070324 - Southern California Midweek Edition

Supreme Court OKs local crackdowns on homelessness, as advocates warn of chaos

THE U.S. Supreme Court’s watershed decision on homelessness Friday will make it easier for elected officials and law enforcement authorities nationwide to fine and arrest people who live on streets and sidewalks, in broken-down vehicles, or within city parks — which could have far-reaching health consequences for homeless Americans and their communities.

In a 6-to-3 ruling in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, the justices in the majority said allowing the targeting of homeless people occupying public spaces by enforcing bans on public sleeping or camping with criminal or civil penalties is not cruel and unusual punishment, even if there are no alternative shelter or housing options available for them.

“It’s hard to imagine the chaos that is going to ensue. It’ll have horrible

Fil-Ams can participate in the National Cancer Institute initiative

Filipino women in the United States have been reported by the National Institutes of Health to present more advanced breast cancer compared to White women, and Filipino immigrants also show a higher annual percentage increase in incidence across all subtypes of thyroid cancer.

Despite these increasing incidences, a national longitudinal study on cancer in Asian Americans has never been conducted—until now.

The National Cancer Institute has recently launched a groundbreaking $12.45 million initiative for the first national long-term study aimed at understanding cancer in Asian Americans, as well as investigating health disparities and risk factors.

Leading this landmark study are researchers from UC San Francisco and

by FRANCO JOSE C. BAROÑA

FILIPINO households see rising prices and inflation as the most important issues for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to address alongside strengthening the economy and curbing corruption, the results of a new nationwide survey released on Sunday, June 30 showed.

In the Pahayag Second Quarter 2024 survey conducted by Publicus Asia from June 15 to 19, respondents said they believed that tackling inflation was crucial as it directly affects Filipinos' ability to afford basic needs.

Marcos seeks coalition based on ‘ideology’

AS part of his quest to forge a strong coalition for the 2025 midterm elections, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday, June 29 led the signing of an alliance between his political party, the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), and the National Unity Party (NUP), the fourth political group to join the "Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas (Alliance for a New Philippines)." Marcos, PFP chairman, witnessed the signing of a partnership that was "more than a political maneuver for the 2025 elections."

can be seen as merely marriages of convenience. And, once again, since we are bringing all of disparate forces together — not so disparate, but separate forces together — we will again be seen and commented upon and said to be another marriage of convenience," Marcos said.

China to US: Stop support of PH ‘provocations’ in SCS

CHINA urged the United States to cease bolstering and endorsing the alleged "provocations" of the Philippines in the disputed territories in the South China Sea (SCS).

In a statement posted on the Chinese Embassy website Friday night, June 28, Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said that Beijing's message was conveyed by Executive Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu in a phone conversation with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, where

the two sides had a "candid and in-depth exchange of views" on the current China-U.S. relations and issues of mutual interest.

Mao Ning said Ma Zhaoxu urged the U.S. to act on President Joe Biden's "five-noes" commitment, which included not supporting Taiwan independence, not challenging China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, not interfering in China's internal affairs, not using Taiwan as a bargaining chip, and not engaging in military or official exchanges with Taiwan.

He urged the U.S. to earnestly respect China's sovereignty, security and development

"So, that is why I think that we are making a very important change in the thinking, in the politics of the Philippines. That is based not on political expediency but on ideology. And what is the ideology that we are espousing? We speak now of unity, we speak now of Bagong Pilipinas, bringing the country, transforming the country to another place to a better place than we had found it," he said.

Marcos said that although there might be political forces that could impede the achievement  PAGE 2

by DENNIS HERUELA AJPress

IN her teenage years, Risa Hontiveros captured the fancy and following of the Filipino audience as a budding theatre performer, and later as a broadcast journalist.

“That was before I got happily hijacked by activism,” she quipped.

In many ways, her foray into public service is but a performance, one that demands not only for her to show up and deliver the lines but also to translate everything into action and results that would truly benefit the Filipino people for generations to come.

“After formal politics, I’ll go back to theater and music. Whether nanay or lola roles, I’m open. I just want to go back to theatre.” She says it with that signature twinkle in her eyes and vibrance that exude star quality. But for now, she is tackling the biggest role of her life and from the eyes of those truly seeing her, being Risa Hontiveros – a Filipino senator carries with it a complex pursuit and a very busy one as well.

Being one of the 2 opposition senators in the current senate, she understands how tough it could be to face adversarial attacks especially foul and malicious ones.

WHILE the overall performance rating of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for the second quarter of 2024 stabilized, Vice President Sara Duterte's ratings saw another significant drop, down 20 percentage points from two years ago, the latest nationwide survey conducted by Publicus Asia showed.

Based on the results of the independent and noncommissioned Pahayag Second Quarter 2024 survey taken from

June 15 to 19, Duterte's overall ratings saw a sharp decline, with her approval dropping from 53 percent in the first quarter of the year to 46 percent in the second quarter. Her trust rating also fell by 5 points from 46 percent to 41 percent. Particularly notable is the drop in approval ratings in Northern Central Luzon, from 47 percent to 38 percent. In her stronghold Mindanao, approval ratings also decreased from 75 percent to 68 percent, and trust ratings fell from 67 percent to 65 percent.

At the same time, the Pahayag survey showed that while the economic and financial outlooks show a slight improvement from the previous quarter, they remain low.

The same survey indicated that a growing number of Filipinos remain undecided on their stance toward both the current administration of President Marcos and the political opposition, with 43 percent and 52 percent saying they remain undecided, respectively.

Those that held a negative presentiment about the state of the government heading to the next quarter were nearly equal to those that had a positive outlook.

Despite this, the survey showed that the majority of Filipinos were generally happy, with over half of the respondents feeling "somewhat happy."

About 40 percent of the respondents felt they were close to their best possible life during the second quarter of the year, while 20 percent believed they were already there.

Universal social pension for seniors and enhanced cybersecurity for government

The Pahayag survey also showed that positive views on the country's state and direction remain at an all-time low, with increasing indecision among Filipinos who are polarized when it comes to their overall positive sentiments about the country.

agencies received the highest support, the survey showed.

The arrest of controversial Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KoJ) founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy for human trafficking was the second most supported issue for Filipinos.

Other issues of interest include moving the school calendar back to June-March, adjusting the working hours of LGUs in Metro Manila to ease traffic, and consolidating government aid programs into a National Stipend Program.

The least approved issues, as indicated in the survey, were Charter change, West Philippine Sea disputes and International  PAGE 4

Marcos seeks coalition based...

of that goal, the alliance would serve as a mechanism to settle contradictions and differences and present a united front.

"Of course, there are political forces that get in the way, but that is the whole point of these alliances that we are making. That is the whole point because we now formalize and put together a mechanism," he said.

The president said if there were contradictions or differences, there was a method for resolutions "without going to extreme, undertaking extreme measures, like moving away from the party, running as independent, both allies fighting against each other politically."

He said that more than just supporting each other in the next election, the newly-formed alliance built a common purpose and consensus of making the Philippines a "better place."

"We are uniting behind the dream of transforming the Philippines and that dream will be achieved by unity. So, congratulations on joining that ideology, for believing in that ideology. It is the only way that we will make our country the country that the Filipinos deserve," Marcos said.

The NUP is the fourth major political party to sign an alliance with Marcos' PFP.

Led by party Chairman Ronaldo Puno, the NUP was founded in 2010 by former members of Lakas-Kampi CMD (ChristianMuslim Democrats).

Since 2016, the NUP has also been part of the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban)-led coalition in the House of Representatives, the so-called Coalition for Change supporting former President Rodrigo Duterte. About a hundred members of PFP and NUP, composed of governors, vice governors, local government officials and lawmakers, attended and witnessed the event.

The PFP was represented by Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr., Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos, and PFP President South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr.

The NUP was represented by

Puno, NUP President Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. and Bataan Rep. Albert Garcia.

The PFP in May signed an accord with Lakas-CMD, the biggest party in the House with 100 members, and the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC).

Apart from the NUP, the LakasCMD and NPC, the Nacionalista Party also threw its hat into the PFP ring.

During the 2022 national elections, the PFP joined forces with Lakas-CMD, Hugpong ng Pagbabago, a regional group headed by then Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, the Partido ng Masang Pilipino and guest candidates from different parties to form the UniTeam alliance. The coalition worked as it saw Marcos and his running mate, Duterte, win the polls by a landslide.

The latest addition to the PFP comes more than a week after Duterte, whose Hugpong ng Pagbabago was part of the "UniTeam" in the 2022 national elections, resigned as education secretary and vice chairman of the National Task Force to End Local Conflict (NTF-Elcac) — a move which analysts said ended the alliance that gave Marcos and Duterte the presidency and vice presidency.

'Logical conclusion'

Meanwhile, Villafuerte said the PFP-NUP alliance was the "logical conclusion" of the party's two-year working partnership with the administration.

In a speech during the signing

ceremony, Villafuerte, the president of NUP, said that the partnership served as a "splendid opportunity for both parties, along with other like-minded groups, to work together on advancing a Bagong Pilipinas that promises a robust and inclusive growth and development for all Filipinos."

He also said that the alliance marked another "watershed" in the history of Philippine electoral politics and "best illustrates that true-blue members of different mainstream political parties, given the right motivation or inspiration, can transcend partisan politics or personal interests in pursuit of the longaspired genuine transformation of our public governance, our economy, and our society."

Villafuerte said the NUP "shared the president's vision for a prosperous and peaceful Bagong Pilipinas where no Filipino is left behind."

He said that their commitment to the alliance was based on a conviction that "Bagong Pilipinas" was not just a mere slogan but a genuine agenda to transform the economy, governance and society.

"We are having a formal alliance with the PFP because the NUP is ready and willing to do the hard work that our President needs from all of us Filipinos for Bagong Pilipinas to become a reality. With this formal alliance, we in the NUP say: Onward Bagong Pilipinas, Onward with better lives for all Filipinos," Villafuerte said.

NUP Chairman and former local government secretary Ronaldo Puno said that the alliance reaffirmed their commitment to putting the interests of people above all else.

"This alliance is a testament to our collective dedication to serving the needs of every Filipino citizen. Together, we are stronger, the more resilient and better equipped to tackle the challenges that lie ahead." Puno said.

Aside from Puno and Villafuerte, key NUP officials who attended the event were NUP

Vice Chairmen Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali "Boyet" Gonzales 2nd, Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop and Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas. g

PH Senator Risa Hontiveros

But Sen. Hontiveros is not to be derailed.

“I always remind myself to stay true to the path I chose in life. I go back to what inspires me, think of the people who love me and those who I love. I love being a Filipino, the unique arts and culture we have, and I have my faith to hold on to,” she says. These may indeed have come very handy as she dutifully actualizes her mission in the senate. As she pushes for the Senate Bill 2443 or the proposed "Dissolution of Marriage Act," challenges from all directions are expected. The “why” of advocating for a divorce option for the Filipino family is something she is clear about: “If the marriage reaches a situation where it isn’t supposed to be and in fact became the opposite of what marriage is like as it has ceased to become a relationship of love, commitment, and care and instead stories of domestic violence, neglect, absence, and repeated adultery have taken place. Why should individuals and families in those situations be denied of a second chance in freedom, life, and love?”

Senator Hontiveros recognizes the role the church – especially the Catholic Church – may play in the conversation. And while supporters of the bill assert that divorce is a public issue and not a religious one, she wants the conversation to be open and inclusive. “We continuously engage the Catholic hierarchy in the discussions and lately, I have been feeling that the pushback has been less, and the position has changed for the better compared to years ago.”

