Fil-Am leaders condemn Trump assassination attempt, call for unity
NEW YORK CITY — Just two days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, a horrific incident took place in Butler, Pennsylvania. On Saturday afternoon, July 13, during a campaign rally for Donald Trump, gunfire was aimed at the former president in what the FBI described as an assassination attempt. Reports indicate that the shooter was neutralized, and Trump, who survived the shooting, is safe and looking forward to attending the convention.
“This is a very sad day for our nation,” Ron Falconi, the Fil-Am mayor of Brunswick, Ohio, told Inquirer.net USA. “My prayers go out to President Trump and his family. We should also pray for the rally-goer who was killed, as well as those who were injured in the assassination attempt.”
According to Mayor Falconi, the attacks against Donald Trump are unparalleled in American history. “He has faced relentless media scrutiny since announcing his candidacy for the 2016 presidential
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How Medi-Cal is helping California’s growing older and disabled adults
FOR the over six million Californians aged 65 and over, and the over seven and a half million with a disability, getting the care they need has not always been easy.
To help these Californians live healthier lives in their own communities, MediCal — California’s version of Medicaid — has new programs including integration with Medicare; elimination of asset limits restricting eligibility; enhanced care management; and expanded community services like housing aid and healthy meals.
At a Wednesday, July 10 Ethnic Media Services briefing, Department of Health Care Services officials and community health care providers explained what new programs are available to older and disabled Californians, how they’re implemented on the ground and how these programs are changing lives.
An overview
Nearly 6 million Californians, or 15% of the state’s population, were aged 65 and older as of 2021 according to the U.S.
Marcos on Trump assassination attempt: ‘We condemn violence’
PNP intensi es hunt for Quiboloy, others
by MARK ERNEST VILLEZA Philstar.com
MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) is intensifying its efforts to locate and arrest persons wanted in the case involving Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Apollo Quiboloy and four others.
“Our search for the remaining wanted persons in the case of Quiboloy and his associates is ongoing,” PNP spokesperson
Col. Jean Fajardo said during a press briefing at Camp Crame on Monday, July 15.
Fajardo added that the recent arrest of Pauline Canada, a co-accused in the case, is a positive development that indicates the PNP is receiving the right information.
“Our hotline is very active and we are
getting numerous tips, though we need to vet this information carefully. Some may be accurate, but others might be intended to mislead us,” Fajardo said. She urged the public to cooperate by providing any information, giving assurance that their identity and security would be protected.
“We are not limited to their (Quiboloy and co-accused) known addresses. We are also investigating other potential areas where they might be staying or visiting,” Fajardo said.
On Canada’s custody, Fajardo said the PNP is still waiting for a court order, noting that the warrant of arrest was already returned to the Pasig Regional Trial Court.
In the meantime, Canada remains in the custody of the PNP Criminal Investigation
Vice President Sara Duterte showing her desire for presidency this early – lawmaker
by DELON PORCALLA Philstar.com
MANILA — It may have been a slip of the tongue. The cat, nevertheless, is out of the bag, so to speak.
By mentioning the Netflix series
“Designated Survivor,” Vice President Sara Duterte has revealed – wittingly or unwittingly – that she really wants the presidency this early, or four years away from the next presidential elections, according to a lawmaker.
“Now, the true intentions and personality of VP Duterte are becoming clearer to us,”
House Deputy Speaker David Suarez said.
“Offhand, the VP’s statements are not what we expected from someone holding the second highest office in the land,” Suarez added.
At the same time, the representative of the second district of Quezon province also noted that Duterte’s comment “seems to reinforce a growing belief that her past display of unity with President Marcos was merely superficial.” Duterte was Marcos’ running mate in the May 9, 2022 presidential election under the UniTeam party.
Another administration stalwart, House
MEDENILLA AJPress
as
Belmont, 49, also
has been charged with murder and
Dandan, who fell onto the platform and sustained severe head injuries, was rushed to the hospital, where she later died.
“Life will never be the same,” the victim’s nephew, Dr. Alvin
train in San Francisco earlier this month was honored by her family and friends, and hailed by community leaders as the face of hardworking immigrants who supported their families. The Newall Chapel at the Cypress Lawn Funeral Home in Colma was packed with people whose lives were touched by 76-year-old Corazon Dandan, who died on
Vice President Sara Duterte
Fil-Am leaders condemn Trump assassination...
election. Consider this: He has been impeached twice, and his political opponents have used the courts to entangle him legally, hindering his campaign efforts. He has been convicted of 34 felonies, with more legal battles still ahead. He is looking at the possibility of jail time.
Now, he has become the target of an assassination attempt!
When will this end? It is painfully obvious that his adversaries will stop at nothing to defeat him.
This is why Trump’s followers look up to him. It seems like he is willing to take a bullet for us.
He was trying to make a political speech, and someone wanted to kill him for it.”
Trump issued the following statement after the incident:
“I want to thank the United States Secret Service and all of Law Enforcement for their rapid response to the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania. Most importantly,
I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the rally who was killed and to the family of another person who was badly injured. It is incredible that such an act can take place in our country. Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead. I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong when I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
‘Sympathy is power’
“Today’s assassination attempt on former President Trump and current Republican Presidential nominee is a criminal act that must be condemned by every American, regardless of political affiliation,” said a cancer survivor and co-founder of Filipino American Cancer Care
based in Virginia. Maria Luna Orth, a FilAm Republican from Seattle, criticized the security at the rally.
“The security at the rally was not properly secured and verified. They were one inch away from a bullet through his brain. Now they have made President Trump a martyr. And no one can beat a martyr. That was a total of eight rounds of gunshots! Even people who were on the fence about Trump now sympathize with him. Sympathy is power! Trump will win in red waves. Thank God President Trump was not killed. This country would never be the same if Trump was killed today! July 13th will be remembered for thanking God for saving Trump’s life!” she said.
The Filipino American Democratic Club of New York issued a statement condemning the political violence in Pennsylvania.
“FADCNY strongly condemns the act u PAGE 5
Marcos on Trump assassination...
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violence. The voice of the people must always remain supreme,” he added.
According to media reports, the 78-year-old former president was rushed off stage with blood streaked across his face after the shooting, while the gunman and a bystander were killed and two spectators were critically injured.
U.S. President Joe Biden said the attack was “sick,” adding that “no place in America for this kind of violence.”
Biden is set to face Trump in the election this November. g
PNP intensifies hunt for Quiboloy...
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and Detection Group.
Addressing concerns about Quiboloy’s loyal supporters potentially obstructing law enforcement efforts, Fajardo explained that the PNP “anticipated the potential interference.”
Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos on Monday clarified that the P10-million bounty being offered for the arrest of Quiboloy is still in the hands of the sponsors of the reward money.
“I do not have the money, just to be clear on that. It is in the possession of people who are offering the bounty. It was not given to me,” Abalos said in a chance interview at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
Ferdinand Topacio, Quiboloy’s lead lawyer, earlier said the P10-million reward being offered by Abalos violates Republic Act 6713, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for government officials and employees.
But Abalos countered, saying that in 2017 Topacio also raised a reward.
“For those (more donors) who want to help, I told them to personally announce to avoid controversy. But the best help will be the information (to locate Quiboloy),” Abalos said.
He defended the decision of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to allow donations for the
reward against Quiboloy, saying funding from the government can be used for other purposes.
“We can source it (reward) from our budget, but we can use the money for other uses and operations within the government,” Abalos said.
He noted that the DILG and PNP have received information on the possible location of Quiboloy.
“There were already sightings on his possible location,” he said, refusing to disclose where this is exactly. He added that the tips need to be filtered as some are meant to mislead.
Abalos also said it is possible that Quiboloy has already left the country.
“Anything is possible. It is not impossible when one is hiding. It can be far or near but we verify all of these. One thing I could assure those who are listening, despite the criticisms, we are just doing our jobs since there is a warrant of arrest. We need to serve the warrant. It’s as simple as that,” he stressed. g
“One thing is certain, there is a lot of information, many are working. The police and military are working together, so all of the things (on Quiboloy’s possible whereabouts), all of these are being checked even way before. The world is getting smaller for Quiboloy as sooner or later he will be located and he will have to face the court that issued the warrant of arrest,” Abalos noted.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Malacañang file photo
Pastor Apollo Quiboloy
Philstar.com file photo
How Medi-Cal is helping California’s growing...
Census — a number projected to grow to over 8.7 million, or 20% of the state, by 2030.
The CDC reports that over 7.6 million Californians have a disability.
Dana Durham, DHCS Managed Care Quality and Monitoring Division chief], said Medi-Cal is helping older and disabled Californians through Community Supports and Enhanced Care Management (ECM), programs that “meet social drivers of health” — like housing, healthy food, language access, and preventative health care — “in people’s communities so they can stay in the least restrictive setting possible.”
Community Supports include medically tailored meals, transportation to and from appointments, in-home care, home accessibility modifications, long-term care transition assistance, mental health care, substance abuse disorder treatment and housing aid.
“Historically, the healthcare system has been difficult to navigate,” particularly isolating seniors and people with disabilities, Durham continued. With ECM, introduced in January 2022, high-risk members or those with complex needs — for example, overlapping issues of dementia, mental health, and daily living — are assigned a lead care manager to help them navigate the system and access MediCal services. These care leads can travel to meet the member if need be; for instance, the patient is homeless, disabled or isolated.
