about self care and self love,” said Kim during her launch as the ambassador of skin care brand Brilliant Skin’s new product, the collagen drink Hello Melo.

“If you know that you look good, you become more confident to meet people. If you’re confident, you become a lot friendlier. This then leads to an improved mental state,” Kim said, adding that a happy disposition also helps delay aging.

Working out is also a good way to keep your body from aging fast. “You need to keep moving. Brisk walking and running keeps skin from drying up. You will look fresh after you’re able to release all the toxins from your body,” added the 34-year-old actress.

Triathlete

Kim, who is now a triathlete, said she first tried running as a way to battle her asthma attacks. “I often had to catch my breath whenever I had to dance in ‘ASAP.’ Whenever this happened, people would make me do oxygen therapy backstage. There was even a time when I passed out because I insisted on finishing a dance routine.

“So, I asked myself, ‘What do I have to do to get stronger?’ I joined a marathon first. After that, I tried biking. When I discovered that I liked it, too, I joined a duathlon. After that, I tried triathlon and realized, ‘Ang saya pala dito!’ There’s camaraderie in my biking and running groups. The people there don’t treat me like a celebrity, but they would encourage me by saying, ‘Kaya mo ‘yan! Go lang!’ It’s really a community that I enjoy being a part of,” she said. “I have young-

looking mommies as gym buddies, too. They’re awesome! I want to be like them when I’m in my 50s.”

Kim said she rarely experiences asthma attacks nowadays. “Working out really helped. During the pandemic, people were saying that the COVID-19 virus targets people with asthma. That’s why I ran some more,” she said. Kim said another way to de-stress is to go on solo trips once in a while. “I go to the beach or stay at my rest house. I don’t bring my phone or watch TV shows or the news. I stay there for three to five days,” said the star of the romantic comedy series “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim.”

Listen to your body

“I listen to my body. It tells me what it wants to eat, what I should buy myself as a reward, or who I should hang out with. Treat yourself once in a while—go for a facial, nail care, or hair treatment. Since we work hard, let’s not deprive ourselves,” she added.

Kim said it’s also important to have a strong support system. “Aside from the members of ‘Ang Beki,’ (Angelica Panganiban and Bela Padilla), the people I work with in ‘It’s Showtime!’ really help me emotionally. I know that I have to go to the set every day, so I have to be happy,” she began.

“I have a family there. We have a mom, Tyang Amy (Perez) and a dad, Sir Ogie (Alcasid). I have siblings, Vhong (Navarro), Darren (Espanto), Ryan (Bang), Kuya Jugs (Jugeta), Ate Karylle. We’re so close that if one is going through something, we will notice and make sure to ask how he or she is doing. That is something I’m thankful for, aside from my actual family, of course.” g

Will Kris Aquino’s comeback be as first lady of Batangas?

AS the 2025 midterm elections approach, the political landscape across the country is stirring with notable developments. Batangas Province is no exception, of course, with its turn of poll-related events upping the excitement over the gubernatorial race to literal showbiz levels.

The significant figure at the center of this unfolding drama is none other than Kris Aquino. Yes, the “Queen of All Media” is very much the talk of the town across the Calabarzon region despite living oceans away, not only for her recurring health updates on social media but for her close ties with incumbent Vice Governor Mark Leviste.

VG Mark as he is fondly called by his constituents just hinted at a potential gubernatorial bid, posting back-to-back photos with Governor Dodo Mandanas, captioned, “sealed with a handshake.”

With Mandanas on his final term [yes, he’s the 83-year-old governor who married 32-yearold lawyer Angelica Chua over the summer], the possibility of Leviste switching posts with him is gaining traction. Obviously, what adds an extra layer of intrigue to this political narrative is Aquino’s potential role in Leviste’s political journey.

While Mandanas appears supportive of Leviste’s possible candidacy, it is Aquino’s influence and presence that could play a pivotal role in VG Leviste’s rise to the top of Batangas’ leadership.

nurses enjoying halo-halo. Additionally, he spoke with Potri Ranka Manis, a notable culture bearer from Kinding Sindaw: Melayu Heritage.

The colorful and vibrant parade featured music, dance, and cultural displays, with Atty. Gurfinkel’s presence, adding a meaningful layer to the celebration. Watch this special episode – Atty. Gurfinkel Goes to

In an interview shared with The Manila Times Entertainment, Leviste remained composed when asked about her possible support for his gubernatorial run.