In her recent visit in Los Angeles for a series of meetings with various Filipino American communities, Sen. Hontiveros solidified in her mind what Filipino Americans can do to help Filipinos back in their homeland.

“You can take the Filipino out of the Philippines, but you can’t take the Philippines out of the Filipino,” she happily declared. “Lately there has been a renewed interest in acquiring dual citizenship. This could result to benefits that include OFW absentee voting. This means participation in choosing the leaders. The Philippine Consulate has set up a program and information campaign that will help dual citizens register and vote in the forthcoming midterm elections next year and general elections in 2028.”

Another interest expressed in the meetings would be “medical portability” where retirees can move back to the Philippines but can still enjoy the same pension and healthcare benefits they receive here. “We already have a template on Medical Portability, the framework to make it a law has been drafted,” she revealed. She extolled the importance of making parallel efforts when it comes to organizing –whether politically or collaborating on solutions to issues that current Filipinos have felt strongly about: poverty, unemployment, inflation, and corruption which she named as those on top of the list.

takes on a ‘role...

Sen. Risa Hontiveros – as chairperson of the Philippine Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality – has personally championed and successfully pushed for the creation 25 new landmark laws. She is currently working to pass reforms such as the proposed Lingap Para Kay Lolo at Lola Act, which will establish a system of universal social pension for Filipino senior citizens, and the Free Dialysis Act, which will mandate PhilHealth to provide free dialysis sessions to all senior citizens.

Other legislation:

Republic Act 9502 (Cheaper and Quality Medicines Law) –significantly decreases the cost of quality medicines in the country. Republic Act 9700 (Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms [CARPER] Law) – improves the agrarian reform program of the government.

Republic Act 10932 (Act Strengthening the Anti-Hospital Deposit Law) – strengthens the penalties against hospitals who violate the Anti-Hospital Deposit Law.

Republic Act 11036 (Philippine Mental Health Law) – safeguards the mental health of Filipino citizens through education, medical advancements, and other support systems.

Republic Act 11861 (Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act) –provides wider social benefits to solo parents.

Republic Act 11166 (HIV and AIDS Policy Act of 2018) –expands access to evidence-based HIV strategies and facilitates easier access to learning about one's HIV status.

Republic Act 11313 (Safe Streets and Public Spaces Act) – protects Filipinos (notably women) from catcalling, groping, persistent requests, and other forms of street harassment. Republic Act 11930 (Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children Law) – boosts government efforts to end online abuse and exploitation of Filipino children. n

“Regardless of political affiliation, every Filipino recognizes the pain of the issues and problems that affect our country. Perhaps this is an opportunity for us to see that even if we disagree politically, we can choose to find solutions to problems we all experience. We need to think of better ways to mobilize our resources and utilize traditional and social media in a way that informs and empower us to form communities and create genuine unity,” she stated.

Senator Hontiveros explained how economic reform and protecting ourselves from the effects of inflation are a concern for Filipinos all over the world. “In the Philippines, economic development should be the priority. While agriculture and manufacturing need to be developed, the necessary infrastructures, such as electrification should be in place. The BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) industry has been a top contributor to the Philippine economy and needs to be strengthened further through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).”

Amid her visions to implement economic agenda for the country, Sen. Hontiveros sees the overarching importance of better governance. “I oppose scandalous poverty and inequality. I oppose

manipulation – using disunity and enmity for political ends. We need to reach out to the Filipinos who lost faith in democracy and help them rediscover it. Perhaps the people don’t see how they can participate in the democratic process and how they can protect it. We need a restart.”

Listening to Sen. Hontiveros talk about how the Philippines could soar to greater heights is an inspiring experience. It leaves one in awe at how a leader like her appear to be seemingly undaunted when she pursues causes and issues of national interest (read: sometimes risky). She knows in her heart what the people she serves would benefit from. Whether it’s tirelessly pushing for the SOGIE Bill (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity/Expression Bill) to become a law or being in the forefront of investigating POGOs (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) and look into alleged human trafficking and online scams being proliferated, you can count on her to move forward with character and courage. After all, behind that dulcet voice and calm demeanor is a woman and a leader who’s powerful enough to say:

“Natatakot din ako. Pero okay lang matakot basta huwag lang tayong maduduwag (I also get afraid. But it’s okay to feel afraid as long we don’t become cowards).” g

China to US: Stop support of PH...

interests and play a positive role in the steady development of ChinaU.S. relations rather than doing the opposite.

In Washington, the U.S. State Department said that Campbell "raised serious concerns" about Chinese aggressive actions in a call with Ma Zhaoxu.

State Department spokesman Mathew Miller said Campbell also reiterated that U.S. commitments to the Philippines under the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) remained "ironclad." China and the Philippines have traded accusations over "dangerous and illegal maneuvers" affecting their respective vessels

around the Second Thomas or Ayungin Shoal, a disputed atoll in the busy waterway. The Philippines sent resupply missions to soldiers living aboard the 100-meter BRP Sierra Madre vessel, an aging warship deliberately grounded by Manila in 1999 at the atoll to check the advance of China in the hotly contested waters. The unorthodox tactic to establish the Philippines' presence on the shoal was in response to China's occupation of the nearby and then-uninhabited Mischief Reef, also claimed by Manila, a few years earlier. Beijing has turned Mischief Reef and other reefs and outcrops

into artificial, militarized islands to assert its claims in the waters. Second Thomas or Ayungin Shoal, located in the Spratly Islands, is about 200 kilometers west of the western Philippine island of Palawan and more than 1,000 kilometers from China's nearest major landmass of Hainan island. This means it is inside the Philippines' 370-kilometer exclusive economic zone (EEZ). A 2016 arbitral ruling supported the Philippines' claim. An EEZ gives a country sovereign rights to fisheries and natural resources but does not denote sovereignty over that area. g

FRESH. Fishers head to the Las Piñas City Fish Port with their catch on Sunday, June 30. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources will

launch a pilot study that would grant insurance coverage to fishers affected by calamities, initially to cover those from Occidental Mindoro, Antique, Cebu, Negros Oriental and Surigao del Norte.

PNA

photo by Avito C. Dalan

Sen. Risa Hontiveros

Photo from Facebook/@hontiverosrisa

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Malacañang file photo

The Supreme Court just limited federal power. Health care is feeling the shockwaves.

by Stephanie armour KFF Health News

A LANDMARK Supreme Court

decision that reins in federal agencies’ authority is expected to hold dramatic consequences for the nation’s health care system, calling into question government rules on anything from consumer protections for patients to drug safety to nursing home care.

The June 28 decision overturns a 1984 precedent that said courts should give deference to federal agencies in legal challenges over their regulatory or scientific decisions. Instead of giving priority to agencies, courts will now exercise their own independent judgment about what Congress intended when drafting a particular law.

The ruling will likely have seismic ramifications for health policy. A flood of litigation — with plaintiffs like small businesses, drugmakers, and hospitals challenging regulations they say aren’t specified in the law — could leave the country with a patchwork of disparate health regulations varying by location.

Agencies such as the FDA are likely to be far more cautious in drafting regulations, Congress is expected to take more time fleshing out legislation to avoid legal challenges, and judges will be more apt to overrule current and future regulations.

Health policy leaders say patients, providers, and health systems should brace for more uncertainty and less stability in the health care system. Even routine government functions such as deciding the rate to pay doctors for treating Medicare beneficiaries could become embroiled in long legal battles that disrupt patient care or strain providers to adapt.

Groups that oppose a regulation could search for and secure partisan judges to roll back agency decision-making, said Andrew Twinamatsiko, director of the Health Policy and the Law Initiative at Georgetown University’s O’Neill Institute. One example could be challenges to the FDA’s approval of a medication used in abortions, which survived a Supreme Court challenge this term on a technicality.

“Judges will be more emboldened to second-guess agencies,” he said. “It’s going to open agencies up to attacks.”

Regulations are effectively the technical instructions for laws written by Congress. Federal agency staffers with knowledge related to a law — say, in drugs that treat rare diseases or health care for seniors — decide how to translate Congress’ words into action with input from industry, advocates, and the public.

Up until now, when agencies issued a regulation, a single rule typically applied nationwide.

Following the high court ruling, however, lawsuits filed in more than one jurisdiction could result in contradictory rulings and regulatory requirements — meaning health care policies for patients, providers, or insurers could differ greatly from one area to another.

One circuit may uphold a regulation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for example, while other circuits may take different views.

“You could have eight or nine of 11 different views of the courts,” said William Buzbee, a professor at Georgetown Law.

A court in one circuit could issue a nationwide injunction to enforce its interpretation while another circuit disagrees, said Maura Monaghan, a partner at Debevoise & Plimpton. Few cases are taken up by the U.S. Supreme Court, which could leave clashing directives in place for many years.

In the immediate future, health policy leaders say agencies should brace for more litigation over controversial initiatives. A requirement that most Affordable Care Act health plans cover preventive services, for example, is already being litigated. Multiple challenges to the mandate could mean different coverage requirements for preventive care depending on where a consumer lives.

Drugmakers have sued to try to stop the Biden administration from implementing a federal law that forces makers of the most expensive drugs to negotiate prices with Medicare — a key cog in President Joe Biden’s effort to lower drug prices and control health care costs.

Parts of the health care industry may take on reimbursement

rates for doctors that are set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services because those specific rates aren’t written into law. The agency issues rules updating payment rates in Medicare, a health insurance program for people 65 or older and younger people with disabilities. Groups representing doctors and hospitals regularly flock to Washington, D.C., to lobby against trims to their payment rates.

And providers, including those backed by deep-pocketed investors, have sued to block federal surprise-billing legislation. The No Surprises Act, which passed in 2020 and took effect for most people in 2022, aims to protect patients from unexpected, out-of-network medical bills, especially in emergencies. The high court’s ruling is expected to spur more litigation over its implementation.

“This really is going to create a tectonic change in the administrative regulatory landscape,” Twinamatsiko said.

“The approach since 1984 has created stability. When the FDA or CDC adopt regulations, they know those regulations will be respected. That has been taken back.”

Industry groups, including the American Hospital Association and AHIP, an insurers’ trade group, declined to comment.

Agencies such as the FDA that take advantage of their regulatory authority to make specific decisions, such as the granting of exclusive marketing rights upon approval of a drug, will be vulnerable. The reason: Many of their decisions require discretion as opposed to being explicitly defined by federal law, said Joseph Ross, a professor of medicine and public health at Yale School of Medicine.

“The legislation that guides much of the work in the health space, such as FDA and CMS, is not prescriptive,” he said. In fact, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf said in an episode of the “Healthcare Unfiltered” podcast last year that he was “very worried” about the disruption from judges overruling his agency’s scientific decisions.

The high court’s ruling will be especially significant for the PAGE 4

Vice President Sara Duterte’s approval...

PAGE 1

Despite the drop, the vice president remains the official with the highest approval and trust ratings.

Publicus said it should be noted that the resignation of Duterte as education secretary took place at the end of the survey period and, hence was not included in the results.

The Pahayag survey indicated that the performance rating of the vice president was hurt by her father's legacy and her former role as secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd).

However, the survey also showed that 6 in 10 Filipinos do not think that she should have resigned as DepEd chief.

Likewise, Duterte's response to the comments made by first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos was "overwhelmingly" agreed upon by Filipinos.

The survey was referring to the vice president's comment that the personal sentiments of the first lady against her were not covered by her mandate as a public servant.

Meanwhile, President Marcos held steady in the survey with an approval rating of 44 percent and a trust rating of 33 percent.