For Californians eligible for both Medi-Cal and Medicare, the federal insurance program for seniors and some younger people with disabilities, there are also now dual Medi-Medi Plans in 12 counties that cover copays and services across b oth programs, said Anastasia Dodson, DHCS deputy director of the Office of Medicare Innovation and Integration. In 2026, Medi-Medi will be available statewide.
Currently, of the 6.6 million Californians on Medicare, 1.6 million are also on Medi-Cal.
Dodson added that in January 2024, Medi-Cal eliminated asset limits, meaning that bank accounts, property or a second
car won’t affect eligibility; now, only income and household size count.
Community perspectives
Since this expansion of Medi-Cal began in 2022, “We went from three counties to nine statewide where we provide ECM and connection to community supports like doctors, caregivers, meals, transportation, residential care away from nursing homes, home accessibility modifications, housing navigation and rent aid,” said Jenna LaPlante, senior director of care management programs at the Institute on Aging, which serves about 1,000 Medi-Cal members.
“It’s more than we’ve ever served, and we’re in talks with health plans to expand more,” she continued. “Hiring bilingual, bicultural staff from the communities we serve has been key to reaching communities who weren’t historically engaging with our services.”
“For example, we hired a Vietnamese-speaking care manager who went to community centers in San Jose and Santa Clara counties where there’s a large population. We got a huge influx, and could hire more VIetnamese-speaking staff, which increased referrals even more,” LaPlante explained.
“We’re now doing the same thing in Merced County, posting jobs for Spanish-speaking staff.”
“This recent expansion to use Medicaid dollars for social determinants of health, like first month’s rent and a security deposit, is incredibly novel. I don’t see it anywhere else,” she added. “Each state can apply to waive how they use federal dollars for more than just medical services. Some do and some don’t … but here in California, we’re at the forefront.”
With older and disabled Californians, health risks often overlap across many areas of life, not just physical health concerns — for instance, if “they’re homeless with no income, no food, and they need a wheelchair,” said Carrie Madden, program director of Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Central and South LA (ADRC), a social service counseling and referral organization.
“What’s really been helpful
is being able to coordinate and refer them to services that address these different areas,” she continued. “We have no wrong door. People who call us will get some kind of referral … and we follow up to make sure they get the services they need to live out of nursing homes and treatment facilities, back in the community they came from … With the Medi-Cal change now, we’re seeing individuals get this help much faster.”
ADRC is partnered with Communities Actively Living Independent and Free (CALIF), one of 28 independent living centers in California.
Keith Miller, executive director of CALIF, said “Recently we entered a contract with an insurance provider to provide these new MediCal programs like housing navigation or retention, assistive technology and ongoing case management,” particularly for people frequently entering emergency rooms.”
At CALIF, where “51% of our staff are people with disabilities,” this transformation of MediCal crucially helped “keep our clients out of institutions and nursing homes,” he added.
Lilly Sanchez, case manager at CALIF, shared the story of how this transformation changed the life of one highrisk client who was often in the ER and about to enter a nursing home before he was referred to CALIF, which helped him enroll in Medi-Cal and stay in his community over the course of three months.
“When he came to us, he didn’t have in-home support, no California ID, couldn’t transport himself to and from the services he needed,” she explained. “We were able to do the paperwork for him and coordinate our social services with medical care through the insurance plan.”
“Because of that coordination of care, he is currently housed, he has in-home support, he has food nurtures him to stop needing the emergency room as much as he was before,” Sanchez continued.
“This speaks to how important it is not only to have medical care available but to coordinate it with all the other social services people need to be healthy,” she added. “Medi-Cal is making that coordination possible.” (Selen Ozturk/Ethnic Media Services)
Fil-Am pushed into BART train in SF honored...
Dandan, told Inquirer.net USA, as he broke into tears. “I will remember her as my mom.”
Dr. Dandan said his Tita Cora helped raise him and put him through medical school.
He said his childhood was filled with memories of her aunt taking him to the Philippine Plaza (later renamed Sofitel) where she worked before migrating to the United States.
“I would run around the hotel together with the other kids and play. Going back to work, she would take me (then) bring me back to my parents. She (had) always been a second mom,” Dr. Dandan recalled.
She opened her home in Daly City to relatives and friends who needed a place to stay as newly arrived immigrants.
One of those relatives was Corazon’s niece, Elena Dandan.
“We used to live with her. She was our mother when we first got here. She generously helped us establish our lives,” Elena said.
“She settled here by herself and was a big help to many relatives and friends. She was an inspiration to many.” Elena also remembers her Tita Cora instantly lighting up any room she entered. “She was a happy person and a ‘cowboy,’ easy to get along with,” she recalled. “Her smile, her sweetness was very contagious. We will never forget her.”
Consul General Neil Ferrer, who attended the viewing on Thursday, July 11, paid tribute to Dandan as an exemplary immigrant who worked hard to support her family.
“As we learned from her family, she was someone, like many OFWs, who migrated to the U.S., who worked very hard but at the same time did not forget their families,” Ferrer said. “She helped her siblings, nieces and nephews. She (was) really wellloved. We are saddened by her departure.”
Juslyn Manalo, the Fil-Am mayor of Daly City – where Dandan lived for about 30 years – called her a
“bayani (hero),” an immigrant who touched many lives at her workplace and in the community.
“She touched many by how giving she was,” Manalo said.
“Corazon really embodied what her name is.”
Dandan will be buried at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque, said Dr. Dandan, who thanked the consulate for assisting with bringing her aunt’s remains to the Philippines.
“(Tita Cora) wanted to retire in the Philippines. I guess she’s getting what she wished for,” he said as he wiped his tears.
Dandan is survived by six siblings: Renato, Carmelita Esguerra, Ricardo, Danilo, Nicanor and Reynaldo. She is preceded by her oldest sister, Leticia Hernandez and parents, Ildefonso and Prudencia. g
The consul general also cited her sense of community and generosity to her friends and neighbors even during the pandemic. “She had a big heart for others,” he said.
Vice President Sara Duterte showing her desire...
Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe, reminded the vice president that as a lawyer herself, she should know that she has no power to appoint herself, or anybody for that matter, much less as the so-called designated survivor.
“To begin with, nowhere in our 1987 Constitution is it stated that the vice president has the authority or power to appoint herself, or anyone else, for that matter. Furthermore, the term ‘designated survivor’ is not found in any of our statutes,” Dalipe emphasized.
Asked about her plans on Marcos’ third State of the Nation Address in a chance interview with reporters last week, Duterte remarked: “No, I will not attend the SONA. I’m appointing myself as the designated survivor.”
“The authority to appoint is exclusively vested in our president, who makes appointments ranging from Cabinet members to directors of government agencies,” Dalipe pointed out.
Under the Constitution, the line of succession among the country’s highest elected officials is likewise unequivocal and clearly stipulated.
Article VII, Section 8 of the
1987 Constitution states that the vice president ascends to the presidency in the event of the president’s death, incapacity, resignation or removal, serving the unexpired term, as exemplified by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s succession following Joseph Estrada’s ousting in January 2001.
This line of succession proceeds from the Senate president to the speaker of the House.
Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. also reminded Duterte that there is “no such thing as a designated survivor in the Philippines.”
“Is she spending too much time watching Netflix? She better read our Constitution. It’s as clear as sunlight. Is she really serious?” Gonzales asked, recalling that Duterte even joked previously that all members of her family – from her father to her two brothers, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte and Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte –will run for senator in the May 2025 midterm elections.
There was also a time when the vice president said that she would seek reelection as mayor in Davao City.
“I mean, which is which really?
We don’t even know if we can still trust her now. Whatever
happened to some decency or at least being forthright in public service? A career in government is not something anybody can play with. We’re dealing with people’s money and public resources,” he said.
Fond of joking After resigning from her government positions, Duterte has become fond of making jokes, according to Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III.
In an interview with dzBB radio on Sunday, July 14, Pimentel said he was “not really” scared when he heard that Duterte would not attend the SONA and proclaimed herself as the “designated survivor.”
“It seems like the vice president (has) become fond of making jokes lately,” Pimentel added.
Asked whether joking as the “designated survivor” is a bad or good joke, Pimentel said:
“Maybe (she becomes fond of telling jokes) after she resigned.
Although it is still effective on July 19, she has been like that since she resigned from the Cabinet and from all her other government positions, except being vice president.”
“It’s like she’s feeling informal. That’s why the vice president is joking. Well, it’s not just good in the context of SONA,” he said. g
Support for Biden declines among Asian...
Asian Americans Advancing Justice and the AARP.
The survey aims to guage the voting attitudes and behaviors among the Asian American voting bloc’s largest communities: Indian, Filipino, Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean, and Chinese.
For Filipino American voters, 40% would have voted for Biden — among the lowest percentages of the surveyed groups — and 33% would have voted for Trump.
Although Asian American voters still prefer Biden over former President Donald Trump, support for Biden dropped from 2020, when 54% of Asian American voters planned to vote for Biden.