Refusing to answer the question with a yes or no, he simply said, “Kris inspires me,” then broke into a wide smile.

“She continues to motivate me in my work as a public servant. Politics is not new to her.”

Those who have been following Leviste on social media should know that his admiration for the daughter and sister of two former presidents isn’t merely professional. Often visiting the long-absent host and actress in Los Angeles where she continues to get treatment for her auto immune disease, Leviste has openly expressed his desire to

marry Aquino. He was once quoted to say, “I see myself spending the rest of my life with her and taking care of her. I am very sure the people of Batangas are excited to have Kris as a future first lady if given the chance.”

A widower, Leviste has also been open about the strong bond his family has formed with Aquino in recent years.

“My children and family love Kris and her sons. We adore them and we are looking forward to being this one big, happy family one day.”

Now, while the buzz is that local surveys have been showing Leviste as the top choice of Batangueños to replace Mandanas as governor, the big question remains whether VG

Viewers may download the free app. (Advertising Supplement)

Jodi Sta. Maria, Thirdy, Iwa Moto, and Pampi Lacson

Photos from Instagram/@iam_iwa, @jodistamaria

Atty. Gurfinkel answers questions from parade attendees, including members of PNANY (top left), Inner Structures Inc., Gingoog City of Misamis Oriental (top right), Kinding Sindaw: Melayu Heritage, and a few of his previous clients.

Kim Chiu Photo from

The ‘Queen of All Media’ is very much the talk of the town across the Calabarzon region for her close ties with incumbent Vice Governor Mark Leviste. Photo from Instagram/@markleviste

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Karla Estrada marks one year of hosting ‘Face 2 Face,’ open to do other shows

By nathalie toMada Philstar.com

KARLA Estrada is celebrating the first anniversary of TV5’s reboot of “Face 2 Face.” The celebration this week is marked by “Isang Linggong Kasalan,” featuring four couples who don’t have the means to hold individual wedding ceremonies but are given the opportunity and support by the show to legally marry.

“We have many guests who always say, ‘asawa ko, asawa ko’... Our trio of advisors, Dr. Love, Dr. Camille Garcia and especially Atty. Lorna Kapunan, she always says not to call them spouses if they’re not married. They could be partners or live-in partners.

“So what we’re going to do for our first anniversary is have these four couples marry. We chose them due to their genuine love. They didn’t just have a choice but they’ve been together and have been calling each other spouses for years, 11 years, 19 years, eight years… and their love has truly borne fruit with kids. So we want to correct (or show) that poverty isn’t always a hindrance (and reason) to say that we couldn’t get married. Because our local governments have many programs for mass weddings,” the TV host told The STAR in an exclusive chat.

The anniversary special culminated on Friday, June 14, with the show now airing at an earlier time slot of 10:15 a.m., Mondays to Fridays, on TV5 and One PH. Meanwhile, Karla said it’s hard to imagine she’s been hosting “Face 2 Face” for one year now.

“Time flies. Hindi nga namin namalayan na naka-one year na kami siguro dahil din sa dami ng kaguluhan ng mga guest namin (laughs),” she said.

Nevertheless, she believes the success of the show doesn’t fall on her shoulders alone; it requires teamwork. Aside from the resident “tagapayo,” she is joined on the show by comedian Alex Calleja as mediator.

“It’s just getting more exciting. Ang tema kasi ng trabaho namin sa ‘Face 2 Face,’ siya ‘yung klase ng show na hindi talaga basta-basta kakayanin ng isang host lang. And you really need courage, kailangan medyo matibay ang loob mo because you get to face all sorts of reactions and emotions here.

When TV5’s “legacy show” returned last year, Karla wasn’t too sure if its “barangay hall” format in dealing with complaints and conflicts would still click with new audiences who may or may not have seen the original “Face 2 Face.”

It first aired in 2010 and originally hosted by Amy Perez.

Tiningnan namin. We tested it to see if it would still be appealing, the genre, in our present time, and surprisingly, it’s still there,” she said.

“For me, (the show) was perfect timing because it was after the election. I decided to say goodbye to my previous show, ‘Magandang Buhay,’ because after the campaign, I got very busy. It felt unfair that I couldn’t find time to attend to the show properly.