However, approval ratings in North Central Luzon, known as

his stronghold, dropped from 52 percent in the first quarter to 49 percent in the second quarter.

The approval rating of Sen. Francis Escudero also dropped significantly by 11 percentage points, from 58 percent to 47 percent, when he was elected as Senate president. His trust rating also dipped from 45 percent to 37 percent.

of

of

Escudero's drop in approval and trust ratings may be linked to his role within the current administration, according to Publicus.

Despite a significant decline in his approval and trust ratings, 60 percent of Filipinos agree with Escudero as the new Senate president.

On the other hand, House Speaker Martin Romualdez saw a "minor, non-significant" improvement in his approval rating.

Romualdez's approval rating increased by two, from 25 percent to 27 percent, and his trust rating rose from 18 percent to 19 percent.

Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo also showed stability in his ratings, with his approval rating remaining at 29 percent and his trust rating increasing from 20 percent to 21 percent.

Trusted agency

The Technical Education and

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and

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Pahayag 2024 used a purposive sampling of 1,507 respondents randomly drawn from the market research panel of over 200,000 registered Filipino voters maintained by the Singapore office of PureSpectrum, a U.S.-based panel marketplace with a multinational presence.

Fil-Am breakdancer earns a spot in the Paris Olympics

Breakdancing

by Hans Carbonilla Inquirer.net

ANOTHER Filipino American is set to make waves at this year’s Paris Olympics, but not in a traditional sport like tennis, track and field or ball sports –this time, it’s breakdancing.

Logan Edra, widely known as “Logistx,” has secured her name in history by earning a spot on the United States’ breakdancing team for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

USA Dance Inc.’s breaking division celebrated Edra’s achievement in an Instagram post, proclaiming, “Congratulations again to @ logistx_ugf for making history!!

She earned her ticket to Paris and will officially represent @teamusa at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. See you in PARIS!!”

After an outstanding performance at the Olympic Qualifier Series in Budapest, Hungary, Edra, alongside Jeffrey Louis, secured the final two spots on Team USA’s breakdancing squad. Their journey to the Olympics was cemented with a fifth-place finish in both the overall standings and their respective categories during the qualifiers.

Edra and Louis will join Sunny Choi and Victor Montalvo to complete the quartet representing the United States in breakdancing’s inaugural appearance at the Paris Olympics on Aug. 9 and 10. There will be a total of 32 breakers, featuring 16 male and 16 female dancers, who will

demonstrate their skills in this arena. As written on the Olympics official website, “Athletes will use a combination of power moves – including windmills, the 6-step, and freezes – as they adapt their style and improvise to the beat of the DJ’s tracks in a bid to secure the judges’ votes and take home the first Olympic breaking medals.”

After its first run at the Summer Youth Olympic Games in Buenos

Aires in 2018, breakdancing garnered significant acclaim.

Building on its success in Argentina, breakdancing was subsequently included in the Paris 2024 Olympic program as a new sport.

The inclusion of breakdancing in the Olympics marks a milestone for the sport, highlighting its evolution from underground culture to a recognized Olympic discipline. g

The Supreme Court just limited federal...

nation’s federal health agencies because their regulations are often complex, creating the opportunity for more pitched legal battles. Challenges that may not have succeeded in courts because of the deference to agencies could now find more favorable outcomes.

“A whole host of existing regulations could be vulnerable,” said Larry Levitt, executive vice president for health policy at KFF. Other consequences are

possible. Congress may attempt to flesh out more details when drafting legislation to avoid challenges — an approach that may increase partisan standoffs and slow down an already glacial pace in passing legislation, Levitt said.

Agencies are expected to be far more cautious in writing regulations to be sure they don’t go beyond the contours of the law.

The Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision overturned Chevron U.S.A. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, which held

that courts should generally back a federal agency’s statutory interpretation as long as it was reasonable. Republicans have largely praised the new ruling as necessary for ensuring agencies don’t overstep their authority, while Democrats said in the aftermath of the decision that it amounts to a judicial power grab.

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.

Inflation, corruption most important issues...

Criminal Court actions against former President Rodrigo Duterte.

On the other hand, over half of Filipinos believed in being neutral when dealing with China and the United States. However, between the two, a third of Filipinos preferred the U.S. over

China. Dissatisfaction with the weak performance of President Marcos is not enough reason for him to resign, according to six out of 10 survey respondents.

Meanwhile, awareness of the Bagong Pilipinas Hymn and Pledge is high with mixed sentiments on its recitation

during weekly flag ceremonies.

Pahayag 2024 used a purposive sampling of 1,507 respondents randomly drawn from the market research panel of over 200,000 registered Filipino voters maintained by the Singapore office of PureSpectrum, a United States-based panel marketplace with a multinational presence. g

Supreme Court OKs local crackdowns on...

consequences for mental and physical health,” said Ed Johnson, director of litigation at the Oregon Law Center and lead attorney representing homeless defendants in the case.

“If people aren’t allowed to engage in survival while living outside by having things like a blanket and a pillow, or a tarp and a sleeping bag, and they don’t have anywhere else to go, they can die,” he said.

The case, the most consequential on homelessness in decades, comes amid widespread public frustration over the proliferation of homeless encampments — especially in Western cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Portland, Oregon — and the unsafe and unsanitary conditions that often fester around them.

An estimated 653,100 people were homeless in the United States in 2023, according to the most recent federal estimates, the vast majority residing in shanties, brokendown recreational vehicles, and sprawling tent camps scattered across urban and rural communities.

The Oregon city of Grants Pass, at the center of the legal battle, successfully argued that it was not cruel and unusual punishment to fine and arrest homeless people living outdoors or illegally camping on public property.

referencing laws that allow the state to require mental health and addiction treatment, for instance.

The high court decision could further embolden cities to sweep encampments and could force homeless people to be more transient — constantly moving around to evade law enforcement. Sometimes they’re offered shelter, but often there is nowhere to go. Steinberg believes many cities will more aggressively sweep encampments and keep homeless people on the move, but he does not believe they should be fined or arrested.

“I’m comfortable telling people that you can’t camp in public, but I would not criminalize it,” he said. “Some cities will fine and arrest people.”

Advocates for homeless people say constant relocations will further imperil the health of this population and magnify public health threats, such as the spread of communicable diseases.

They fear conservativeleaning communities will criminalize street camping, pushing homeless people to liberal municipalities that provide housing assistance and services.

County Department of Public Health. Drug overdoses and coronary artery disease were the top two causes of death since 2017.

Feldman said it may become harder to house people or place them into treatment programs.

“We rely on knowing where they are in order to find them,” Feldman said. “And they rely on us knowing where they are to get their health care. And if we can’t find them, often they can’t complete their housing paperwork and they don’t get inside.”

The Biden administration has pushed states to expand the definition of health care to include housing. At least 19 are directing money from Medicaid — the state-federal health insurance program for low-income people — into housing aid.

California is going the biggest, pumping $12 billion into an ambitious Medicaid initiative largely to help homeless patients find housing, pay for it, and avoid eviction. It is also dramatically expanding street medicine services.

The Supreme Court decision could interrupt these programs, said Margot Kushel, a primary care doctor and homelessness researcher at the University of California-San Francisco.

“Some cities have decided that they want to fine, arrest, and punish people for being homeless, and the majority opinion tells communities that they can go ahead and do that,” said Steve Berg, chief policy officer for the National Alliance to End Homelessness. “If communities really want less homelessness, they need to do what works, which is make sure people have access to housing and supportive services.”

Mike Zacchino, a spokesperson for Grants Pass, issued a statement Friday that the city was “grateful” to receive the decision and is committed to assisting residents struggling to find stable housing. Theane Evangelis, the city’s lead attorney, told the Supreme Court in April that if it couldn’t enforce its anticamping laws, “the city’s hands will be tied. It will be forced to surrender its public spaces.”

In the majority opinion, Justice Neil Gorsuch argued that the homelessness crisis is complex and has many causes, writing, “With encampments dotting neighborhood sidewalks, adults and children in these communities are sometimes forced to navigate around used needles, human waste, and other hazards to make their way to school, the grocery store, or work.”

However, Gorsuch wrote, the Eighth Amendment does not give the Supreme Court justices primary responsibility “for assessing those causes and devising those responses.”

A handful of federal judges cannot “begin to ‘match’ the collective wisdom the American people possess in deciding ‘how best to handle’ a pressing social question like homelessness,” he wrote.

In a dissenting opinion, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote that the decision focuses on the needs of local government and “leaves the most vulnerable in our society with an impossible choice: Either stay awake or be arrested.”

Elected officials, both Republican and Democrat, have increasingly argued that life on the streets is making people sick — and they should be allowed to relocate people for health and safety.

As they disperse and relocate — and possibly get arrested or slapped with fines — they will lose connections to the doctors and nurses who provide primary and specialty care on the streets, some health care experts say.

“It just is going to contribute to more death and higher mortality rates,” said Jim O’Connell, the president of Boston’s Health Care for the Homeless Program and an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. “It’s tough, because there’s a public safety versus public health” debate cities are struggling with.

As homeless people become sicker, they will get more expensive to treat, O’Connell said.

“Stop thinking about the emergency room, which is cheap compared to what we actually see, which is homeless people being admitted to the ICU,” he said. “I’ve got 20-something patients at Mass General today taking a huge amount of money to care for.”

In Los Angeles, which has one of the biggest homeless populations in America, street medicine provider Brett Feldman predicts more patients will need emergency intensive care as chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease go untreated.

Patients on anti-addiction medication or those undergoing treatment to improve their mental health will also struggle, he said.

“People are already getting moved and camps swept all the time, so we already know what happens,” Feldman said.

“Now you’re going to see disconnections from those case managers and housing navigators and people just losing touch in the chaos and the shuffle,” she said. “What’s worse, though, is we are going to lose the trust that is so essential to getting people to take their medications or stop their drug use and, ultimately, getting people into housing.”

Kushel said the ruling would make homelessness worse.

“Just having fines and jail time makes it easier for a landlord to reject you for housing,” she said. At the same time, Americans are increasingly frustrated by encampments spreading into neighborhoods, ringing public parks, and popping up near schools. The spread is marked by more trash, dirty needles, rats, and human excrement on sidewalks.

Local leaders across deepblue California welcomed the decision from the conservative majority, which will allow them to fine and arrest homeless people, even if there’s nowhere for them to go. “The Supreme Court today took decisive action that will ultimately make our communities safer,” said Graham Knaus, CEO of the California State Association of Counties.

Newsom, a Democrat who leads a state with nearly 30% of the nation’s homeless population, said the decision gives state and local officials “the definitive authority to implement and enforce policies to clear unsafe encampments from our streets,” ending legal ambiguity that has “tied the hands of local officials for years and limited their ability to deliver on commonsense measures to protect the safety and well-being of communities.”

(Angela Hart/ KFF Health News)

“People lose their medications; they lose track of us.”

Homeless people die at rates two to six times higher than residents living in stable housing, according to a May report from the Los Angeles

This article was produced by KFF Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces indepth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.

Groundbreaking cancer study focuses...

“If government offers people help and they can’t or won’t accept it, there should be consequences. We have laws that need to be used,” said Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, who is an adviser to California Gov. Gavin Newsom on homelessness, comprehensive data collection. But take note: participation in the study involves being studied over many years, not just for a day or so.

UC Irvine. They are focusing on various cancer types prevalent in Asian American communities, including breast cancer among young Asian American women, nasopharyngeal cancer in Chinese Americans, liver cancer in Southeast Asian Americans, gastric cancer in Korean and Japanese Americans and thyroid cancer in Filipino Americans.