When it comes to favorability, 44% of Asian American voters view Biden either “very” or “somewhat” unfavorably while 62% view Trump either “very” or “somewhat” unfavorably.
Voting trends for other key congressional races remain the same with a majority of Asian Americans preferring Democratic candidates (51% for Democratic House candidates, 50% for Democratic Senate candidates) over Republicans (30% for GOP House and Senate candidates, each).
The survey also found that 86% of Asian American voters say that the job market and the economy are a top policy priority, and tied for second, were inflation and health care. Moreover, 85% of voters say that these issues were either “extremely” or “very” important
factors in how they decide to vote.
Although the Asian American Voter Survey took place months before the infamous CNN debate between Biden and Trump, the survey shows that waning interest in Biden precludes recent instances of the president’s verbal stumbles.
“Even before the June presidential debate, President Biden had lost confidence among many Asian American voters,” Karthick Ramakrishnan, executive director of AAPI Data, said to Axios. “The diminished enthusiasm American Asian American Democrats and Independents could spell trouble for Biden in critical swing states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona, and Georgia.”
The survey was released at a time when Biden’s cognitive welfare has become a central focus of this race. Suggesting a declining lack of enthusiasm for Biden, the survey emphasizes the trouble that the Biden campaign is currently embroiled in.
Historically, polls overestimate voter turnout overall, according to Janelle Wong, senior researcher at AAPI Data, who said that the results of this survey could represent problems for Biden going forward.
“Although we are not seeing a mass movement toward Trump in our community, we are seeing a potentially problematic trend for the Biden campaign among this fairly loyal bloc of Democraticleaning voters,” Wong said. Harris, AANHPI leaders addresses voters in Philly
As previously reported in the Asian Journal, speculation over
whether Vice President Kamala Harris may be a better fit as the Democratic candidate continue to percolate.
The survey found that 44% of Asian American voters have either a very favorable or somewhat favorable opinion of Harris, who has been making more appearances.
The Biden-Harris administration earlier this month rolled out Asian Americans Native Hawaiians Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) for BidenHarris campaign to court the vast voting bloc months ahead of the election.
At the Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) Presidential Town Hall in Philadelphia on Saturday, July 13, Harris — who is of Indian descent and is the first Asian American to serve as vice president—affirmed her confidence in the current administration.
Last week, Biden reinforced his intent to keep running — despite pressure from Democrats. At Saturday’s town hall, Harris continued to boost the BidenHarris ticket for November.
“We always knew this election would be tough, and the past few days have been a reminder that running for President of the United States is never easy, nor should it be,” Harris said in her keynote address. “But one thing we know about our President, Joe Biden, he is a fighter, and he is the first to say, when you get knocked down, you get right back up. So we will continue to fight, we will continue to organize, and in November, we will win.” g
Fil-Am leaders condemn Trump assassination...
of political violence that took place in Pennsylvania today. We stand firmly against all forms of violence and wish for former President Trump’s full recovery,” the statement said. No place in our democracy
Gina Ortiz Jones, former U.S. undersecretary of the Air Force, expressed her relief, stating, “I am encouraged to hear former President Trump is doing well following today’s awful events. Political violence must always be condemned because it has absolutely no place in our democracy.”
Assemblymember Steven Raga of Queens’ District 30 called on everyone to unite in light of the horrific incident.
“Today, we must unite as a nation to unequivocally condemn all forms of political violence, especially in light of the recent incident involving former President Trump,” he said. “I wish former President Trump a swift and full recovery.”
Vice President Kamala Harris said she and her husband, Doug, are relieved that Trump is not seriously injured. “We are praying for him, his family and all those who have been injured and impacted by this senseless shooting,” she said. We are grateful to the United States Secret Service, first responders and local authorities for their immediate action. Violence such as this has no place in our nation. We must all condemn this abhorrent act and do our part to ensure that it does not lead to more violence.”
President Joe Biden is also grateful to hear that Trump is safe and doing well. “I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information,” he said. “Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it.”
New York City Mayor Eric Adams described the events that unfolded at Saturday’s rally in Pennsylvania as horrific. “No matter our disagreements, we must all agree that violence of any kind is unacceptable,” he said. “I am praying for the safety of former President Trump and anyone else who may have been injured in the attack today.”
Skepticism Meanwhile, amid the
widespread condemnation and calls for unity, skepticism and conspiracy theories have begun to emerge. Some Filipino Americans, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed doubts about the authenticity of the shooting incident. They speculated that the event might have been staged to elicit sympathy from non-GOP voters, suggesting that Trump is desperate to secure re-election in the upcoming November elections.
“How did the assassin miss?” asked one Fil-Am Democrat.
But a police officer, who identified as neither Republican nor Democrat, dismissed the doubt as “fake news.” He argued, “Trump was trailing Biden by 10 points this morning. One spectator is dead, and another is critically injured. Trump was two inches away from a headshot from a sniper rifle 200 feet away in an adjacent building that the Secret Service would have secured. There aren’t many buildings in that area to secure, unlike Manhattan. The Democrats need the sympathy, not Trump. They need to worry about a president who will soon be replaced. We have all been saying Biden (is showing) early signs of Parkinson’s and dementia. But Democrats have been lying all along, claiming that behind closed doors he’s energetic and on the ball. Lies!
Biden called Zelensky ‘Putin,’
called Trump ‘vice president,’ and called Kamala ‘president.’ It’s the Democrats who need the sympathy, not the GOP. That was an attack on our freedom of speech; freedom to assemble and freedom to support any candidate.”
The shooting incident has not only shaken the political landscape but also raised serious concerns about security at political events. Many are questioning how a shooter could get so close to a former president and current presidential nominee. Security experts and law enforcement agencies are expected to conduct thorough reviews and implement enhanced measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
Despite differing opinions and conspiracy theories, the overarching sentiment across the political spectrum is one of condemnation of violence and a call for unity. Leaders and organizations are urging Americans to come together and reject any form of political violence.
This incident has underscored the deep divisions within the country, but it has also highlighted the resilience of its democratic values. As the nation moves forward, the hope is that this tragic event will serve as a catalyst for greater unity and a reaffirmation of the commitment to peaceful and democratic processes. (Elton Lugay/Inquirer. net)
OPINION FEATURES
Dereliction
of duty
LAST week the Supreme Court clarified that contrary to a published report, it had yet to rule on petitions urging the tribunal to compel Congress to pass a law against political dynasties. The clarification inevitably led to people asking when the SC might rule on the petitions, which cite the constitutional prohibition on dynasties as may be defined by law.
That law has yet to be passed by Congress, where dynasty building has reached shameless proportions and may get even worse in the 2025 midterm elections. There’s no end in sight to the appalling growth of clans wanting to control all aspects of governance in their fiefdoms, from barangays to local governments to national posts.
Editorial
competitiveness and survival in a highly competitive globalized environment. Between the political clans and influence-peddling special interest groups that hold sway in nearly all aspects of national life, personal advancement is an uphill battle for ordinary Filipinos. Little wonder that the Filipino Dream is to leave the country for other lands where a person’s worth is measured based on capability rather than surnames or connections.
Isn’t this inability or unwillingness to pass the enabling law a dereliction of duty on the part of Congress?
Dynasty building has short-circuited the system of checks and balances needed for a functioning democracy where transparency, accountability and good governance ensure the efficient delivery of basic services and judicious use of public funds.
Dynasty building has also doomed the creation of a merit-based society, which is needed for national
AMERICAN politics has been careening towards the abyss of political violence. The attempted assassination on candidate Donald Trump underscores this.
In the immediate aftermath of this horror that saw Trump sightly wounded, the assassin and a spectator killed and two other critically wounded, both parties are engrossed blaming each other for the outbreak of political violence. The shooter has been identified as a 20-yearold nursing aide wielding an AR15 semi-automatic assault rifle. He is a registered Republican. Investigators are still plowing through all available information to establish a motive for this assassination attempt. From all the early indications, it seems the young shooter likely acted alone and was probably emotionally imbalanced. There are calls for inquiries into the failings of the Secret
THOMAS Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pa., is the man the FBI has identified as the shooter at the Butler, Pa. Trump rally, in what law enforcement is calling an “assassination attempt.”
Some news organizations will choose not to say the name of the rally shooter, thinking that doing so would only glorify the now deceased suspect. But Thomas Matthew Crooks is a major part of what happened on Saturday. To keep him anonymous is to censor a key fact.
It was Thomas Matthew Crooks’ shocking actions that may be the thing that finally sobers up America.
We’ve been drunk with ideology and divided by politics for too long.
Crooks was a registered Republican, according to voter records. Three years ago, he made a $15 donation to ActBlue, a political action committee that supports Democratic politicians. The extent of his political activity isn’t known as I write. But from his high school photo, he appeared to be a clean-cut white kid from a Pittsburgh suburb, not some radical activist. As to his mental state, nothing yet has been revealed.
We do know Crooks had a car full of explosives and an AR-15 type weapon. He was a reckless and irresponsible firearms owner (shooting into a crowd?) and not
Dynasts have argued that if people are unhappy with their clans, they can always be voted out of office. Many clans, however, have a stranglehold on nearly all the government resources for dispensing dole-outs and carrying out tax-funded projects in their fiefdoms, leaving little room for outsiders to challenge their political control. Dynasty building also undermines the criminal justice system, with clans controlling the police, prosecution, judiciary
Service platoon assigned to physically protect Trump. All the video evidence suggests numerous lapses, the most important of which is the failure to stop a man with a rifle perched on a rooftop with clear line-ofsight to the stage where Trump stood.