“Then… my schedule loosened up a bit. When they asked me (to do ‘Face 2 Face’) I was nervous, wondering if I could do it, but that nervousness came with excitement. I thought, ‘Wow, let’s rock and roll!’ So finally, I said yes.”

When asked to share her highlights from doing “Face 2 Face” so far, Karla said her favorite episodes are always the ones involving mothers and their children because “I find them very relatable as a mother myself. I get emotional every time the topic revolves around

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Pia Wurtzbach earns highest media impact value among...

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the brand from 10 posts on her Instagram.

Earlier in February, Wurtzbach placed second on the list of celebrities who raked in the highest media value at the 2024 Milan Fashion Week. She earned a spot on the list—with $5.4 million worth of MIV—alongside fellow Filipino actress Heart Evangelista who amassed $3.6 million worth of MIV. The two of them also made it to the list of the Top 30 influencers at the fashion event, as per data released by influencer marketing platform Lefty. Aside from these recognitions, Wurtzbach was also given the Global Fashion Influencer of the Year award in Dubai in April. g

Karla Estrada on hosting ‘Face 2 Face’: ‘It was perfect timing.’ TV5 photo

Fil-Canadian Manny Jacinto on being part of ‘The Acolyte’: I was in awe every day

By nathalie toMada Philstar.com

IN Disney’s new story within the “Star Wars” universe, “The Acolyte,” viewers are introduced to more characters and creatures beyond just the Jedi. There are droids, aliens and merchants, and one of them is Qimir, portrayed by Filipino-Canadian Manny Jacinto.

In the eight-episode series, Manny plays Qimir, who owns a shop where he sells medicines and other concoctions. He finds himself right smack in the middle of the mystery surrounding a series of Jedi murders.

Showrunner Leslye Headland thought Manny was perfect for the role of Qimir, saying in the production notes that she might have altered the character if he hadn’t taken the part.

“The Acolyte” is set during The High Republic, an era fans have never seen before in live action.

It’s described as the golden age, a time of peace and prosperity in the galaxy, where the Jedi are at their strongest and most powerful. But when Jedi masters start getting murdered, it shakes things up, and a major probe begins, where a Jedi master is pitted against a Force-wielding warrior from the past.

The Force was obviously with “The Acolyte” during its debut week as it recorded 11.1 million views worldwide in just five days, making it the most-watched premiere on Disney+ in 2024.

When The STAR asked Manny during an exclusive virtual

Wars that shows so many faces of color.’

interview how he handled the pressure and expectations of being cast in a highlyanticipated series, he said, “Being with friends and family helps. I think rewiring my brain and just reminding myself that, you know, obviously, ‘Star Wars’ is important, and it means a lot to a lot of other people, a lot of people.

“But at the end of the day, it’s also a job that I just took on. And there are other important aspects to my life that, you know, mean just as much, if not more. And, yeah, and sharing these moments with my parents, with my wife, with friends, I think that just alleviates things. It gets me in a better mindset, and it takes me away from the pressure of having to appease, I don’t know, fans or other viewers.”

Born in Quezon City before moving his family migrated to Canada when he was a child,

Manny figured in smaller roles on TV before his breakthrough as Jason Mendoza in the fantasycomedy series “The Good Place.” He has since starred in movies like “Bad Times at the El Royale” and “Top Gun: Maverick.”

For sure, there are multiple reasons to be proud of as a main cast member of “The Acolyte,” but for Manny he’s proudest because it’s a “Star Wars” production “that shows so many faces of color.”

Below are excerpts from our interview with Manny about being the Filipino in “Star Wars,” representation and his advice to actors still waiting for their big break in the entertainment business.

On being part of a mega production such as “The Acolyte”:

“It means so much. It means the world. I am so proud of not only being a part of ‘Star Wars,’ but being a part of a ‘Star Wars that shows so many faces of color. You know, it’s one thing to be able to work on a big IP (intellectual property), but it’s also one thing to be able to inspire younger kids that look like me, to either tell stories or to play with a little fake lightsaber or just, yeah, to just assure them that there are people that look like them in the world.”