How to participate?

The study aims to enroll 20,000 participants this year, with plans to expand to 50,000 in the future. Participants will provide saliva samples and respond to lifestyle inquiries, ensuring

Iona Chen, another principal investigator at UC San Francisco, explains that the study will monitor participants over several years to track cancer development, including types such as lung, breast, gastric and liver cancers.

Eligible participants are adults aged 40 to 75 without a cancer diagnosis. There will also be remote interviews, eliminating the need for participants to travel to study sites and thereby

enhancing convenience and accessibility. This approach enables researchers to gather extensive and detailed information from a diverse group of participants across various regions, contributing to a deeper understanding of cancer risk factors in Asian American communities. If you’re from Southern California, LAist listed the contact information: Cedars-Sinai is enrolling people in LA County at CSCCommunityOutreach@cshs. org, while UC Irvine is enrolling Orange County participants at tanjasir@hs.uci.edu. (Hans Carbonilla/Inquirer.net)

Duterte knows where Quiboloy is, but won’t tell

by diana lhyd SuElto Philstar.com

MANILA — Former President Rodrigo Duterte said he knows where his friend Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy is hiding, but would not say where. “If the question is, ‘Where is pastor?’ I know where, but it’s a secret,” Duterte told reporters on Saturday, June 29 in Tacloban city.

Duterte, administrator of KOJC properties, said Quiboloy, who has standing arrest warrants for sexual and child abuse and human trafficking cases, does not want to surrender.

Duterte, however, refused to comment on this allegation.

“I have a feeling for the military and police. I am pro-police, promilitary,” the former president added. g

“He does not want to surrender. So, don’t surrender,” he added. The police searched the KOJC compound several times in an attempt to serve the arrest warrants against Quiboloy and his co-accused but failed to find him. KOJC members have condemned the latest attempt to serve the warrants, claiming that the police have used excessive force in entering their compounds.

Over 400 ‘unknown tracks’ detected in PH air zone

by dElon PoRcalla

MANILA — More than 400 “unknown tracks” within the Philippines’ air defense identification zone have been detected, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Monday, July 1, crediting the country’s enhanced maritime domain awareness for their detection.

“We have increased our maritime domain awareness by regularly conducting maritime patrol missions (and) monitoring over 400 unknown tracks within the Philippine air defense identification zone,” Marcos said in a speech at the 77th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) in Pampanga.

Marcos did not elaborate on the “unknown tracks,” although he pointed out that assets such as additional aircraft and advanced radar systems have improved the country’s operational readiness as well as its operational reach.

Speaking during the PAF anniversary, Marcos said his administration has been supporting efforts to boost the military’s capabilities like acquiring additional air assets, enhancing cyber warfare communication systems and pursuing base development programs.

“Over the past year, we have made significant steps that complement and boost this administration’s vision for a stronger, more capable Air Force,” the president said.

“Indeed, these assets contribute to an agile Air Force –capable of protecting our nation, our people and our resources;

and dedicated to (ensuring) that we are ready to face challenges with advanced precision, speed and force,” he said. Marcos stressed a stronger Air Force and armed forces would serve as “an instrument for peace and for unity, a catalyst for nation-building and a vanguard of stability.”

He added that vigorous internal security operations resulted in the surrender and neutralization of over 250 members of local insurgency groups.

“We have also heightened our international defense and security engagements by sustaining our talks with our foreign military counterparts and participating in multiple bilateral and multilateral military exercises,” he said. “This is a testament to our stern resolve to contribute to the global peace and security.”

Exemplary Marcos said Air Force personnel have been “exemplary” in their undertakings, especially in providing assistance to the needy and in conducting humanitarian and disaster response operations.

He thanked the PAF for “gallantly embodying the Filipinos’ enduring spirit of freedom.”

“As your commander-inchief, I assure you of this administration’s support in prioritizing your welfare, ensuring that you are well attended to in terms of overall health and wellness so you may perform your duties effectively and safely,” he said. “Let it be known that your unparalleled dedication and noble duty to our nation are hereby recognized.”

During the event, which

took place at the Basa Air Base, Marcos witnessed a live capability demonstration of the PAF’s territorial defense capabilities.

He also led the awarding of PAF personnel who displayed outstanding performance. He was given a brass eagle sculpture memento towards the end of the celebration.

The Air Force was established on July 1, 1947 through Executive Order No. 94.

Speaker Martin Romualdez, who was with the president at the event, assured military leaders of support for the AFP Modernization plan.

“We are committed to providing the necessary legislative support to ensure that the modernization programs and welfare initiatives for our AFP are fully funded and effectively implemented,” he said in a speech.

He said the House stands firmly behind the president’s vision for the armed forces.

“We will continue to work on policies that enhance our defense capabilities, improve the conditions of service for our soldiers and ensure that the Philippines remains safe and secure,” he said, assuring AFP that its programs are fully funded in the annual national budget.

Upgraded Romualdez added that the Marcos administration “has been steadfast in its commitment to enhancing our country’s defense capabilities.”

“We recognize that in this ever-evolving world, our security apparatus must be dynamic, robust and forward-looking. The administration has thus u PAGE 7

Vice President Sara rejects tag as opposition leader

by Edith REgalado Philstar.com

DAVAO CITY — Vice President

Sara Duterte disagreed with claims that she is now the leader of the opposition against the Marcos administration.

Her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, meanwhile said he would not run for a Senate seat in the May 2025 midterm elections, contrary to Sara’s June 25 announcement.

“Based on my work, my character and my principles, I don’t act for the benefit of the administration, or the opposition, or for politics,” the vice president told reporters on Saturday, June 29 in Cebu City.

“I work based on whatever is beneficial to the people, and whatever is rightful to (them),” she added.

The vice president earlier resigned as education secretary and co-vice chair of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

The UniTeam alliance, she said, was a tandem formed only for the 2022 elections.

The Liberal Party has also rejected the idea of Duterte becoming an opposition leader. The LP will field its own senatorial slate in the 2025

midterm elections.

Duterte said she remains focused on her remaining two weeks as outgoing education secretary, stressing that her mind has not yet taken focus on politics.

Last Tuesday, June 25, Duterte said that the former president, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte and Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte intend to run for the Senate in 2025.

Sebastian would run for president in 2028.

“You believed Inday? She made a fool out of you. Where can you see a father and his two sons in the Senate?” the former president said on Saturday at a press conference in Tacloban City.

“I will not return to politics. I’m done. I’m old. I don’t have money to spend. Yabang lang meron ako,” he added.

Filipinos should not believe the vice president because “she is just like me, but I have mellowed down since I’m old,” Duterte said.

As for former Senator Leila de Lima, Duterte said he respects the court’s decision to acquit her in her last drug case.

After her acquittal, De Lima warned Duterte that he would

“pay for his crimes.” Duterte reiterated that the International Criminal Court has no jurisdiction over the Philippines. The vice president spoke of plans to build a senatorial slate for the 2025 polls, which could include Partido Demokratiko Pilipino members.

She founded the regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago, which met great success during the previous midterm elections. No secret fund for OVP No confidential fund has been requested by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for its 2025 budget, Duterte said. In September 2023, the Commission on Audit confirmed that Duterte spent the controversial P125-million confidential funds in 2022 in just 11 days. The OVP and the Department of Education did not pursue their requested P500-million and P150-million confidential and intelligence funds for the 2024 budget, respectively. This decision prompted Congress to allocate these funds for the resolution of the West Philippine Sea issue, as well as peace and order. Duterte’s resignation is effective July 19. g

OPINION FEATURES

Propaganda campaign?

AT the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Filipinos shunned vaccines made in China not because of any propaganda campaign by the West, but because it was a fact that Beijing would not come clean on the origins of the new virus, and refused to submit its vaccines to assessment by an internationally recognized stringent regulatory authority or SRA.

These details are useful to remember before the facts become muddled enough to fit Beijing’s narrative on COVID, whose origins to this day have yet to be officially established, thanks to Chinese stonewalling. In December 2019, ophthalmologist Li Wenliang posted on social media an alert about a new virus that was sickening and killing people in Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei province in central China. Beijing had Li arrested along with seven other COVID whistle-blowers ostensibly for rumor-mongering. In February 2020, Li died of COVID.

Editorial

the World Health Organization finally declared the existence of a pandemic, Duterte imposed one of the most stringent lockdowns in the world. At the same time, his administration busied itself with the multibillion-peso sweetheart deal awarded to Pharmally Pharmaceuticals.

Reinforcing reports that the COVID virus sprung from Wuhan, China became the first to produce vaccines. Without SRA approval, however, people outside China preferred to wait for a peer-vetted vaccine. In December 2020, pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and German firm BioNTech produced such a vaccine for emergency use.

Over in Manila, as reports spread about an emerging pandemic, the administration of Rodrigo Duterte refused to impose travel restrictions on visitors from China. The Philippines’ COVID Patients 1 and 2 were a pair of tourists from Wuhan, recorded as early as Jan. 30, 2020. One became the first confirmed COVID death recorded in the Philippines, on Feb. 1, and the first outside China. Even then, Duterte downplayed the threat, saying the virus would “die a natural death.” When

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. aptly put it during his remarks at the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Western Command in Palawan last Sunday, June 30 that “we are not in the business [of instigating] wars – our ambition is to provide a peaceful and prosperous life for every Filipino.”

Maintaining that the Philippines is a responsible state that will continue to exercise its freedoms and rights in accordance with international law, the president emphasized that “in defending the nation, we stay true to our Filipino nature that would like to settle all these issues peacefully.”

The pride in his voice was unmistakable when he told the troops at WESCOM – the unit tasked to secure the West Philippine Sea: “You demonstrated to the world that the Filipino spirit is one that is brave, determined and yet is compassionate.”

The greatest proof of what kind of people we are is in the over 10 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) deployed in more than 200 countries worldwide that include Saudi Arabia, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. Everywhere they go, OFWs are much appreciated

AFTER several box office letdowns in 2023, Disney can finally breathe a sigh of relief with the recent commercial success of Pixar’s “Inside Out 2.” This sequel to the 2015 animated hit explores the inner workings of a girl’s emotions by following 11-year-old Riley and the various emotions running a command control center inside her head. In the sequel, the original five—Joy, Sadness, Disgust, Anger, and Fear—are joined by new characters as Riley goes through puberty: Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment, and Ennui.

The movie brilliantly illustrates how emotions influence our decision-making. In the past decade, scientists have understood more precisely how emotions aid rational thinking by helping us assess which relevant information to consider,

The country would later find out that the Trump administration, working with Philippine diplomats, had pushed for Pfizer to give priority to the Philippines, with 10 million doses of its prized vaccine ready for delivery as early as January 2021. But Teodoro Locsin Jr., at the time the foreign secretary, said “someone dropped the ball” and the Duterte administration held off on signing a confidential disclosure agreement

for being hardworking, kind and caring.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, admiration and appreciation for OFWs, particularly nurses and health care professionals, poured in from people like British media personality Piers Morgan, who described them as “unsung heroes.”

“Amazing number of Filipinos working in National Health Service are unsung heroes… Thank you to all the Filipinos who are here, doing all this… These are the immigrants currently saving people’s lives, coming here and actually enriching our country and doing an amazing job. So thank you to all the Filipinos who are here doing all these amazing work…” Morgan said.