Establishing the dead assassin’s motive and correcting all the operational weaknesses of the Secret Service are important. But they are not as important as examining the context of political hate and the epidemic of lax firearms regulations afflicting American politics. They make political violence nearly inevitable. Trump bears an inordinate share of responsibility for poisoning American political discourse. In Trump’s version of political contestation, respect plays no role. He built a constituency on the basis of exaggerated grievance. He habitually caricatures his political rivals and, recently, seemed to be threatening partisan violence should he lose next November’s elections.
Recall that Trump did call out
his most fanatical followers to assault the U.S. Capitol in order to overturn the results of the last elections. In the process, he unleashed a lynching mob on his own vice president who refused to play along with what was in fact a coup attempt. Trump faces charges relating to the Jan. 6 riots.
Completely unversed in the nuances of the policy questions of the day, Trump has mounted an electoral campaign driven by vilification and fueled by lies. This is a campaign abetted by the obscurantism of Christian nationalists and the menacing marches of armed right-wing militia groups. His campaign commissioned an extremely conservative think-tank to produce what is called Plan 2025, a truly disturbing program for replacing democracy with fascism.
In the face of adverse public reaction to Plan 2025, Trump tried to distance himself from it. But the manifesto was put together by dozens of individuals closely associated with Trump. It essentially puts into programatic
political killings.
The dynasty-dominated Congress cannot be
form the policy implications of all the things Trump has uttered during his public rallies.
We will not repeat here all the stupendous conspiracy theories that invariably proliferate after a shocking event such as last Saturday’s (July 13) assassination attempt. Most of these conspiracy theories emanate from partisan echo chambers and circulate rapidly through the magic of social media. It is not productive repeating them or even refuting them.
Hours after the shooting, President Joe Biden addressed his nation. He called for unity and for cooling the heated rhetoric.
Partisan hate has indeed poisoned the political well. This expands the possibility for political violence to happen. It crowds out a serious national discourse on the policy options open for the electorate.
For his part, Donald Trump went out to play golf the morning after he was shot at. He had no inspiring things to tell an anxious public – although he did promise to rework his speech for the Republican National Convention that went underway on Tuesday, July 16.
The shot that grazed Trump’s ear and was only a millimeter away from a truly tragic outcome ought to have put the question of gun regulations at the front and center of public debate. But the Republican Party is not likely to budge from its Wild, Wild West attitude towards casual gun ownership. With more guns in private hands than the size of its population, the U.S. has been experiencing a nearly daily incidence of random mass shootings. These mass shootings take an appalling toll on children in schools. The Republican Party’s preferred response to this problem is to arm school teachers. This is totally insane. More imminent than the threat of organized right-wing militia going on a rampage should they disagree with electoral outcomes, there is the persistent danger of lone wolves pulling off armed attacks inspired by some warped understanding of the world. The young person who shot at Trump last Saturday fit the profile of solitary and alienated characters pulling off random mass shootings. American society is increasingly inhabited by
solitary, disoriented and disillusioned individuals. Each of them has easy access to guns, including powerful assault rifles capable of inflicting mass casualties. The peril this poses will not be abated by improving the protection skills of the Secret Service.
Even if Trump echoes Biden’s call for cooling the partisan rhetoric, American politics is still careening towards the abyss of political violence. It is too late to reverse course.
Last Monday, July 15, I listened intently to an American political scientist expound on his theory that his country’s institutions, checks-and-balances and all, are intended to divide rather than unite. The present campaigns that feature vicious personal attacks merely heighten what is institutionally designed.
More than its American equivalent, Filipino political institutions incline our politics to personal attacks rather than policy discussion. (Philstar.com) * * *
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
Will an assassination attempt change politics in America?
The images of a bloodied Trump and the flag shouldn’t be politicized to unite one group of Americans against another
very skilled. His shots grazed the former president’s ear, killed one person, wounded at least two others and stunned everyone around the nation no matter what your political beliefs. This isn’t supposed to happen in America.
In our country, the Constitution affords us a path to solve our differences. The First Amendment gives us free speech and the right to gather and express ourselves, which leads to debate.
It should not lead to gunfire.
Not in a land where politics is decided by the vote, and our voices are heard loudly by our ballots, not our bullets.
Soon after the shots were fired, the FBI reported that Crooks had been “neutralized.”
That’s the euphemism used to indicate Crooks was killed and the threat was abated. Gone.
But was it?
The shooter may have been neutralized, but was America freed from its acrid sense of hate?
A chance to bring the country together?
Our politics has been so toxic, Saturday’s (July 13) horrific event should be seen as an opportunity for all of us to turn down the rhetoric – by a lot.
For a while on Saturday, it seems everyone was civil.
Democrats were praying for Trump to live. Republicans were just shocked. All the cable news
analysts were praying for Trump.
That’s unity.
Is that our cue? This is the chance to condemn the shooter and stand up as one country, neutralized from our own divisive politics and united against the senseless use of gun violence as any kind of arbiter.
Politics can be a matter of life and death, but that isn’t supposed to be literal.
After the Saturday shooting, everyone was rooting for Trump, and why not? He’s an American, after all, and a human being just like all the rest of us.
Wouldn’t he do the same for us? Likely not. But I would hope so, if he truly wants to be president. We disagree on many fundamental points. And we will stay opposed on practically all policies. But we are not enemies. Or are we?
President Biden said it best at his news briefing Saturday night.
Both the president and Trump reportedly spoke to each other after the shooting for the first time since their June 27 debate.
“There’s no place in America for this kind of violence, it’s sick, it’s sick,” said President Biden at a post-shooting news briefing. “It’s one of the reasons we have to unite this country. We cannot allow for this to be happening. We cannot be like this, we cannot condone this.”
Later in an address to the nation on Sunday, July 14, the
president asked “every American to recommit to what makes America” so special.
“Here in America, everyone is treated with dignity and respect, and hate should have no safe harbor,” President Biden said on nationwide TV. “We need to get out of our silos where we only listen to those with whom we agree; where misinformation is rampant; where foreign actors fan the flames of our division to shape the outcomes consistent with their interests not ours.”
And, of course, there was an appeal that competing visions of the campaign “always be resolved peacefully.”
“Stand up for our Constitution and the rule of law,” the president said. “Call for action at the ballot. Not for violence on our streets. That’s how democracy should work.”
But we are already too close to the edge. We don’t have to go back to the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan in 1981 to see how real a problem domestic political violence is in this country.
Think about the right-wing intruder who, on Oct. 28, 2022, went after Democratic Speaker emerita Nancy Pelosi, then used a hammer to nearly kill her husband Paul Pelosi.
David De Pape was convicted on assault and attempted kidnapping charges and sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Political violence? We certainly saw it on Jan. 6, 2021 with the insurrection of the capital, which, ironically, was instigated by Donald Trump.
You might say this makes an assassination attempt on Trump just days before the Republican National Convention something Joe Biden might call an “inflection point.”
It would be if we could put the nasty politics aside, eschew our divisiveness, and realize what a massive step forward we could make as a country together.
Naive? Some think democracy is naive.
My optimism
Me, I want to hang on to that sliver of hope and optimism I noticed when good people saw the news on Saturday and just thought about the future of our country – and not about winning an election.
The unfortunate assassination attempt should be seen as a signal that it’s time to end the hyper-partisanship that ails us and to heal our open wounds. It is time to reach out, work together. To see each other not as die-hard enemies but as members of the same team.
Asian Americans know what it’s like to be seen as enemies and foreigners by our fellow Americans. From the incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII to the scapegoating of Asians during
the pandemic, we have stood up to the hate.
Now all America must stand together and dare to be united as Americans for our democracy.
We must quickly condemn all those who will use this as an opportunity to fan the flames of division. Already on social media, Sen. J.D. Vance, a leading candidate to be Trump’s veep, is pointing fingers at Biden.
“The central premise of the Biden campaign is that Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs,” Vance wrote on X.
“That rhetoric led directly to President Trump’s attempted assassination.”’
That’s just false and irresponsible. Have you seen the right’s Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation doc that is written by more than 100 Trump staffers and advocates such things as rounding up undocumented people and placing them in camps?
It’s been a part of Trump’s hate-inducing rhetoric for so long. Who else says immigrants “are poisoning the blood of our country?”
That’s Trump talk. Now here’s an opening for change on all sides. This should be a unifying moment to lift everyone, not just Trump’s base. The emotionally charged remnants of Saturday, like the images of a bloodied PAGE 7
Emil Amok!
and jail facilities in their turfs. This has engendered impunity, as the nation has seen in so many brazen
expected to change a system that has made politics
major family enterprise in this country. It’s up to the Supreme Court to open the doors to the longdelayed reforms. (Philstar.com)
PH, US now gearing up for much larger Balikatan exercises in 2025
by John Eric MEndoza Inquirer.net
MANILA — The Philippines and the United States are now gearing up for much larger bilateral war games next year, the military spokesperson said on Tuesday, July 16.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the early preparation for Balikatan is partly why U.S. General Charles Brown Jr., chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, visited the military headquarters on Tuesday, July 16. Brown met AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.