On what fans can expect from Qimir:

“I mean, talking to Leslye (Headland) about the character, I loved it because he was definitely more on the comedic side of things. With ‘Star Wars,’ there’s gonna be a lot of serious themes and serious, dramatic moments. But with my character, Qimir, he definitely brings the levity. He brings that comedy into specific scenes. And that’s what I loved (about him). He was the one that really was kind of, in his own way, opposing the Jedi.

“And I found that very interesting. Obviously, I had lightsaber envy because I couldn’t play around with the lightsabers. But I think the characters that aren’t Jedi or Sith become fan favorites, like if you look at Lando Calrissian or the Mandalorian or Han Solo, they become some pretty iconic characters.”

On his first shooting day and other experiences on set:

“It was incredible. So with our show, very much everything was practical. We didn’t do a lot of CGI (computer-generated images) or green screen. All the sets were man-made, and we got to see them built from the scaffolding up until the paint. And it felt I didn’t have to do much work, to be honest, because everything was taken care of. Like I didn’t have to use my imagination as much because I was plopped into this planet, and it made my job so much easier. It was such an incredible feeling. I was in

McDonald’s unveils AI tool to help Gen Z connect with non-English-speaking grandparents

MCDONALD’S  is revolutionizing intergenerational communication within Asian American families with its latest AI-powered initiative. This groundbreaking campaign aims to bridge the language gap between Gen Z and their nonEnglish-speaking grandparents.

Utilizing advanced voice cloning and lip sync technology, McDonald’s new AI video translation website allows users to “speak” in their grandparents’ native languages, fostering stronger family bonds and preserving cultural heritage.

In a first for the brand in the U.S., McDonald’s launched sweetconnections.ai, inviting users to record heartfelt video messages and translate them into their grandparents’ native languages with just a few clicks. With the latest advancements in artificial intelligence, the site employs voice cloning and lip sync technology to transform videos from English into one of 31 languages, including Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Italian, and French. The result is a video in which the user will look and sound like they’re speaking a completely new language.

This new AI tool is part of McDonald’s Grandma McFlurry® campaign. As grandkids know, McDonald’s is often the place to make memories with grandma. From treating us to impromptu soft serve to letting us have dessert first, grandma always knows how to make us feel special!

“I cherish the memories of my Sitty [grandmother], whose first language was Arabic. At times,

I struggled to communicate all my emotions to her,” said Tariq Hassan, Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer at McDonald’s USA. “So, I love that we launched an innovative program that removes the barrier of language to address a real-world challenge for many multigenerational families like my own. McDonald’s is all about engaging our fans in ways that bring their families and communities together.”

Sweet Connections is being promoted nationally through a trio of documentary-style commercials exploring the language barrier between U.S.born grandchildren — who speak primarily English — and their foreign-born grandmothers, who may speak little to no English. The spots feature reallife grandchild and grandma duos discussing the joys and challenges of their relationship before being surprised with an AI-translated message.

“I’m honored to be part of this

campaign and celebrate the relationship I have with my lola. Seeing her reaction when she saw the video of me speaking in Tagalog was incredible,” shared Aina, one of the Asian Americans featured in the campaign. Her Lola Herecilla is thankful that the program exists. “It’s great that McDonald’s is supporting a program that helps immigrant families better communicate,” she said.

“As a child of immigrants who isn’t fluent in my grandparents’ native language, I can attest to the language barrier that often exists within intergenerational families. However, this new AI tool aims to create those lasting connections to our elders by dissolving this barrier,” said Nita Song, President and CEO of IW Group, the multicultural agency that developed Sweet Connections. “For this campaign, we’re utilizing AI to help bridge this divide and enable grandkids to express their feelings of love and gratitude to their grandparents in a way they can truly understand.”

In addition to translating Gen Z’s English video messages into their grandparents’ native languages, the Sweet Connections website can perform the reverse function: translating their grandparents’ nonEnglish messages into English. To highlight this unique feature, McDonald’s is bringing the tool to select senior citizen centers across the U.S. and hosting workshops to teach non-English speaking grandparents how to use the tool to send messages to their grandchildren. g

and

alumna, saying, “We should! Pagbalik niyo [red heart emoji].”

As of this writing, Moto’s comment received more than 800 likes, with some netizens commenting that they “love the friendship” between the two women.

Lacson and Sta. Maria, who tied the knot in 2005, obtained the annulment of their marriage 13 years after the petition was filed. The Kapamilya actress is now rumored to be dating actor Raymart Santiago.