When former British prime minister Boris Johnson was hospitalized and needed intensive care after contracting COVID-19, he wore a shirt with the word “Philippines” across the chest in what was seen as his subtle way of honoring Filipino nurses and medical professionals who saved his life.

When Hamas militants attacked Jewish communities near the Gaza Strip, OFWs like nurse Angeline Aguirre displayed unbelievable courage and dedication – refusing to abandon her elderly patient, with both perishing in the process. Carer Camille Jesalva also refused to leave her 95-year-old employer.

including potential threats and opportunities. To guide our thought process, different emotions highlight specific details, memories, and beliefs while downplaying others. For example, the feeling of disgust helps us avoid certain situations that might harm us. Imagine discovering a foul-smelling three-week-old milk in your fridge. Disgust kicks in, and you are absolutely sure that you don’t need to taste it before throwing it away.

Emotional intelligence is defined as the ability to understand and monitor one’s feelings and emotions and use the information gathered to guide one’s thinking and actions. The term was first coined in 1990 but it was psychologist and writer Daniel Goleman who brought it to general awareness in 1995. He christened it with its famous shorthand, EQ, and published a book highlighting it as a significant predictor of success. His insights were a stark contrast to the prevailing belief at the time, which solely

sought by Pfizer. The suspicion was that the Duterte administration wanted to first unload the China-donated jabs before allowing the entry of the Pfizer shots. No propaganda machine is needed to tell you that

When Hamas militants broke into the residence, she calmly and bravely faced them, offering all the money she saved for a trip to the Philippines. Camille said she could not have forgiven herself if her employer had died because she abandoned her.

Every visitor who comes to the Philippines says Filipinos are warm, friendly and hospitable. We are a good people – and we are also proud to be regarded as kind, imbued with humanitarian compassion for those who are in need of help. In 1934, during the time of President Manuel L. Quezon, we opened our doors to Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazi purge and made the Philippines a safe haven for them at a time when many other countries turned their backs and closed their doors to a persecuted race. Despite the criticism he received, president Quezon issued Proclamation 173 that has come to be known as the “open door policy” that allowed at least 1,300 European Jews into the Philippines.

Thousands of Vietnamese refugees known as “boat people” who fled during the Vietnam War were also granted asylum to the Philippines on the basis of humanitarian grounds, with the Philippine government during the time of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. upholding the principle of non-refoulement – meaning no refugee was turned away or repatriated back to Vietnam.

put a premium on a person’s IQ levels.

Fast-forward to 2024 and skills related to emotional intelligence have become sought-after qualities in leaders and employees. According to the 2023 World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs 2023 report, organizations are placing increasing importance on socio-emotional attitudes like self-awareness, resilience, curiosity, and flexibility. In a working landscape anticipating massive disruptions due to automation and artificial intelligence, companies seek to build a workforce with high EQ: reflective, adaptive, selfmotivated, and committed to lifelong learning. As a licensed Social Emotional Learning (SEL) trainer for the past seven years, I have noticed that many young people face a significant challenge: they grew up hearing that their feelings are valid, but they were not necessarily taught how to properly assess and manage them, often hindering them

We Filipinos are known for being extremely hospitable, good people – always ready to extend a helping hand and respond to a call for help, sometimes even shedding blood in the process. But when push comes to shove, we step up to the plate, like in the Battle of Yultong in 1951 during the Korean War when the 10th Battalion Combat Team that was part of the 7,500-strong Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea sent by President Elpidio Quirino fiercely resisted the 44th Division of the Chinese Army. During the battle, 900 Filipinos surrounded by thousands of Chinese soldiers lost all contact with the outside world but bravely resisted enemy offensives in two days of fierce fighting – enabling the 65th Infantry Regiment of the U.S. 3rd Infantry to withdraw. When the dust finally settled, 24 Filipinos died but several thousands of the enemy were also killed before reinforcements arrived. The bravery of the “Fighting Filipinos” was such that General Douglas MacArthur was reported to have said, “Give me 10,000 Filipino soldiers and I shall conquer the world!”

Filipinos are unassuming and patient, but it is also in our blood to push back when we are shoved. Whatever freedom we are enjoying today – we fought hard for. We were under Spanish rule for over 300 years when our forefathers waged a war for independence. In the early 1900s,

from being able to choose to respond appropriately. This gap in understanding often results in individuals who constantly let heightened emotions dictate their decisions, using unprocessed feelings to justify inappropriate, unproductive, and destructive behavior.

Emotional intelligence transcends mere awareness of one’s emotions. It encompasses the ability to comprehend the nature of these emotions as well as the proficiency to manage them effectively. The five core SEL competencies are selfawareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decisionmaking. These involve recognizing and regulating emotions, understanding others, building healthy relationships, and making constructive choices. Possessing a high EQ means not only recognizing what you are feeling but also understanding that you wield control over your emotions rather than being controlled by them.

Children need to be taught

we fought the Americans during the Philippine-American War to gain independence, only to suffer during the Japanese occupation. We fought with the Americans against the Japanese invaders during World War 2 until we gained full independence in 1946. Today, we have extremely good relations with Spain as well as the United States and Japan who are our staunch allies – proving once again that we are a peace-loving nation.

President Marcos said “…We will not resort to the use of force or intimidation, or deliberately inflict injury or harm to anyone. But at the same time, we stand firm. Our calm and peaceful disposition should not be mistaken for acquiescence” – because that is precisely the kind of people that Filipinos are. (Philstar.com)

that: Yes, we should name and acknowledge our emotions. BUT it is equally important to understand that our strong feelings can cloud judgment. Our initial emotions often overlook and obscure considerations that a rational mind would take into account, such as our longterm goals, the values we stand for, and the relationships we care about. For example, when someone has road rage, they are so focused on their anger that they fail to weigh whether the traffic inconvenience they were reacting to is enough to justify harming others.

People need to learn how to pause when dealing with heightened emotions and to practice doing activities that will help them calm their emotional mind so that they can also “hear” their rational mind. This way, they can react and decide with greater intention. For parents and teachers who want to learn how to explicitly teach SEL skills to their children and students. I recommend looking into a host of free online resources developed

* * * 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.

* * * babeseyeview@gmail.com

by

Unesco

and CASEL for practical tips and free modules that one could easily integrate into the classroom or at home. While there is an old saying that “Those who can’t, teach,” emotional intelligence is not something one can easily impart unless one makes an active commitment to developing and embodying these skills. Teaching social-emotional attitudes begins with a personal practice: Being more reflective about how we are feeling and being more mindful and deliberate with the way we respond. It is through our continuous growth in this area that we can hope to effectively guide the younger generation toward a more resilient and emotionally intelligent future amid a world increasingly shaped by automation. This skill will serve them (and us) well. (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.

those 10 million Pfizer doses could have drastically cut down the death toll in the lethal Alpha COVID wave in the summer of 2021, when vaccination was just starting in the country and hospitals overflowed with patients. (Philstar.com)

Maintaining that the Philippines is a responsible state that will continue to exercise its freedoms and rights in accordance with international law, the President Ferdinand Marcos Jr emphasized that “in defending the nation, we stay true to our Filipino nature that would like to settle all these issues peacefully.”

Malacañang file photo

PH oldest political prisoner released

by ian laqui Philstar.com

MANILA — The country’s oldest political prisoner has been released from detention on Sunday, June 30 prisoner rights group Kapatid said.

In a press release on Monday, July 1, the group said that Gerardo Dela Peña, 85, was released from the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City on the evening of June 30.

"We are very happy that Tatay Gerry can finally return home to his family and reunite with his wife Pilar in their twilight years. His release is a milestone for human rights campaigns, but also serves as a stark reminder of the obstacles that impede the release of political prisoners," Fides Lim, Kapatid spokesperson said in a statement.

"Tatay Gerry's journey to freedom was very difficult because of systemic challenges and bureaucratic delays. It's concerning why the Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP) could

not immediately implement its own Board Resolution No. OT08-02-2023 allowing executive clemency for prisoners who have reached 70 years old and served ten years of their sentence," he added.

Dela Peña was arrested on March 21, 2013 at the age of 75 in Vinzons, Camarines Norte. He was convicted of murder after he allegedly killed his nephew which he denied.

The New People’s Army admitted to the killing. However, Dela Peña was still convicted and was sentenced to face 12year imprisonment.

According to Kapatid, the Bureau of Pardons and Parole recommended on March 8 that Dela Peña's sentence be commuted to 12 years, in addition to the good conduct time allowance he has earned.

"The fact is, Tatay Gerry had already overserved his commuted sentence, serving exactly 12 years and two months as of June 12, aside from the good conduct time allowance

(GCTA) he accrued. Every additional minute behind bars is a gross injustice for an innocent man," Lim said.

"The release of political prisoner Gerardo Dela Peña is a testament to the power of perseverance, vigilance and community in overcoming challenges. We extend our heartfelt thanks in particular to Justice Secretary Boying Remulla for facilitating his release, the Commission on Human Rights for its unwavering support, and everyone here and abroad who helped in this collective effort," he said.

During Dela Peña’s imprisonment, the Commission on Human Rights and other human rights groups advocated for his release due to his declining health with his losing eyesight and deteriorating hearing.

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice has yet to respond to Philstar.com's request for a comment on Dela Peña’s release. g

Over 400 ‘unknown tracks’ detected in PH...

embarked on a comprehensive modernization program aimed at upgrading our defense systems and ensuring that our armed forces are equipped with the latest technology and resources necessary to meet the challenges of the modern battlefield,” he pointed out.

He pointed out that such commitment is supported by substantial budget allocations for advanced aircraft, cuttingedge radar systems and state-ofthe-art equipment.

“These advancements are not merely for show; they are essential tools that enable our air force to execute its mandate with greater efficiency and effectiveness. They are a testament to our unwavering resolve to safeguard our nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he said.

He said the president and Congress are also looking after the welfare of members of the armed forces.

“Recognizing the immense sacrifices you make, the administration has implemented various programs aimed at improving your living conditions, providing comprehensive health care and ensuring that your

families are well supported.

These measures are in place to ensure that you can perform your duties with peace of mind, knowing that your loved ones are taken care of,” he said.

The House leader thanked the Air Force personnel for their “dedication, bravery and unwavering commitment to duty (that) are the pillars upon which our nation’s security stands.”

The Speaker also acknowledged the PAF’s participation in humanitarian and disaster response operations.

“Your swift and efficient actions during calamities have saved countless lives and provided critical support to communities in distress. These efforts highlight not only your versatility but also your deep commitment to serving the Filipino people in their times of greatest need,” he said.

“Rest assured, the administration and the Filipino people stand firmly behind you, ready to support and uplift you as you continue to protect and serve our country,” he said.

Protection Meanwhile, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) has urged the government to exert greater effort to protect Filipino

fishermen in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) against Chinese aggression.

In a statement dated June 30, the IBP said Filipino fishermen have “the legal right” to ply their trade within the 200-mile Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and that the government is “duty-bound to provide protection” to them.

“The IBP stands with the Filipino fishermen who are only exercising their right to a livelihood inside our own EEZ. The IBP also supports the legitimate stand of the Philippine government in asserting our country’s lawful and sovereign rights over the Philippine EEZ in the WPS,” it said.

The IBP noted that both the Philippines and China are signatories to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which in 1982 granted coastal states sovereign rights over their EEZ, extending up to 200 nautical miles from their baselines, which includes WPS.

The 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration based in The Hague invalidated China’s nine-dash line claim and reaffrmed the Philippines’ maritime entitlements. g

Constitution allows divorce law, says lawmaker

by Ma. Reina Leanne ToLenTino ManilaTimes.net

ALBAY 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman said the 1987 Constitution does not bar the enactment of a divorce bill.