“After Balikatan we are already on the works with our planning, so I guess this [meeting] will have more details how the Balikatan exercises will be pushing forward,” Padilla
said in a regular AFP press briefing in Philippine Air Force headquarters when asked what kind of message does Brown’s visit bring.
Teodoro previously said that the Balikatan 2025 will see a “full scale battle simulation.”
“Our Balikatan exercises are on the works because if [this year’s] Balikatan is one of the biggest, it’s gonna be bigger by next year,” Padilla said.
As highlight of this year’s Balikatan, the former BRP Lake Caliraya, a discarded “made in China” oil tanker, was also submerged during the sinking exercise held in the shores of Laoag City, one of the country’s northernmost areas near Taiwan that also faces the West Philippine Sea.
The same coastal city also saw both forces’ simulation in foiling an invasion attempt by a foreign country through the use of howitzers in live fire drills.
In an unprecedented development for Balikatan the Philippines and the United States were joined by France in conducting joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea, which saw the presence of four Chinese warships throughout their sail.
Beijing’s presence there is based on its assertion of sovereignty in almost the entire South China Sea, including most of the exclusive economic zone of the country’s western section, even if such a claim has been effectively invalidated by the arbitral award issued in July 2016.
The latest and the 39th iteration of Balikatan was joined by over 16,000 personnel including contingents from the Australian Defence Force, the French Navy, the Philippine Coast Guard, becoming one of the biggest-ever war games between Manila and Washington in terms of personnel. g
Philippines losing P99.52B yearly due to POGOs – DOF
MANILA — The Department of Finance (DOF) doubled down on its stance to ban Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), saying that allowing the gaming hubs to continue operations is costing the country P99.52 billion a year.
The Senate Committee on Ways and Means deliberated on Tuesday, July 16 over two bills: one proposing to ban online gaming and another to tax POGOs.
During the hearing, DOF Assistant Secretary Karlo Adriano, who heads the agency’s Fiscal Policy and Monitoring Group, presented a cost-benefit analysis of POGOs.
“Our estimates show that the net cost of POGO operation is around P99.52 billion annually.
The estimated total economic benefits of POGOs amount to P166.49 billion annually while the estimated total economic costs amount to P265.74 billion,” Adriano said.
The economic benefits
comprised both direct and indirect benefits. Adriano explained that direct economic benefits include tax revenues, gaming revenues, private consumption spending, real estate and other consumptions. Indirect economic benefits are economic and fiscal multiplier effects.
Meanwhile, the direct economic costs include lost investment opportunities, additional costs of law enforcement and the impact to tourism. Adriano also cited the social costs of allowing POGOs to operate, saying that their analysis does not account for the loss of life and other injuries brought by illegal POGOs.
“If ever there will be a ban of POGOs, but that can be compensated if there will be more investment that will be coming in because of the ban,” he said. Grey market During the hearing, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) chief Alejandro Tengco
said there was a grey market for online gaming and POGOs. Grey markets indicate that the platforms are not registered and operating illegally.
“Up to 2024, I believe there is still about anywhere between 30% to 40% of the business being controlled by the grey market,” said Tengco.
The PAGCOR chuef estimated the unregulated industry to be worth around P200 billion.
“There is about a P200 billion market now per annum in the online gaming platform, only in the Philippines, more or less. If you will ask me where am I getting data, we’re just putting together all the numbers that we have seen and we are also in consultation with out consultants,” he said.
According to the PAGCOR chief, the agency’s gross gaming revenue has been steadily increasing throughout the years, going from P28 billion in 2022 up to P56 billion in 2023. (Philstar.com)
Metro Manila Subway project hits ‘significant progress’
NEW CLARK CITY – The Philippines’ first underground railway system, the Metro Manila Subway Project, has reached “significant progress” in its construction, a senior Department of Transportation (DOTr) official said. Speaking at the Presidential Communications Office’s "Build Better More" Infrastructure Forum held last week to showcase the progress of legacy projects and achievements in Infrastructure Flagship Projects under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., DOTr Undersecretary
Timothy John R. Batan said, “the Metro Manila Subway, touted as the country’s most ambitious infrastructure project to date, has already attained significant progress in its construction.”
As of May 31, 2024, the subway project has reached 14.48 percent of its target completion, Batan told participants during the forum. Aside from the Metro Manila Subway Project, Batan listed the following as among the DOTr railway sector infrastructure flagship projects gaining milestones:
• Unified Grand Central Station, as of May 31, 2024, is 81.42 percent complete. This station will connect four railway lines in Metro Manila, namely LRT 1 serving the commuters west and south of Metro Manila; MRT 3 serving the central area of Metro Manila; MRT 7 serving the north; and the Subway Project to serve the eastern side of Metro Manila.
• MRT 3 Rehabilitation Project, as of May 31, 2024, is
83.11 percent complete. This project involves the restoration of the existing Metro Rail Transit Line 3 to design condition. The rehabilitation is expected to cut travel time from one hour and 15 minutes to 45 minutes and is also expected to restore capacity from 300,000 to 600,000 passengers per day.
• LRT 1 Cavite Extension Project, as of May 31, 2024, is 73.50 percent complete. This is an extension of the existing Light Rail Transit Line 1 and the project involves the construction of an additional 11.7 kilometers consisting of eight stations that will connect Pasay to Bacoor, Cavite. It is expected to cut travel time from 1 hour 10 minutes to 25 minutes. An additional 300,000 passengers can be accommodated to the LRT-1’s 500,000 daily passengers in the first year of its full operations.
• MRT Line 7, as of May 31, 2024 is 70.98 percent complete. This is a 22 km-long rail transit system that will connect dense areas of northeast Metro Manila. It will have 14 Stations linking North Avenue, Quezon City to San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan. It is expected to reduce travel time from North Avenue to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan from 2-3 hours to 35 minutes. It can accommodate 300-800,000 passengers daily.
• North-South Commuter Railway Project is a 147-kilometer elevated railway line that will connect three regions in Luzon, including Metro Manila. It is now in “advanced stages across” the alignment and expected to benefit about 800,000 passengers daily on its opening year. As of May 31, 2024, the Tutuban
to Malolos segment is 42.10 percent complete; Malolos to Clark segment is 31.25 percent complete; and the Manila to Calamba segment is 5.87 percent complete.
• The MRT Line 4 and PNR South-Long Haul Project are in their pre-construction stage, while the Mindanao Railway Project Phase I is in project development phase.
The three-day forum was a comprehensive platform to promote the administration’s "Build Better More" Infrastructure program, to broaden the understanding of government communicators and media practitioners of the strategic framework and status and timeline of the infrastructure development policies and programs of the present administration.
The forum was participated in by more than 40 journalists from the tri-media sector and more than 70 government communicators from various departments and their attached agencies and government-owned and controlled corporations.
Among the departments which participated were the Department of Transportation, Department of Public Works and Highways, National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Finance, Department of Agrarian Reforms, Department of Health, and Philippine National Police.
Among the GOCCs were Clark International Airport Corp., Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Bases Conversion Development Authority, Philippine Retirement Authority, and Clark Development Corporation. (PNA)
Will an assassination attempt change...
Senator Padilla files anti-dynasty bill
by Bernadette e tamayo ManilaTimes.net
SEN. Robinhood Padilla on
Monday, July 15 filed Senate Bill (SB) 2730 that seeks to fulfill the 1987 Constitution's mandate to prohibit political dynasties.
The senator, chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, said it was "time to break the barriers that prevent the best and the brightest from serving the Filipino people."
"Given that this measure complies with the legislature's mandate to enact an antipolitical dynasty law and is a step towards leveling the playing field in politics and governance, the passage thereof is earnestly sought," Padilla said.
"Political dynasties, in effect, have exhausted resources to attain economic and political dominance while at the same time compromising political competition and undermining accountability," he said.
Under SB 2730, "No spouse or person related within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity, whether legitimate or illegitimate, full or half blood, to an incumbent elective official seeking re-election, shall be allowed to hold or run for any elective office in the same city and/or province, or any party list
in the same election."
It provides that if the constituency of the incumbent elective official is national in character, such relatives should be disqualified from running only within the same province where the former is domiciled or in any, including the same, national position.
No person with "a political dynasty relationship to the incumbent shall immediately succeed to the position of the latter," the bill stated.
The bill requires any person running for any elective public office to file a sworn statement with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) that he or she does not have a political dynasty relationship with any incumbent public official running for an elective public office in the same city and/or province other than the position earlier mentioned.
A petition to disqualify a candidate on grounds of political dynasty may be filed before the Comelec, which should conduct summary proceedings. The Comelec should deny due course to any certificate of candidacy filed in violation of the antipolitical dynasty act.
While the votes for a respondent should be counted if the Comelec cannot decide on the petition before the completion of the canvass, his or her proclamation
should be suspended if the basis for disqualification is strong, the bill said.
If the disqualified candidate has been proclaimed, the candidate should forfeit the right to assume the office, the bill added.