On social media, they openly share their interaction as they co-parent their children, with the actresses often sharing sweet moments of their blended family as they celebrate milestones together.

In 2017, Sta. Maria and Moto surprised the netizens when they posted a picture of them going to the gym together, teasing the growing friendship between them.

The following year, Sta. Maria officially shared that they are co-parenting and expressed her gratitude for the friendship she has built with Moto, labeling the latter as Thirdy’s “second mom.” “Alam mo, siguro there’s no greater feeling na malaman mo na yung anak mo, minamahal siya. Natutuwa ako na parang… yun nga ang sinasabi namin kay Thirdy. Hindi man nag-work out ‘yung sa amin ng daddy niya, pero yung little family namin, ‘yung blended family namin, di ba parang mas dumami pa yung mga taong nagmamahal sa kanya?” she said at the time. g

indeed bring Aquino back home.

the question remains:

Filipinos see Kris Aquino back in the Philippines should Leviste declare his run for the Gubernatorial race? All eyes

definitely be Batangas if she does,

what a campaign that will surely make. (ManilaTimes. net)

Lola Herecilla (left) reacts upon hearing granddaughter Aina speaking in Tagalog.

Lola Herecilla and Aina are featured in McDonald’s Grandma McFlurry® campaign, which features sweetconnections.ai – allowing non- or limited-English-speaking grandparents to connect with their GenZ grandchildren in their own native languages.

actor Manny Jacinto is proud to be part of ‘The

Can my children’s derivative social security benefits be offset against my monthly child support obligation?

CALIFORNIA Family

Code section 4504 allows a noncustodial parent to be credited towards their child support obligation for the amount of federal government payments they are receiving on behalf of the child. The payments that qualify for this credit include:

• Social Security retirement or disability benefits

• Railroad Retirement benefits

• Department of Veterans Affairs benefits

To be eligible for the credit, the child must be potentially eligible for the benefits. This means that the child must meet the requirements for the benefits, such as being the child of a deceased or disabled worker.

The custodial parent or other child support obligee is responsible for applying for the benefits on behalf of the child. The noncustodial parent must cooperate with the custodial parent in making the application and providing any necessary information.

If the custodial parent refuses to apply for the benefits or fails to cooperate with the appropriate federal agency, the noncustodial parent may be credited towards their child support obligation for the amount of benefits that the child would have received. The noncustodial parent must provide evidence to the local child support agency indicating the amount of benefits the child would have received.

This credit is intended to help ensure that children receive the financial support they need from both parents, even if one parent is deceased or disabled. It can also help to reduce the financial burden on the custodial parent.

If you are a noncustodial parent who is receiving federal government payments on behalf of your child, you may be eligible for a credit towards your child support obligation. You should speak with an experienced family law attorney to discuss your specific case.

Here are some additional things to keep in mind about California Family Code section 4504:

• The credit is not available for all types of federal government payments.

• The credit may not be available if the noncustodial parent is already receiving a credit for child support

payments from another source.

• The amount of the credit may be limited.

If you have any questions about California Family Code section 4504, you should speak with an experience family law specialist attorney. *

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 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, APLC. 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)

Jericho Rosales marking acting comeback after 5 years with ‘Lavender Fields’

By Kristofer Purnell Philstar.com

ACTOR Jericho Rosales will make his return to primetime television later this year in the upcoming series “Lavender Fields.” Jericho last starred in the television show Halik,” alongside Sam Milby, Yen Santos and Yam Concepcion, when it finished airing in April 2019. Production company Dreamscape Entertainment

‘I am because we are’

Pastor’s Notes

reverend

rodel G. BAlAGtAs

GOD has high hopes for us. This is a truth we must firmly believe. As the Book of Jeremiah 29:14 tells us, “For surely I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord, “plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.”

However, our hope for the Church, our country, communities, and the world requires a common faith in humanity and a mutual understanding of what needs to be done. Pope Francis, in his book “Let Us Dream: The Path to A Better Future,” emphasizes the importance of fraternity, stating: “To dream of a different future, we need to choose fraternity over individualism as our organizing principle.  Fraternity, the sense of belonging to each other and to the whole of humanity, is the capacity to come together and work towards a shared horizon of possibility.”