"Nowhere in the present 1987 Constitution and the previous 1935 and 1972 Constitution, and even in the Malolos Constitution, is there a provision which prohibits the Congress from enacting an absolute divorce law," said Lagman, principal author of House Bill 9349, which hurdled the third and final reading at the House of Representatives on May 22.

"Despite the constitutional precepts on the sanctity and inviolability of marriage and protection for the family, the Constitution, by not prohibiting absolute divorce, recognizes that marriage is basically a social institution [that] is vulnerable to human frailties which destroy beyond repair marriages," he said.

"No less than the commissioners of the 1986 Constitutional Commission

led by Fr. Joaquin Bernas had a unanimous consensus that Congress can enact an absolute divorce law," Lagman said.

The 1986 Constitutional Commission drafted the 1987 Constitution. In the Philippines, divorce is not allowed except among Muslims — and this was cited by Lagman.

"Muslim Filipinos who are covered by the Constitution are granted the right to divorce and remarry," he said.

"Moreover, the Family Code itself provides for relative divorce by judicially recognizing the separation of spouses from bed and board without the right to remarry," he said.

"Even the Catholic Church has its own canonical divorce, which is euphemistically called 'dissolution of marriage' based on psychological incapacity," he said.

Lagman said that divorce is not for everyone.

"The overwhelming majority of Filipino couples have happy and enduring marriages. They do not need a divorce law. Divorce

is a new lifeline for unfortunate couples whose marriages have been irremediably destroyed, exposing their children to physical and psychological trauma. It is an option in addition to dissolution of marriage, legal separation and annulment of marriage under the Family Code, all of which are essentially different from the proposed absolute divorce law," he said.

"Divorce rescues unfortunate spouses and their suffering children from a house on fire by having their marriage dissolved under strict judicial scrutiny and awarding custody and support for their children's benefit," he said.

Lagman, an author of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law, said, "The same worn-out argument on unconstitutionality was leveled against the Reproductive Health Law, and the Supreme Court debunked the argument and unanimously upheld the constitutionality on the whole of the Reproductive Health Law in Imbong v. Ochoa." g

Angara open to being DepEd secretary

by CeCille Suerte Felipe Philstar.com

IF offered by President Marcos the job of education secretary, Sen. Sonny Angara said he is likely to take it.

“Yes, I’m open to it in case I’ll be entrusted with it,” Angara said yesterday when asked to comment on reports that he was being considered as secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) to replace Vice President Sara Duterte.

He said “it might be impossible” after all to turn down an offer from the president.

Angara was in Baler, Aurora on Monday, July 1, along with former Senate president Juan Miguel Zubiri and Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, for the 122nd anniversary celebration of the Filipino-Spanish Friendship Day.

“Let’s see if the president needs us, and you know, we’d like to help him also. We’re helping him in the Senate. So, if we can help him in other ways, why not?” Angara added.

Aside from Angara, the other names being considered for the top DepEd post are Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo, Trade Secretary

Alfredo Pascual and Commission on Higher Education chairman Prospero de Vera. Angara, however, clarified that there was no formal offer yet from the Palace but he revealed most of his Senate colleagues were rooting for him. Angara is on the second and last term as senator. His term ends in 2025.

“I have not yet received any offer to be the secretary of education. Maybe President Bongbong needs more time – as he had said – to choose the one he wants for the position,” he said.

Asked what reforms he would like to implement for DepEd if he gets appointed secretary, Angara said “it is still premature and improper” for him to comment about reforming the department.

But he noted the next DepEd chief should focus on improving the quality of education as well as on addressing “resource gaps” such as the shortage of classrooms and textbooks.

Senate President Francis Escudero, Zubiri, Gatchalina, Sen. Joel Villanueva and Sen. Nancy Binay earlier vouched for Angara’s competence to lead the DepEd.

Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. also made his pitch for Angara yesterday.

“He has a grasp and good understanding of the education system – what needs to be done, and how to do it – that’s what the DepEd needs,” Revilla said

“I believe in the capabilities of Sen. Sonny. We’ve long been working together in the Senate on matters involving education. I believe he can lead reforms in our education sector,” Revilla added.

He said Angara’s having led the Senate committee on youth had deepened his understanding of issues relevant to the sector. Meanwhile, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) is reminding President Marcos that his education agenda matters more than the person he will appoint.

“No matter who the President appoints as DepEd secretary, if his main goal is not to raise the country’s status in international tests so that the Filipino worker becomes more marketable to foreign businesses, we will not have a reliable change in education,” ACT chairman Vladimer Quetua said. g

The Asian Journal MDWK

Wednesday JULY 3, 2024

SB19 honored to showcase PH music, culture in ‘The First Take’ appearance

By HannaH MallorCa Inquirer.net

SB19 was honored to represent the Philippines and showcase their vocal prowess in the Japan-based YouTube channel “The First Take,” which aims to show a singer’s abilities in a “single take.”

The P-pop powerhouse appeared on the 449th episode of the music platform, where they did an updated rendition of their smash hit “Gento” on Monday, July 1. SB19 is the first Filipino act and Southeast Asian group to grace the platform.

As in past episodes, SB19, donning casual ensembles, performed in an all-white studio where their singing prowess was recorded in one take.

“It was a true first take. So we were very nervous and overwhelmed, but it was fun

and an amazing experience,” SB19 said of their appearance in a press statement.

“Above all, we are grateful for this opportunity and for being able to represent the Philippines by performing our song here. We are honored to showcase our music and culture to the world through ‘The First Take,’” they continued.

“The First Take” is a Japanbased music outlet that invites artists from around the globe to showcase their music and vocal prowess in one take. Each appearance usually puts the singer on center stage amid a plain background and a microphone.

Popular artists who appeared on the YouTube channel were BTS’ V, Harry Styles, and Avril Lavigne, to name a few.

“Gento,” which was released in May 2023, is included in SB19’s second EP Pagtatag!” that dropped a month later. It became one of the group’s biggest hits to date, which spawned many covers by artists on TikTok and other platforms.

SB19 was recently nominated for the Favorite Asian Act award at the 2024 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards (KCA), where they’re up against K-pop boy group Enhypen, Japanese girl group NiziU, Indonesia’s Tiara Andini, and Malaysia’s Iman Troye.

The P-pop powerhouse debuted in October 2018 with the ballad “Tilaluha.” Composed of Pablo, Josh, Stell, Ken, and Justin, they eventually went on to become the biggest P-pop group in the country.

Dingdong Dantes excited for Marian Rivera’s Cinemalaya entry; won’t join MMFF 2024

By Kristofer Purnell Philstar.com

ACTOR Dingdong Dantes has already laid out his film festival plans for the rest of the year, especially with his wife Marian Rivera headlining a competing movie.

Last June 28 in Manila Hotel, Dingdong confirmed that actors collective Aktor PH — for which

he is the chairman of — officially nominated Vilma Santos-Recto for consideration to become a National Artist.

Dingdong read out the group’s statement backing Vilma’s nomination, citing her six decades in the entertainmeny industry and untarnished record in public service. He also read out a number of her iconic portrayals in

“T-Bird at Ako” and “In My Life” to “Anak” and “Dyesebel,” quipping the latter was familiar as Marian played the mermaid character 35 years after Vilma did.

Speaking to members of the media including Philstar. com, Dingdong expressed his excitement for Marian’s upcoming film “Balota” at this year’s Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, echoing what she said previously about bringing out a different kind of dramatic acting from her.

Marian previously appeared in the 2013 Cinemalaya film “Ekstra,” which was coincidentally headlined by Vilma, who won that year’s Best Actress plum.

Dingdong then shared he wouldn’t have a film competing at the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) this December in order to spend time with his and Marian’s kids.

“Babawi kami kina Zia and Sixto,” the actor explained.

At the last MMFF, Dingdong and Marian starred in “Rewind,” which is now the highestgrossing Filipino movie of all time.

Manny Castañeda remembered by celebrities, friends in showbiz

By HannaH MallorCa Inquirer.net

MANNY Castañeda, who made a name for himself as an actor and filmmaker, was remembered by close friends and colleagues in the entertainment industry, following his death.

Castañeda’s passing was confirmed by his close friend, Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) chair and CEO Jose Javier “Joey” Reyes on Monday, July 1, who thanked the screen veteran and director for his friendship that spanned six decades. According to Reyes, Castañeda died at the age of 69 and had been diagnosed

In the comments of Reyes’ post, fellow celebrities such as Franco Laurel, Agot Isidro, Mel Kimura, and Vickie Rushton, paid tribute to Castañeda, saying his life and legacy will remain.

Entertainment publicist Noel Ferrer also took to his Facebook page to share some of his favorite memories with Castañeda, while looking at their many “misadventures” through the years.

“And because of your BFF Joey Javier Reyes, we grew even closer, attending special gatherings and yes, you were the life of [every] party,” he wrote. “Oh Manny, we may have differed in our political Continued on Page 9

This 25-year-old Filipina is the latest in the line of

cover artists-turned-hitmakers

By Carl Martin agustin Inquirer.net

WE’RE all to some extent afraid of failure. Whatever the reason may be, the fear of not living up to expectations can be paralyzing. After all, one can’t fail when there’s nothing to fail in. As talented as she is, even Aika Zabala felt the very same.

You’ve probably already come across her TikToks and fallen in love with her voice and undeniable charm. Zabala, better known as A!ka (stylized as a!ka), is a pop/R&B singer-songwriterproducer. The 25-year-old took up theater arts at UP Diliman but unfortunately dropped out due to personal and financial reasons. Since then, she has taken the internet by storm with covers done with a unique personal twist.

Just last week, after a little over a year of posting covers, she released her first original song, “Leave a Message.” Co-produced with her sister Karina (who goes by allthatkaz), who made the initial instrumental, the brand new track is all about moving on from and leaving behind a relationship. And while a!ka drew from the experiences of a prior heartbreak, the song is much more than an airing out of unexpressed feelings. It is a testament to and an affirmation of her capabilities as an original artist.

Here, we caught up with a!ka to talk about “Leave a Message,” her experiences as a content creator, and her journey from covers to original music. And quite frankly, it’s not often an artist gets to debut with the following a!ka has. With hundreds of thousands of followers and millions of views and likes across multiple platforms—and that’s even before her debut single—there’s a lot to look forward to from one of OPMs biggest up-and-comers.

How did you get into music?

I’m from a family of musicians and I’ve loved to sing and dance ever since I was young. My parents also signed me up for a lot of singing contests and workshops. But at that time, if you wanted to succeed, you had to be a biritera. So when I was a kid, I tried to fit into that mold but couldn’t because the pressure was too much.

And over time, my voice also evolved into

something much softer, and I couldn’t really fit into that any longer. I had sort of accepted the fact that maybe singing was just not for me— that I’m not cut out for a biritera career. So, I decided to switch to musical theater and acting. This time, I was also doing a lot of freelance singing projects, and I was a vocalist for several sync licensing clients. But throughout that time, the initial dream of being my own artist had sort of taken a backseat. That changed during the pandemic when I wrote my first song through my sister’s beat. That pretty much triggered my new soulsearching process, and I eventually started learning music production and posting on TikTok, and thus, found my way back into music. You started music production during the

Continued on Page 11

Eraserheads to bring iconic OPM sounds to Pechanga on July 19

TEMECULA – After delivering an incredible concert last year, Filipino rock legends Eraserheads are returning to Pechanga Resort Casino on Friday, July 19, 2024, at 8 p.m. for a can’t-miss evening of their biggest hits and beloved OPM classics. This follows their sold-out performance at the resort last year, which left fans wanting more.