Padilla cited a Harvard Academy research study in 2011 that showed how political dynasties stem from the tendency of elites to "persist and reproduce their power over time, undermining the effectiveness of institutional reforms in the process."
He said that Philippine local elections from 1988 to 2019 showed the number of governors with at least one relative in office increased by almost 39 percent, from 41 percent in 1988 to 80 percent in 2019.
The dynasty proportion of vice governors rose from 18 percent in 1988 to 68 percent in 2019, he said. The percentage of mayors in the dynasty increased gradually from 26 percent in 1988 to 53 percent in 2019.
Another study by Tusalem and Pe-Aguirre in 2013 noted that congressional funds are higher in areas with more political dynasties, but these provinces also have higher rates of crime and poor governance, as well as lower spending on employment, infrastructure, and health care, he said. g
ENROLLMENT. Parents enroll their children at Magallanes Elementary School in Davao City on Monday, July 15. It is also the first day of the Department of Education program “Brigada Eskwela” where parents, teachers and students take part in cleanup and other activities in schools until July 27.
PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.
FOLLOWING her fiery, steamy dance performance at the Century Tuna’s Superbods 2024 Awards Night held last Tuesday, July 16 at the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Pasay, brand ambassador Kathryn Bernardo shared the preparations she took to execute the much-talkedabout act.
“Actually, I started preparing for that prod I think last week but then G-Force headed by Ritz, he was preparing for it I think for like a month,” the Kapamilya star recalled when asked during the event hosted by Robi Domingo and Miss Universe 2022
R’Bonney Gabriel.
FILIPINA American sustainable fashion designer and 71st Miss Universe winner R’Bonney Gabriel has been in the Philippines for months now, taking on hosting jobs and exploring the country’s fashion and culture. And she has gained new skills along the way, one of which is weaving indigenous fabrics.
The beauty queen tried using two different hand looms at the Pinas Sadya pop-up store in Rockwell Center in Makati City when it opened on July 15 — one machine was a conventional type with pedals, while the other one was designed for individuals with disabilities and had hand-operated levers instead.
“You know it was easy to learn. I know I only did it a little bit, but I can definitely see it being very therapeutic. Because when I’m at home, sometimes I’m just sewing, and I just listen to music. I could do that for hours and hours. And I think the same with a hand loom,” Gabriel told INQUIRER.net.
She will bring her finished fabric back to the United States to incorporate it into her design, but there is another thing that she wants to take home, the hand loom itself. “I would love to have one one day. I think it’s really cool. I’ve tried it before, but I learned a new technique today,” Gabriel shared.
The Texas-based beauty said there were several ideas coming to her mind already, and she could use the woven piece in a handbag or combine it with another fabric. “I love denim. So I would love to do something like that. But yeah, I could go on and on about different ideas,” she said.
“As a fashion designer, I think the design aspect and the craftsmanship should really be highlighted on the global stage. And I think it’s definitely possible. I hope I can help in doing that,” Gabriel said when asked about her thoughts on Filipino fashion pieces.
“Sustainable fashion design is more than just
by ANNE PASAJOL Inquirer.net
AFTER overcoming a recent hurdle in their marriage, Sharon Cuneta said she loves Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, her husband of 28 long years, now more than ever.
Cuneta made her declaration of love for the former senator by sharing a reminder from American author Lewis Howes, through her Instagram Stories on Monday, July 15.
“When you choose a life
recycling materials. It’s also being purposeful and intentional with clothing. It’s not just making clothing because they’re beautiful. And all the designers here are really supporting communities, in communities where you came from as well. And these are slow techniques that can’t be made extremely fast and in big production, so they’re very special. And for me, I love seeing it,” she added.
The store showcases the contemporary weave of Soari, binakol by the Tinguian tribe of Abra, Manobo weave of Agusan del Sur, abaca weave of Sibagat, hand embroidery in Lake Sebu, inaul of Maguindanao, balud langkat of Marawi, t’nalak weave of South Cotabato, tangkulo of the Bagobo tribe, yakan of Zamboanga, pis syabit of Sulu’s Tausug tribe, leather tannery of Bulacan, metal works of Cebu, contemporary weave of Kabangkalan, kantarines of Isabela, barong embroidery of Lumban, silk cocoon and piña of Aklan, beadworks of Bulacan and bag artistry of Marikina.
“I’m going crazy. I love stores like this, they’re just so unique. I mean, all of the pieces really tell a story without even saying anything. You can look at the mixture of the patterns. And for me as a Filipino-American, I grew up in America, and one of my goals coming here was to learn more about Filipino culture, and a store like this is doing just that,” said Gabriel of the Pinas Sadya store, which also carries curated pieces from Vesti and Wear Your Culture.
She said she has discovered a lot about Filipino fashion and cites abaca as her “newest obsession.” She has also observed that each region of the Philippines has different embroidery patterns and techniques, “so it’s so diverse as well.” Gabriel said she believes the world needs to see more of Filipino fashion. “I’m always speaking about it. I’m always trying to wear pieces that are locally made. And I love to tell the story behind them because these pieces are so special,” she said.
partner, you’re choosing your eating companion for about 20,000 meals, your travelmate for 100 vacations, your retirement friend, your career cheerleader, and someone whose day you’ll hear about 18,000 times. Choose wisely,” Howes’ post read.
Cuneta then captioned it, “God helped me to choose really well! I love my Kiko now more than ever before.”
In December 2023, speculations of Cuneta and Pangilinan’s marriage being on the rocks surfaced after the actress-singer
made cryptic posts on social media, including a family photo of them that was cropped to remove Kiko’s face and quotes about loyalty and “sidechicks.”
Weeks later, Cuneta admitted that she had parted ways with Pangilinan briefly over a misunderstanding but that they had since gotten back together. Cuneta then underscored on their 28th anniversary last April that while “it hasn’t always been easy being married to each other,” their marriage is worth fighting for.
“And they were very patient. So I’d like to thank Teacher Georcelle and G-Force for being so supportive. And of course, the preparation for the body, (it took) months of preparation. Ever since I did the TVC (television commercial), I continued working out with my trainor, who is Mauro Lumba,” continued Kathryn and introduced the Superbods 2014 winner, who was among the crowd. “He’s been very patient as well, so shoutout to my trainor.”
She reiterated her gratitude to G-Force for the dance prod and Mauro for her body preparations, adding that she also did a lot of activities and maintained a healthy and balanced diet. “I know what to eat na, everything is ready and I’ll just reward myself after this.”
The canned tuna brand campaign this year is “Best You Ever,” an advocacy that promotes self-love and selfimprovement. It also celebrates the journeys, personal growth, and overall wellness of Filipinos as they become the best versions of themselves.
For Kathryn, being the best version of one’s self comes with growth. “And ang galing because the campaign of Century Tuna is just so empowering (and) to be part of a movement like this (is also empowering). And for me, as long as you have awareness and you have the willingness to grow every day, I think that itself is like being the best version of yourself already.”
She also expressed that she believes in the “one percent better” concept. “I don’t know if you’re familiar with that. Like every day, you try to be one percent better. I just keep it in mind every day that you can’t do anything overnight. So one percent progress, little wins, it will progress and to give yourself a few months and maybe a few years or maybe a year and then you see a huge difference. You have to keep in mind that it won’t happen overnight. Just baby steps.”
So is Kathryn the best version of herself at this point in her life?
“To be honest, I think I’m a work in progress. Not yet. But
BEAUTY queen-actress
Anjanette Abayari looked back at her brief stint as the iconic comic book character Darna where she had to wrestle with several live snakes.
Anjanette appeared on the July 15 episode of "Fast Talk with Boy Abunda" where the host asked for her top five personal moments in Philippine entertainment.
Her first was being crowned Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 1999 — a title she resigned from because of residency issues — and the second was being tapped to play the titular character on "Darna! Ang Pagbabalik" in 1994. Boy even joined Anjanette in replicating the latter's iconic "Darna!" yell. Coincidentally, that film was the last "Darna" movie to date, as the character only headlined television shows since then (not counting Regine Velasquez's appearance in 2003's "Captain Barbell").
I tried to be better every day… And I feel like andaming pang mangyayari and I’m just open to change and transformation.”
It has always been a dream for Kathryn to be part of the Century Tuna brand’s family and now that she is in, she couldn’t be more grateful. As she elaborated, “My 2024 started doing a campaign with them. And it was so special and then now, we are here in the finals and it took months and months of preparation. And all I can say is that I’m very, very grateful.”
She, as well, extended her congratulations to all the participants of Superbods 2024. “They’ve been working so hard. Some of them, I’ve talked to before, they have been preparing for months, some of them for years, just for tonight. And all of them are (already) winners. You can see their dedication and they inspired me as well. So congratulations to all our contestants. You all look beautiful and sexy tonight. And yeah, I’m just happy to be part of this movement.”
Filipino fitness influencer and Mister Tourism World Philippines
Jether Palomo and Miss Tourism World 2022 first runner-up, beauty queen and fitness enthusiast Justine Felizarta were named Male Superbods Grand Winner and Female Superbods Grand Winner, respectively. Jether and Justine will take home P500,000, tax-free each, as prize money. Patrick Patawaran and Jessica Marasigan were also declared as Superbods runnersup.