Beyond the fun, food, rides, games, and the grand raffle at this weekend’s parish carnival, we celebrate hope for humanity grounded in a fraternal spirit

here in this part of our nation, the City of Glendale, California. We demonstrate goodwill, peace, love, and care for our fellow parishioners, neighbors, friends, and fellow city dwellers. We hope for more opportunities to come together in peace and harmony. In a world and country plagued by conflicts and division, we must be agents of peace and reconciliation. Often, our dreams for a better world start with the persistent efforts of an individual, a group of people, a small organization, or a local church. This weekend’s successful carnival serves as an example of this truth. Seven years ago, our faithful and persistent parishioner, Joe Chavez, along with his supportive wife, Frances, approached the pastor about organizing a carnival and a car raffle to raise funds for the needs of the parish. The pastor believed in Joe’s ability, and the success of this event, now one of the most anticipated community gatherings in Glendale and the most successful fundraiser for our church, was beyond anyone’s imagination. All it took was the aspiration of one man. The narrative of our community aligns well with Sunday’s (June 16) Gospel that illustrates how the Kingdom of God starts like a mustard seed, the smallest of all seeds on earth. When sown, it grows into the

largest plant, providing shelter for birds. Similarly, one person’s idea and aspiration became a catalyst for a significant community event in our context. Each of us has the potential to achieve remarkable feats. With faith in God, we can contribute profoundly to our churches and communities.      Instead of focusing on the negatives in our world, let’s consider the positive ways we can promote harmony, peace, justice, and prosperity.  Maria Ressa, a Filipina Nobel Peace Prize winner in journalism in 2021, referenced the South African saying of Ubuntu in a recent commencement speech at Harvard University. She explained that Ubuntu translates to “I am because we are.” Reflecting on this saying during our parish carnival weekend is truly inspiring. This event embodies not just one person’s efforts or a small group’s endeavors but our collective aspiration to build a united community with a shared dream of creating a better world. Enjoy the parish carnival!

* 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.

Albie Casiño now a father

By Jan Milo severo Philstar.com

ACTOR Albie Casiño revealed that he is now a father. Albie posted a video of him meeting his baby, Roman Andrew, for the first time with his girlfriend Michelina on his Facebook account.

“A great man told me ‘being a dad has no days off and retirement.’ I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Albie captioned the post.

“I finally got to meet my son. Hello, Roman Andrew, the world is yours little man,” he added. Albie’s “Can’t Buy Me Love” co-stars commented on his post.

“Congratulations!! Not a secret anymore, Ahia!!” Ruffa Gutierrez said, referring to the actor’s character who played

the firstborn son of a wealthy Chinese-Filipino family in the recently ended show. “WE CAN FINALLY TALK ABOUT IT PUBLICLY HAHAHA,” Darren Espanto

commented in all caps. “FINALLY!!” Chie

wrote in a

In another

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

Filomeno

similar fashion.

post, Albie showed a photo of him and his baby sleeping beside each other. g

Albie Casino with his son, Roman Andrew, and girlfriend Michelle. Photos from Instagram/@thestallion09

Jericho Rosales ABS-CBN photo

Marian Rivera on secret to a happy marriage

by hannah Mallorca Inquirer.net

MARIAN Rivera admitted that it’s hard to advise a couple on having a long-lasting marriage since she’s not in a position to do so, but she believes that transparency, love, trust, and faith in God should be the center of a relationship.

In a chance interview on the sidelines of a brand launch in Taguig City on Tuesday, June 11, Rivera shared her two cents on a long-lasting marriage when asked about the topic.

“Ang hirap magbigay ng advice dahil wala ako sa posisyon pero one thing is for sure, kailangan transparent kayo sa isa’t isa, mananaig ang love and trust, at higit sa lahat, kahit pagsamahin niyo ‘yun, kung wala sa center si Lord, nothing lahat,” she said.

(It’s hard to advise because I’m not in a position to do so. But one thing is for sure, you need to be transparent with each other. Love and trust must prevail and most of all, even if you put all these together, if God is not at the center of your relationship, it’s nothing.)

The actress also shared that as a mother, she believes in teaching her children Zia and Sixto the importance of going to the dentist at a young age. For her, it has something to do with how she was raised when she was young.