As part of their highly anticipated Huling El Bimbo World Tour 2024, Eraserheads will perform their greatest hits, including “Ang Huling El Bimbo,” which won the International Viewer’s Choice Award for MTV Asia in 1997 and the “Awit (Song) Award” for most downloaded song.

One of the most influential and successful bands in Philippine music history, Eraserheads spearheaded the iconic Manila rock invasion of the 1990s. Led by Ely Buendia on vocals/guitar, Raymund Marasigan on drums, Buddy Zabala on bass, and Marcus Adoro on guitar, their unique sound blended rock and pop, capturing the hearts of fans around the world with their energetic live performances.

Formed in 1989 at the University of the Philippines, Eraserheads quickly gained a cult following with their smart songwriting and unconventional style. Their breakout 1993 album Ultraelectromagneticpop! containing hits like “Tindahan ni Aling Nating” propelled them to mainstream success.

1994’s Cutterpillow went multi-platinum, becoming a mainstay in Pinoy music, selling over 400,000 units in the Philippines and remains the fifth biggest-selling album in OPM history. Now reunited, Eraserheads are hitting the road again to perform their iconic catalog of songs that defined OPM for a generation. Don’t miss your chance to experience these musical legends live at Pechanga

Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera

Photo from Instagram/@dongdantes

SB19 members (from left) Justin, Stell, Josh, Pablo, and Ken in a promo photo for “The First Take.” Photo courtesy of The First Take

Manny Castañeda IMDb photo

Bea Alonzo and Carla Abellana as Sam and George in ‘Widows’ War.’ GMA photos

No competition between Bea and Carla in ‘Widows’ War’

By Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net

FOR the first time ever, two of Philippine entertainment’s queens come together in the newest murder mystery drama, “Widows’ War.”

Starring Box-Office Queen Bea Alonzo and Primetime Goddess Carla Abellana, these two actresses are set to captivate audiences in their first-ever teleserye together, a project they have long dreamed of sharing.

During the press conference for the upcoming series, Abellana expressed her excitement about working with Alonzo, saying she never thought she would reach a point in her career where she would finally get to work with her idol. “I always get starstruck when doing scenes with her. It’s the truth. My goodness! She is everything I imagined her to be and more. She’s passionate, dedicated to her craft, knows even the smallest details, kind, easy to get along with, never complains, very patient, and, of course, incredibly talented,” said Abellana. Alonzo, equally thrilled, spoke highly of her co-star saying, “I’m glad to have finally worked with Carla because she is very professional, a generous actress, and very gracious. I think she’s a gentle soul, and I’m glad I got to know her better,” she said. Abellana also discussed their working dynamics, saying things went smoothly from the start. She emphasized that there was no issue of “upstaging” between her and Alonzo, as they both bring their own unique qualities to the table.

“Right off the bat, there was no awkwardness. I wouldn’t say we clicked immediately, but we didn’t have a hard time adjusting to each other’s techniques, processes, and timing,” Abellana said.

“Surprisingly, we had scenes, like fight scenes, where we had stunt directors and stuntmen teaching us, but most of them were impromptu. We just flowed together naturally,” she added.

Based on the original concept of RJ Nuevas and Ken De Leon, “Widows’ War” revolves around Sam (Alonzo) and George (Abellana), former best friends who will go head-to-head to find out who between them is the real sinner or saint.

Sam and George blame each other for an unfortunate event their families experience and everything that follows. Soon, they cross paths again while mourning their husbands. Their sanity and reputation are put at risk when they become suspects in the sudden deaths of Paco and Basil.

Continued on Page 10

How Barbie Forteza is able to resist David Licauco’s charms

By MarInel Cruz Inquirer.net

I CONSIDER being with him my safe space,” said Barbie Forteza of on-screen partner David Licauco, as a way to explain how they’ve managed to remain good friends even though their supporters continue to “ship” them romantically.

Barbie has been dating fellow GMA 7 artist Jak Roberto since 2017. Her love team with David was formed after they received rave reviews for their portrayals in the 2022 period drama series “Maria Clara at Ibarra.”

“It’s a big factor that David and I are really good friends. I’m the type of girl who, once I already consider a guy as part of the gang, it’s already hard for me to see him as someone more than that. I’m glad that I’ve met a person in David that I now consider my safe space. I don’t want to risk losing that by deciding to take the relationship to the next level,” Barbie told Inquirer

Entertainment

Barbie said another factor is that she already feels “very secured” in her relationship with Jak. “This isn’t the first love team that I’ve become a part of. I feel like, over the years, I’ve gotten used to working with a partner. To me, it’s just work, and as a professional, I know that the romantic feeling doesn’t have to be real all the time,” she pointed out.

Reel-life romance

As advice to younger actors who are also trying to manage their reel-life romance, Barbie said: “I have nothing against love-team partners who eventually end up dating each other in real life. My advice is to not give in to the pressure. If you fall in love, it should happen naturally, and not because you’re both pressured to get into a relationship as a consequence of being in a love team.”

She continued: “It’s better if you separate your romantic relationship from your professional life. It’s hard when two partners become a romantic couple and then experience lovers’ quarrel on the set.”

Between her and David, Barbie is more experienced when it comes to managing the demands of show biz. She has been working as an actress for over 15 years, and claims to already know “when to be sociable and when to demand for my personal space.”

She added that David would personally seek her

advice on this, “because he is very much willing to adjust [in order] to stay long in this industry. I always remind him that his other businesses will benefit if he does well in show business. His [restaurant] business is the one thing that he is really passionate about. I guess he understood what I was telling him, so he adjusted accordingly.”

Barbie continued: “I help him by always trying to make him feel comfortable around me. I’m never demanding, but I encourage him to share more of what’s on his mind to people. I understand him because his popularity happened so suddenly for him, and telling people that he wasn’t prepared for it is not a valid excuse.”

‘Our comfort zone’ David, on the other hand, would often encourage Barbie to put up a business of her own, the actress said.

“Surprisingly, the advice he gave me was something that I’m already practicing whenever I create characters

for the projects I’m involved in. He told me, ‘Always know your whats and whys. Why do you want to put up this particular business? What made you decide to invest here?’ I do the same thing with the characters I create. I would ask, ‘What is your character’s personality and her family background? Why does she behave this way?’ It’s good to know that business and acting are quite similar. That felt kind of reassuring,” the actress said. Meanwhile, Barbie said she was pleased that her first big-screen project with David, titled “That Kind of Love,” is a romantic comedy “that is right within our comfort zone.” She added: “We are both fans of rom-coms. I was also surprised to learn about this from David. This was why work had been easy and enjoyable for us. Also, it’s our first time working with Direk Catherine Camarillo and Pocket Media Productions. It was a happy and memorable experience for us. They were all very

Manny Castañeda remembered by celebrities...

From Page 8

beliefs, but we remained friends.”

Meanwhile, singer Richard Reynoso recalled the time when Castañeda was a writer of “The Sharon Cuneta Show,” saying he always enjoyed his “little banter” with the actor-director behind the scenes.

“I remember Manny Catañeda as a writer of ‘The Sharon Cuneta Show’ back in the day whenever I was fortunate enough to get invited to sing to promote a movie or record album. I enjoyed our little banter which made my guesting more enjoyable,” he said.

“Manny was a person full of life. Anyone would easily be magnified by his lively personality and funny anecdotes. It was truly an honor knowing you Direk Manuel Castaneda. Rest now in God’s loving arms,” he further added.

On Facebook, celebrity photographer Niccolo Cosme remembered how Castañeda was an “animated fairy godmother” behind the scenes, where they would always exchange lighthearted conversations whenever they ran into each other.

“He was a big part of my formative

years as a young gay man. Ang ganda ng observations ko sa buhay nila noon as a thriving gay person in society at yung buhay naming (then) bagets na witness ng birth of the internet,” he said.

“I am very fortunate to have had him in my life. As a young gay man ang dami kong natutunan from our fairy god mothers, madami akong natutunan from Manny.”

Castañeda started his entertainment career as a cast member in the 1979 “Aliw.” He has since appeared in several TV series and films through the years.

Barbie Forteza with David Licauco, collectively known as BarDa.

Photo courtesy of Pocket Media Productions

Continued on Page 10

Binibining Pilipinas 2024: Seasoned aspirants, national winners try luck

By Armin P. AdinA Inquirer.net

THE Binibining

Pilipinas pageant is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, and seasoned aspirants have enlisted for a chance to be included in the elite roster of queens, among them are returnees and those who have already claimed titles in other competitions.

Trisha Martinez from Pila, Laguna, and Shaira Rona from Mandaluyong have returned to give another shot at finally becoming Bb. Pilipinas queens, while Bulacan’s Samantha Acosta has crossed over from the Miss Philippines Earth pageant. Also joining the national pageant’s milestone edition is

Rizal’s Flordeliz Mabao, who was crowned Miss Scuba Philippines in 2019, and finished third in the 2019 Miss Scuba international pageant. Tarlac’s Vera Dickinson, meanwhile, was second runnerup in the 2022 Miss Aura Philippines pageant. Representing Lapu-Lapu City in the 2024 Bb. Pilipinas pageant is 2022 Hiyas ng Pilipinas Tourism Queen International Phoebe Godinez, while Calamba, Laguna, is fielding 2023 Miss Rotary and 2021 Miss Bikini Philippines first runner-up Vienne Feucht. Martinez has some unfinished business to settle. She was already supposed to represent the country in an international competition after earning the Miss Philippines Tourism crown in the 2021 Miss

World Philippines pageant, but her global tilt did not push through. She inched closer to another opportunity to raise the Philippine flag abroad when she cracked the Top 11 in the 2023 Bb. Pilipinas pageant, where she was also “Best in Evening Gown.”

“All beauty queens dream of representing the Philippines internationally. So that’s why I’m here. I’m trying my luck. I’m trying, hoping I’d be destined to be able to represent the Philippines in an international stage,” she told INQUIRER.net in an interview.

For Mabao, Binibining Pilipinas is the reason she got into pageantry in the first place. “Ten years ago, before my mother passed because of breast cancer, she told me that she wanted me to join Bb. Pilipinas. So that’s why I started joining beauty pageants. And finally, here, after 10 years, I’m in Bb. Pilipinas,” she said. Acosta, meanwhile, said she resonated with the national pageant’s thrust. “I’ve always had the heart towards children, and I’m very much happy that BPCI’s (Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc.) vision is the same as my advocacy, Harvesting HOPE (Helping Others Pursue Empowerment). And I’m really looking forward to more of our charity events with Binibini,” she said.

Two winners will be crowned and will be proclaimed Bb. Pilipinas International and Bb. Pilipinas Globe, and they will take home P1 million each, and earn the right to represent the Philippines in the 63rd Miss International pageant next year, and The Miss Globe 2024 contest later this year.

The 60th Binibining Pilipinas Grand Coronation Night will be held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum at the Araneta City in Quezon City on July 7, Sunday. Phenomenal P-Pop boy group SB19 will return to the pageant stage, with Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano also set to perform.

And like in the last three editions, an all-female hosting team will handle the ceremonies this year, and will be composed of 2014 Bb. Pilipinas Universe MJ Lastimosa, 2016 Miss Grand International first runner-up Nicole Cordoves, 2016 Miss International Kylie Verzosa, and 2018 Miss Universe Catriona Gray.