Other special awards were
also given to the following candidates: Slay the Runway, awarded by Jojo Bragais, to Jether and Jessica; Super Stunner Award (Photogenic) to Aaron Davis and Jessica; Perfect Smile Award (Urban Smiles) to Jether and Jessica; People’s Choice Award to Jether and Inka Magnaye; Bench Active Lifestyle Icon Award to Aaron and Hazel Ortiz; Superdad and Supermom Award to Carlo Adorador, Imelda Schweighart, Enzo Bonoan and Julia Sucgang-Bonoan; Anytime Fitness’s Unstoppable Award to Carlo Adorador and Jasmin Ariola; Ageless Award to Derick Hibaler and Miaow Ayesa; Masflex’s Flex Like a Superbod Award to Jether and Brooke Barredo; Garmin’s Best Yesterday Award to Jether and Inka; Fitness Breakthrough Award to Angel Mallari and Keylyn Trajano; Belo Skincare Sensation Award to Aaron and Jessica; and E-commerce Superstar Award to Jether. The celebrity judges who formed the panel committee during the competition were Miss Universe 2015 and Century Tuna Endorser Pia WurtzbachJauncey, Primetime and Box Office Queen and Supermom Marian Rivera-Dantes, Aga Muhlach, and Richard Gomez. They were joined by PC&V Communications, Inc. president Carol San Pedro, Century Pacific Food, Inc. vice president and general manager for branded tuna division Carlo Endaya, and Century Pacific Food, Inc. executive vice president and chief operating officer Greg Banzon.
Anjanette's third memory was all the snakes she dealt with, joking not just people but the actual animals, including wrestling an 18-foot python, which needed nine men to carry into set.
explained the
just her
"I will never forget that, not many people can say they've wrestled an 18-foot python and lived," Anjanette said. The beauty queen-actress also recalled when one of two cobras began hissing at her and slithered into her dress. Going back to the
and friendship.
by ARMIN ADINA Inquirer.net
R’Bonney Gabriel (right) learns new techniques with the hand loom from Saori Philippines weaving trainer Becky Santiago (second from right) as weaver Jo Bernabe (left) and Vesti Bags designer Martha Rodriguez look on. Inquirer.net photo by Armin P. Adina
Kathryn Bernardo
Photo from Instagram/@bernardokath
Anjanette Abayari in “Darna! Ang Pagbabalik” and on “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” Viva Films, GMA photos
Kiko Pangilinan, Sharon Cuneta
python story, because the snake wouldn't budge on camera, Anjanette
"wrestling"
shot.
SAN FRANCISCO – The Manilatown Heritage Foundation (MHF), in partnership with the San Francisco Maritime Museum, proudly announces “Flipping the Boat,” a year-long community engagement project and event. This initiative aims to honor the power and agency of FilipinoAmerican and other Bay Area residents, drawing on maritime heritage to inspire community leadership and solidarity.
The MHF is dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of the Filipino American community in San Francisco. Through education, advocacy, and community engagement, the Foundation strives to honor the history and contributions of Filipino-Americans.
“Flipping the Boat” hosted free monthly intergenerational workshops from November 2023 through July 2024 at the International Hotel Manilatown Center. These workshops taught participants to create and decorate small boats, symbolizing their dreams and wishes for themselves and the city of San Francisco. The small boats have formed an art installation at the Center, reflecting the community's aspirations.
Workshops incorporated Philippine ancestral art, culture, and environmental sustainability practices, providing a hands-
on understanding of maritime traditions and even a sharing of personal maritime family histories and connections. The Maritime Museum lectures focused on Filipino American connections with SF Maritime, Making of the “Grace Quan,” and Celestial Navigation. This initiative will culminate in a significant event on August 4, 2024, commemorating the 1977 eviction of the I-Hotel tenants, many of whom were merchant seamen, longshoremen, and fishermen.
The August 4 event activities will begin at 3 p.m. with a gathering event at the Maritime Museum. This project aims to grow into an annual multicultural event, fostering intergenerational connections and empowering the Filipino American community to reclaim their maritime heritage.
Participants will then join together in a group celebration that launches their miniature boats in Aquatic Park — symbolically reclaiming ancestral connections to the waterways. In honor of the use of Ramaytush Ohlone land, special guest Ramaytush Ohlone elder Gregg Castro will sing the Fog Song at Aquatic Park. Participants will then walk together through Aquatic Park, North Beach and Chinatown to the International Hotel Manilatown Center, with the event culminating in a screening of Curtis Choy’s
classic documentary, “The Fall of the I-Hotel” and a remembrance ceremony for the I-Hotel evicted tenants.
“As stewards of pre-colonial Philippine art and culture, we recognize the significance of our maritime history,” said Caroline Cabading, executive director of the Manilatown Heritage Foundation. “‘Flipping the Boat’ aims to revive our community’s maritime leadership and provide a platform for creative expression and cultural education.”
“Flipping the Boat” highlights the rich maritime history of the Filipino-American community, drawing parallels to their role as master navigators and boat builders in Philippine ancient times. It addresses the current socio-economic challenges, advocating for greater Filipino representation in leadership roles within the maritime industry.
This initiative not only commemorates the historical significance of Manilatown and the I-Hotel but also strengthens community bonds through shared cultural experiences. The workshops and events offered opportunities for families to learn, create, and celebrate together, fostering a sense of belonging and empowerment. For more information about “Flipping the Boat” and the Manilatown Heritage Foundation, please visit manilatown.org.
(MHF Release)
SANTA CLARA – At the July 16, 2024 City Council meeting, the council voted unanimously to place a $400 million general obligation bond on the November 2024 ballot to address the city’s over $600 million in unfunded infrastructure needs.
While the most immediate infrastructure needs total more than $600 million over the next five years, the total does not account for all unfunded needs in the city. In 2024 alone, the city received over $270 million in infrastructure requests from vari-
ous departments with only $24 million available in the Capital Projects Reserve.
“This bond measure, if approved by voters, is a substantial and much needed investment in our community,” says Mayor Gillmor. “We wanted to make sure the measure commits to specific projects so Santa Clarans know how the monies will be used, and that controls are in place to ensure maximum benefit to the city.” In addition to the bond measure ordinance, a detailed Expen-
diture Planwith specific projects was adopted to ensure monies are committed to the following infrastructure project areas:
• Streets and transportation ($41,170,000): Projects include street resurfacing/rehabilitation and ADA improvements
• Fire stations and emergency response ($142,235,450): Projects include replacement and/or renovation of several fire stations and training facility renovation
• Police facilities ($43,987,500): Projects include training facility,
The Miracle of Fatima The Musical in PH, Pilipinas Dream Team at PSBL grand opening at Araneta Coliseum
P.E.P. (People, Events,Places)
Rogelio Constantino Medina
RINA Ortiz, an animal welfare advocate and co-founder of Biyaya Animal Care, is a Filipina who never tires of rescuing stray animals.
Together with over 100 staff members and 15 doctors at three locations and five shelters, Ortiz is making a difference in local communities through rescuing and protecting “abused, neglected, lost, and mistreated animals while serving the veterinary needs of pet owners and individuals.”
She has also a regular podcast, The Rina Ortiz Podcast Season 2, that began with former Senator Leila de Lima. This was followed by Laila “Chikadora” Pangilinan (TV5’s cat mama). She also appeared in Dinah Ventura’s Pairfect of Daily Tribune. Recently, she had an outreach activity held in FPJ Studios in Quezon City for neutering, antirabies vaccination and microchipping of cats and dogs, courtesy of the Quezon City Veterinary Department, FPJ Panday Bayanihan, and Office of
Sen. Grace Poe.
On July 27, 2024 at 1 p.m. at Ayala Malls Trinoma Cinema 1, her Biyaya Animal Care will have Marvel Studios’ Deadpool and Wolverine’s block screening for the benefit of rescued cats and dogs of Biyaya Animal Sanctuary in Alfonso, Cavite. *
American producer and writer Barbara Oleynick, a multifaceted creative professional with a passion for evangelizing the Fatima message through live performances, will bring “The Miracle of Fatima The Musical” to the Philippines. She is a known playwright, composer, lyricist and executive director of Fatima Foundation Inc. Helping her is Dominican director Luis Marcell Ricart, founder of THEAMUS Teatro Musical and musical director of Iglesia Regina Angelorum.
The main characters are the three young visionaries: Lucia (to be enacted by Fatima Marie Mislang and 72nd FAMAS best child actress Elia Ilano who appreared in Vince M. Tanada’s “Maria Goretti The Musical”), Jacinta (to be played by Sophia Marie Banaag and Ramjean Entera who appeared in the recent film “A Thousand Forests”), and Francisco (to be played by Prince Espana who also appeared in “A Thousand Forests” and Kian Co who appeared in the “Mallari” film).
Others in the cast include Terrence Guillermo, Bem Sabanal, Radhni Tiplan, Bryant Aunor, Jerome Fugoso, Elinor Acorda, Jassy Calupitan, Malou Canzana, Sherryl Ilano, Karl Tiuseco, Joselito Reyes, Mary Grace Sy, Alex Payan, Amikah Brigette Aunor, Maria Krischellei Robles, John Nicolas Gamboa, Randy dela Cruz, Cielo Marie dela Cruz, Crystal Fae Manalac, and Matthew Joseph Escalante.