“Hindi naman sa very strict pero at an early age, gusto kong malaman nila ang meaning ng

[pagpunta sa] dentist. Mga bata pa talaga sila… pero aware sila kasi siguro kaming mag-asawa, hindi pwede na hindi kaming nagde-dentist,” she said. “Si Nanay kasi, pinapaliwanag niya sa’kin. D’un ko ‘yun nakuha. Kailangan mo siyang, ipaliwanag sa anak mo kung bakit kailangan pumunta sa dentist.”

(Not that I’m very strict about it, but at an early age I want them to learn the meaning of going to the dentist. They’re very young but they’re aware because they see it in us. We have to go to the dentist. My mother did the same to me when I was young. You have to teach your children why they need to go to the dentist.) Friendship with Max Collins, local cinema

When asked about what she would miss about her series

“My Guardian Alien,” Rivera said it’s the friendship with the cast including her co-star Max Collins. The fantasy drama is set to air its final episode on June 28 and it will be replaced by “Widows’ War” in its time slot.

“Hindi kami nagkatrabaho ni Max, ever. Pero dahil dito nagkakilala kami and I’m happy na naging close ang friendship namin. Sina Gabby, given na ‘yun,” she said. (Max and I had never worked together before, ever. But because of the series, we got to know each other, and I’m happy that we developed a close friendship. For Gabby, our friendship is a given.)

Rivera is also grateful that many moviegoers still support “Rewind,” her Metro Manila Film Festival 2023 entry with her husband Dingdong Dantes. It remains the highest-grossing Filipino film as of now.

“Taos-pusong pasasalamat sa mga tao na sumusuporta at nagmamahal sa ‘Rewind,’” she said, touching on supporting local films. “Ipagdadasal pa rin natin na mabuhay ang pelikulang Pilipino dahil ‘yun ang gusto natin, para maibalik ‘yan sa tao. At babalik at babalik ‘yan.”

(I’m very thankful to those who support and love ‘Rewind.’

Let’s pray that local cinema will stay strong because that is what we want. And I believe that its former glory will return.) g

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Bea Alonzo on split...

Dominic. She reasoned that she wanted to preserve the good aspects and memories with her former flame.

“Let’s leave it in the past. It’s amicable. OK naman kami. I think it will be disrespectful to the relationship and to the other person to talk about it. It’s a very sensitive topic. Ang gusto ko bigyan ng respeto at gusto kong iwan sa magandang paraan what we had,” Bea said. Earlier in the interview, the actress talked about how she coped with her recent heartbreak and how she felt about her private life being public.

Doon siguro ako pinakanaapektuhan kasi maraming nagspre-spread ng false narrative about my life. And when you’re going through something really difficult in your life and you have

other people narrating it for you in a different way, very different from the way you see it and very different from the truth, sobrang sakit niya,” the actress said.

“Kasi, yes, it affects you kasi it’s one thing to go through something silently, like a very, very huge heartbreak. But it’s another thing to be going through it in front of the public nang iba ‘yung narrative,” she added.

Last May, she filed cyber libel cases against online showbiz talk show hosts Cristy Fermin and Ogie Diaz. Similarly, Dominic also filed a cyber libel case against Fermin for the “malicious statements and innuendos” the latter said on her online show. Bea will be next seen in the upcoming thriller drama “Widow’s War,” starring with Carla Abellana, on GMA-7. g

Rosales...

officially announced Jericho’s comeback in social media posts, teasing his character in the upcoming show.

The actor will portray Tyrone de Vera, opposite Jodi Sta. Maria and Janine Gutierrez, both of whom are fresh off successful shows “Unbreak My Heart” and “Dirty Linen,” respectively.

Jericho expressed his excitement in the comments section on Dreamscape’s

Instagram post, saying he is looking forward to finally working with Jodi and Janine. Last April, Jericho teased he has a television show lined up as well as an unnamed Star Cinema movie.

He also recently attended this year’s Cannes Film Festival with ex Kim Jones for the global premiere of “The Surfer,” starring Nicolas Cage and Julian McMahon, which screened out of competition. g

Karla Estrada marks one...

family conflicts, such as arguments between mothers and children, neglectful mothers, or rejected children. These topics resonate with me and leave a lasting impression.”

Additionally, she also appreciates the presence of LGBTQ guests on the show. Back in the ‘90s when she started in showbiz, she said these issues surrounding LGBTQ individuals were already prevalent. It’s been two decades, and these issues persist, she noted. So, with the “guidance of Atty. Lorna Kapunan, who advocates for LGBTQ rights, we aim to set a good example,” she added.