The four Binibining Pilipinas queens will also be joined by more than a hundred of their Binibini sisters for a grand reunion of queens on stage, the magnitude never before seen on any pageant here or anywhere else.

Dealing with assets omitted in a divorce case

Barrister’s Corner

Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes

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

The answer can be found in California Family Code §2556 California Family Code §2556 provides “In a proceeding for dissolution of marriage, for nullity of marriage, or for legal separation of the parties, the court has continuing jurisdiction to award community estate assets or

community estate liabilities to the parties that have not been previously adjudicated by a judgment in the proceeding.”

California Family Code §2556

Even if the parties did not expressly reserve jurisdiction on that piece of asset, the Court retains the power to divide a specific property if there is a community interest in it.

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

divide and adjudicate the portion that has been omitted postjudgment under family code §2566. Community Property adjudicated under § 2556 shall be divided equally “unless the court finds upon good cause shown that

Ryan Bang gets engaged to non-showbiz girlfriend Paola Huyong

By KAthleen A. llemit Philstar.com

IT’S Showtime” host Ryan Bang is now engaged to his non-showbiz girlfriend Paola Huyong. Huyong posted on her Instagram photos of their engagement with the caption “God is good.”

The photos show Ryan falling down on his knees, presenting the engagement ring to an ecstatic Paola. There is also a close-up photo of the engagement ring and Ryan’s handwritten card for Paola thanking her for saying yes to his proposal.

In an interview with Philstar. com during the opening of his restaurant Paldo last February, Ryan talked about his plans with

Paola. “Siyempre, hindi naman ako mag-girlfriend kung (walang balak mag-asawa). I’m more than 30 plus years na e. Hindi naman ako mag-girlfriend kung wala akong plano para sa kanya,” Ryan said.

Siyempre, meron akong plans sa future namin ng girlfriend ko. Ayoko lang puro salita, ayoko lang ng sweet. Gusto ko talagang ipakita by action,” he added. The two met during a football game.

How Barbie Forteza is able to resist David...

From Page 9

professional and hardworking. It was obvious that they all love what they’re doing. Everyone was very passionate.”

In “That Kind of Love,” Barbie plays Mila, a love coach who takes it upon herself to find a romantic partner for

David’s character, Adam, who is self-absorbed and distant.

“This is my most sophisticated role so far. I usually play characters who are young and bubbly and sweet. Mila is career-oriented. She helps people find their match or arrange for them to get the

guy or girl they are pining for. She considers herself good at her job until she meets Adam, who thinks he is Mr. Perfect. She vows to find Adam a match without realizing that she is slowly falling in love with him,” Barbie explained.

No competition between Bea...

From Page 9

As the two widows try to clean their own names, Sam and George uncover a web of lies and deceit. Will they choose to bring each other down or will they become allies to solve the murder mystery? Who can they trust when everyone seems to have a motive? Are Sam and George truly innocent?

This GMA Entertainment Group’s latest

masterpiece boasts of a powerhouse ensemble, including Tonton Gutierrez, Jeric Gonzales, Juancho Triviño, Jackie Lou Blanco, Lito Pimentel, Timmy Cruz, Rita Daniela, Royce Cabrera, Lovely Rivero, James Graham, Charlie Flemming, Matthew Uy, and Jean Garcia. Joining the star-studded cast in their special roles are Benjamin Alves as Basil Palacios, the competitive husband of George, and Rafael Rosell as Paco Palacios, Sam’s loving husband.

Binibining Pilipinas candidates #30 Trisha Martinez (Pila, Laguna); #39 Flordeliz Mabao (Rizal); #36 Samantha Acosta (Bulacan); #4 Shaira Rona (Mandaluyong); #14 Vienne Feucht (Calamba, Laguna); #26 Phoebe Godinez (Lapu-Lapu City); and, #34 Vera Dickinson (Tarlac). Photo by Armin P. Adina

Ryan Bang proposes to non-showbiz girlfriend Paola Huyong. Photo from Instagram/@ryanbang

pandemic. Why did you choose to commit to both singing and producing?

I got into music production because I kept seeing my sister do it. Initially, it was very intimidating. What helped was that I realized I was already doing it through vocal arrangements. And so, whenever I watched her use synths and all these virtual instruments, I noticed that it was pretty much the same concept.

As for the reason why I decided to pursue both singing and music production, it’s because I felt like I boxed myself by sticking to just singing for a very long time. It was only when I questioned that identity that I felt more free.

“I had sort of accepted the fact that maybe singing was just not for me—that I’m not cut out for a biritera career.”

Who are your musical inspirations?

My three long-standing musical inspirations are Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, and Lea Salonga. I looked up to Ms. Lea for the longest time and being like her was my first dream.

Who do you look to for music production?

My first teacher was really my sister. But in terms of music production style, I’d say I listen to a lot of Ariana Grande and I love her blend of pop and R&B, together with some orchestral and musical theater elements.

How did you get into content creation?

I was always singing other people’s songs. It didn’t feel like I was working on any project that I was proud to put out. I felt a lot of creative burnout. That led to content creation because it was a way to keep myself accountable to keep learning music production. Initially, the concept was going to be, “This is day one of me learning music production,” but I scrapped it.

As a content creator, you could have done pretty much anything, but why covers?

I started with covers because I hadn’t really explored the songwriting world. To me, covers were a safe space—you could ease into finding your style through the songs you already love.

My first couple of covers were pretty similar to the reference. As it went on, it started getting more and more different from the original. That’s what gradually allowed me to figure out the style I wanted for my songs. I also did translated covers because I found that they’re great songwriting exercises.

“I was always singing other people’s songs. It didn’t feel like I was working on any project that I was proud to put out. I felt a lot of creative burnout.”

Do you have a favorite cover?

My favorite so far is “I Won’t Say (I’m in Love)” because I grew up on a lot of Disney and musical theater so that’s very close to my heart. What about a cover you’re looking forward to doing?

To be honest, lately, I haven’t been thinking of the covers I want to do because the urgent item has been writing more originals.

Can you tell us about your debut single?

My debut single is titled “Leave a Message.” I wrote it in 2022. It started out as I was updating my portfolio as a vocalist. And then my sister, who is a music producer, I asked her if I could borrow a beat that I could sing on. Initially, I didn’t really think much of it, but then when I let

her hear it, she told me that I had to release it. Though, that took a while because I had stuck myself into the box of “I’m just a singer.” But, that also kickstarted this whole identity shift from just a singer to a singer-songwriterproducer that eventually gave me the confidence to release this song. Now that you’ve gone to doing originals, before that, would you say you were lacking confidence in yourself?

I definitely lacked confidence in writing my songs. Every time I would write before, I never took it seriously. I was scared that it was going to suck. I was deeply afraid of failure. The mentality was, “I can’t write a bad song if I don’t write one.” That was the lack of confidence I was dealing with before I found confidence and the belief that I could actually do it.

“Every time I would write before, I never took it seriously. I was scared that it was going to suck. I was deeply afraid of failure. Essentially, the mentality was, ‘I can’t write a bad song if I don’t write one.’”

When did you know that you could do it?

When I wrote “Leave a Message.” It was the first fully fleshed [out] idea I’d ever had that didn’t sound like an ad-lib. The top lines I thought of before were like that because I was very used to doing them.

And a lot of what makes a solid song structure is that it has a consistent pattern. It has some repetition, nice recall, and a good balance of variety. Before, it was all variety. There was no pattern, there was no repetition. But when I wrote “Leave a Message,” I got to prove myself wrong. How does “Leave a Message” represent a!ka and how do you see it as your introduction to the world?

Sonically, it’s a good starting point for me to demonstrate the genres and styles I want to explore, which is a blend of pop, R&B, and musical theater.

Lyrically, I wanted to write a song about how even if you have to leave certain things from your past behind to move forward on your own, ultimately, you’ll be okay.

I’ll survive just fine On my own

So leave a message At the tone

And I think that also relates to my journey as an artist. This all really started with me letting go of my old self-limiting beliefs and discovering a new version of myself. That’s also why the “I” in my artist name is upside down. It’s because I flipped my identity upside down and found an exclamation point, which is a symbol of newfound passion and growth.

“This all really started with me letting go of my old self-limiting beliefs and discovering a new version of myself.“

What do you want a!ka to be known for?

Since I’m coming from covers, I would love to redefine that and build my own sound as an original artist. I’d love to reach a global audience and do my part in showing the world what local Filipino talents have to offer.

Ultimately, I also hope to inspire other independent musicians—especially aspiring female artists in a male-dominated field like music production—to redefine their capabilities and push the envelope.

Bea Alonzo’s camp decries ‘harassment’ in labor case filed by former driver

Ex-employee is ‘lover’ of one of respondents in suit filed by actress, says lawyer

THE camp of Bea Alonzo hit back at the labor case filed by her former driver, Efren Torres Delos Reyes Jr., who was seeking back payment of his salary and alleging maltreatment and illegal dismissal against the actress.

Delos Reyes filed a complaint before the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), citing alleged lapses on his 13th-month pay, overtime pay, holiday pay, maltreatment, illegal dismissal, and lack of separation pay on Thursday, June 27, according to a report by Cristy Fermin on her program Cristy Ferminute.

“Lehitimong balita po ito dahil ang dati pong driver ni Bea Alonzo… naghain na po ng kaso si Efren Torres Delos Reyes, Jr. sa NLRC Department of Labor and Employment,” Fermin said. “Bibigyan po sila ng pagkakataong magkausap at magkita sa gitna dahil napakarami po ng reklamong isinumite nitong si Efren Torres.”

(This news is legit. Bea Alonzo’s former driver, Efren Torres Delos Reyes, Jr., complained to the Department of Labor and Employment’s NLRC. They will be given a chance to talk things through and meet halfway because Efren Torres has a lot of complaints.)

Reacting to the complaint, Alonzo’s lawyer Joey Garcia pointed out that Delos Reyes had previously admitted to being a “lover” of one of the respondents in the criminal cases that she filed, though the statement did not provide information as to who his lover was.

“Since he (Delos Reyes) was made a witness to one of the respondents among the criminal cases we filed, not to mention him being a lover

as admitted, then the intent behind said filing and the timeliness of such filing are too obvious not to be noticed,” the statement of Alonzo’s counsel read.

“His acknowledgment of being involved as a lover clearly magnifies his bias and undermines his credibility which yet again puts into question or doubt the true intent behind his & her lover-respondent’s legal maneuvers.”

Garcia further said Delos Reyes only served as the “service driver” of Alonzo’s family for three months. He added that he was neither the actress’ personal driver nor he assisted her in her “professional engagements.”

He also found the timing of Delos Reyes’ complaint and Fermin’s report to be “highly suspect,” and appeared to be geared towards harassing Alonzo.

“For the record, Mr. Delos

Reyes only served as service driver of the family and only for a short period of three months. He was not even assigned as Bea’s personal driver, for her professional engagements. Thus, his claims seem farfetched, unreasonable, if not unrealistic. It’s nothing but a pure harassment case, a desperate attempt to sponge off, an obvious act capitalizing on the criminal case,” said Garcia.

Delos Reyes’ camp has yet to make a public statement addressing the formal complaint, as of press time.

Back in May, Alonzo filed three separate cyberlibel complaints against Fermin, entertainment insider Ogie Diaz, and their respective co-hosts in their show biz programs.

Diaz filed a counter-affidavit and a complaint for perjury and damages against Alonzo last June 18. (By Hannah Mallorca/ Inquirer.net)

Bea Alonzo

Photo from Instagram/@beaalonzo