“Since starting ‘Face 2 Face,’ I’ve learned a lot, almost like being in school. I appreciate the education I’ve received, especially from Dr. Camille in psychology, Dr. Love in matters of the heart, and Atty. Lorna in legal matters. It’s been very enriching to receive this free education,” she said.

“I also think because sa haba ng experience ko, sa dami ng experience ko, I’m able to relate to everything. I also believe it’s easier for me to offer advice because we’re not perfect, we still make mistakes. But I’ve fixed many of mine, so I try to share how I was able to correct those mistakes in life.”

She’s happy that the show is doing well, ratings-wise. “For us to be entrusted with the (program), we should show that we’re worthy of the trust,” she said.

“The nature and dynamics of a show like ‘Face 2 Face’ are unique. Maybe because I’m used to it, being a people person, I also like to get involved in people’s lives (laughs). Because, as the breadwinner, you absorb all the problems, from your nieces and nephews to your cousins to your mother, everything like that.”

She also believes that everything she experienced in life was part of her preparation to handle a show like “Face 2 Face.” At the same time, it has taught her a lot because it’s a show about real life.

“The show is very relatable, it mirrors real life. Wala namang nagbago sa totoong buhay na pang-araw-araw (since the original), what changed is the technology,” she said, referring to how social media has been utilized as a platform for ordinary folks to open up about their issues in life or get their information about the lives of others.

Awa ng Diyos, we are rating which is something we didn’t expect,” said Karla.

“So, well, it’s a good sign. Dahil katulad nga ng sinabi ko we’re not here to entertain the Marites or ilabas lang namin ang buhay ng mga guest namin ng ganun-ganun lang, or to embarrass them. Walang ganun. If you watch ‘Face 2 Face,’ you will really see that we listen to their problems and help them fix them at the end (of the program). We’re ready to help.”

Meanwhile, Karla said she’s open to doing other shows besides “Face 2 Face.”

“Of course, naman. But this time, kasi parang ang hindi lang naga-allow sakin is my time… But yeah, if it’s about hosting and my singing career, I would allow… I would go for another program or show on TV5,” she said, but stressing at the same time that she hopes it has to be similar to “Face 2 Face” in terms of its public service component. g

awe every day. I got that feeling as a kid watching ‘The Phantom Menace’ for the first time walking on that set. It was, yeah, it was a day to remember.”

On “The Acolyte” themes and messages he resonated with:

“I think the theme of, you know, how do you handle a world that doesn’t necessarily accept or look like you? How do you deal with that? I think that’s a theme that definitely resonates throughout my childhood and also in my acting career. That’s definitely an important theme of mine.”

On his Hollywood acting journey so far:

“I would describe it as ongoing. I feel like the work is never done. I’m very grateful, very fortunate that I get to be an actor during this time because the landscape was so different just six or eight years ago. But, you know, I purposely… really strategize in my career to take on characters that people haven’t seen before. Those are the characters that I love to play with or take on. Yeah, it’s a challenge, but a challenge that can get also pretty difficult, but a challenge that’s worth it. I think it’s because I think it’ll make a greater impact.”

On seeing increased diversity and more representation in Hollywood:

“Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I think what it comes down to is just having more and more creatives, not just in front of the screen, but behind the screen as well. Like I am seeing or keeping an eye on Filipino directors and Filipino writers all the time and, possibly, hopefully, fingers crossed, getting to collaborate with them, because I can only do so much as an actor, but there’s so much potential. It gets frustrating at times because obviously, there’s not a lot out there right now, but that just means that there’s so much more to be told, and it’s exciting. I think now is the time to be able to do that and to tell those stories.”

On advice to aspiring actors from underrepresented backgrounds:

“Create, right? You know, take it upon yourself to do it. Don’t wait for somebody to give you the opportunity. We need more storytellers, we need more writers, we need more directors. We need more actors, we need more producers. I think it’s just a matter of taking action and creating the opportunity for yourself. I think that’s the biggest piece of advice I can give to like, a younger generation, or that I would give to myself when I was younger, like, don’t wait. Like, just make it happen, because it’s possible. Just take the jump.” g

Marian Rivera Photo from Instagram/@marianrivera