It will be premiered on October 13, 2024 (107 years ago, the “Miracle of the Sun” phenomenon happened in Fatima, Portugal on the same day) in Manila, running every Wednesday to Sunday until December 22, 2024.
* * * UNKNOWN to many, actresssinger Beverly Salviejo was once a teacher. She first became known in the sitcom “Urbana at Feliza” as the maid of comedian Lou Veloso, which starred Mitch Valdez and Nanette Inventor. Since then she has appeared in some TV shows and movies. Beverly has also appeared in ABS-CBN TV series “Forevermore,” with Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil and under the helm of director Cathy Garica-Molina. Likewise, she was seen in TV series “Imortal,” “Toda Max,” “Pintada,” “Princess and I,” “My Little Juan,” “Got to Believe,” “FPJ’s Ang Probinsiyano,” “Pusong Ligaw” and “Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko.” Recently, she won in the 2nd Gawad Dangal Filipino
Award as best supporting TV actress for her role in “Wish Ko Lang.” (Singer-actor Randy Santiago was also recognized by the same award-giving entity.) Salviejo also appeared in Daryll Yap’s “Maid in Malacanang.”
* * * Nirro Marcelo of SIRBISU Channel, chairman of the Philippine Finest Business Awards and Outstanding Achievers, recently directed Lae Manego, hailed as Asia’s Queen of Fire, in her first solo concert this year at Pier 1 in Quezon City. It was a huge success with Lae’s guests Ivy Violan, Jos Garcia and the Toshka Band.
I first met Lae, now Mrs. Querino Franzani (being married to a Dutch citizen), in September 2023 during PFBA. We were both awardees (thanks
SAN FRANCISCO – As part of the celebration of the 78th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the United States, the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco played host to the “Courage” exhibit at the Philippine Center’s Kalayaan Hall from July 8 to 12, 2024.
The solo exhibit by Coloradobased Filipino American immigration lawyer and bronze sculptor Elaine Antonio Bordeaux marks the second leg of her “Courage” exhibition tour, which was first staged at the Philippine Embassy in Madrid, Spain in November 2023.
“Courage” showcases Bordeaux’s sculptures in bronze, which depict her Filipino heritage, her life experiences in the Philippines and the United States, her faith, and her aspirations for her people. She uses bronze as her medium because of its strength and enduring quality.
The main showcase of the 16-piece exhibition is a bronze sculpture of Filipino World War II hero and “Lioness of Filipino Guerilla Spies” Magdalena “Maggie” Leones, which was unveiled during the exhibit’s opening reception on July 8.
In his welcome message, Philippine Consul General Neil Ferrer thanked Bordeaux for traveling all the way from Colorado — one of the 10 states under the Consulate’s jurisdiction — to mount her exhibit, and for her efforts in erecting a bronze statue of Philippine national hero Jose Rizal in Colorado Springs, Colorado through her nonprofit, the Dr. Jose Rizal Legacy International Foundation.
Consul General Ferrer, in his remarks, recognized Leones’s heroic acts during the Second World War as a bearer of intelligence information and vital equipment that earned her the Silver Star Medal, becoming the first and only Asian to receive one of the highest decorations for valor in combat by the U.S. Armed Forces.
Leones was a longtime Bay Area resident before her death in Richmond in 2016; she was later interred at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in the Philippines.
“To the family of Maggie Leones who are with us this evening, I wish to convey that the Filipino people consider her a hero. Rest assured that her legacy will never be diminished nor forgotten by future generations of Filipinos and Filipino Americans,” Consul General Ferrer said.
In line with the celebration of “Philippine-American Friendship Day” last Fourth of July, Consul General Ferrer said that the Philippines-U.S. alliance is at an all-time high, grounded on the legacy left behind by Filipino war veterans.
“While the patriotism of
Filipino World War II heroes such as Maggie Leones is often remembered in historical moments such as the Fall of Bataan and the Death March, it must be befitting that their most important legacy is not only the freedom that we gained as a people, but also the independence that we achieved later on as a nation,” Consul Ferrer said.
Circling back to Bordeaux’s exhibit, the Philippine Consul General said: “By honoring Maggie Leones and the other faces of courage in this art exhibit, may we be reminded of our historical and people-topeople connection that continues to define the enduring relations between the Philippines and the United States. All of us bear the responsibility of ensuring that the stories of our heroes will never be forgotten, passing it on to future generations.”
Consul General Ferrer and Bordeaux formally opened the exhibit with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Fil-Am Daly City Mayor Juslyn Manalo delivered her remarks during the program.
After a powerful number by
Filipino performing artist and X Factor Philippines finalist Mark Mabasa, a Filipino-themed cocktail reception followed, courtesy of Kusina ni Javen Jesel. A proud Caviteña, Bordeaux is a Filipina American lawyer, immigrant advocate, and visual artist. In her 16 years of law practice, she has represented human trafficking victims and Filipino workers in the United States for violations of labor laws. She is a volunteer lawyer of the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network, where she helps children immigrants from war-torn countries. Despite her successful law career in the United States, Bordeaux has not forgotten her passion for the arts, which began she was a child. She attended various art schools and training at the New York Academy of Art, the Houston Baptist University, and the Barcelona Academy of Art. In October 2023, Bordeaux was inducted into the 100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the World (Global FWN100) by the Filipina Women’s Network. (PCGSF Release)
Filipino American artist Elaine Antonio Bordeaux, along with Bay Area Filipino community leader Polly Cortez, unveils her bronze sculpture of Filipino World War II hero Magdalena “Maggie” Leones, during the opening of the “Courage” exhibit at the Philippine Center in San Francisco on July 8. San Francisco PCG photos
Posing with the bronze sculpture of Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal are (from left) Filipino American artist Elaine Antonio Bordeaux, ConGen Neil Ferrer and Daly City Mayor Juslyn Manalo.
ConGen Neil Ferrer and Elaine Antonio Bordeaux lead the ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the “Courage” exhibit at the Philippine Center in San Francisco.
Rina Ortiz of Biyaya Animal Care Photos courtesy of Rogelio Medina Elia Ilano, who plays Lucia, with American writer-lyricist Barbara Oleynick.
Barbara Oleynick (standing, behind) with the young cast of “The Miracle of Fatima The Musical”
From left: Beverly Salviejo, Randy Santiago and Asian Journal columnist Rogelio Medina Lae Manego with director Nirro Marcelo during rehearsals.
The Miracle of Fatima The Musical in...
to La Visual Corporation).
Recently, she appeared in New York City Billboard, courtesy of Janice Israel Delima Tentler. Soon, she will have her concert in Paris, France and The Netherlands.
Lae’s talent became known when she sang Aegis’ “Luha” on December 20, 2019 in GMA7’s Wowowin as part of the studio audience and which reached 16 million views on YouTube.
Ilonggo Bro. Vincent H. Fernandez, FSC of De
Education loves music and
songwriting. He had able to compose 11 songs despite his hectic schedule, and I was fortunate to listen to two of his songs when I visited him at LSGH one Saturday morning.
He said Louie Ocampo, a Filipino composer and arranger best known for his association with Martin Nievera, is his friend. Louie is regarded as one of the pillars and icons of Original Pilipino Music and he is best known for “Tell Me,” “Kahit Isang Saglit” and “You Are My Song.”
“Louie helped me in doing the original arrangement of my compositions,” says Bro. Vince who is the former director of
University of St. La Salle’s Bahay Pag-asa for Youth Center in Bacolod City from 2006 to 2009, leading him to be acquainted and engaged in the Philippine Department of Education’s Alternative Learning System.
I was mesmerized by Bro. Vincent’s “Just Believe” and other musical compositions.
“The songs were songs in the musical I also wrote entitled “Animo: One Man and a Dream,” a musical on the life of St. John Baptist De La Salle,” he said.
*
* * Rudy Aquino, or simply Jun, of the entertaining basketball team (Pilipinas Dream Team) said that the grand opening of the Perlas ng Silangan Basketball League will be on Sunday, July 28, at the Araneta Coliseum with the PDT vs PeekUp All Star Legends. In attendance will be El Gamma Penumbra, Jiji Plays, Cool Kids Crew, Lockdown Band, and Star Magic ABS-CBN Talents.
Jun, the son of the late veteran actress Naty Santiago and favorite visual artist of boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, related during the presscon for Noble Life’s 18th year in the Philippines on the topic of lifestyle solutions for diabetes how his family “is thankful to NobleLife for extending for one year and a half her life. We made a good decision to trust Dr. Orteza and NobleLife product. We did not return to the hospital and she underwent no surgery procedures. Thanks too to Lila Macapinlac.”
However, his mom Naty passed on peacefully at age 90.
*
* * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
* * * rogeliocmedina@yahoo.com
Citizen Pinoy presents part 2 of ‘Your Tanong...
Tita Liza was able to ask Atty. Gurfinkel if she could petition a family member from the Philippines to work as a nanny for her two-month-old granddaughter. Other customers and an employee of the branch were also able to ask their questions.
Jim has had his green card for almost five (5) years now. He wants to know if it is okay for him to file for his naturalization early.
Leah and her husband are
green card holders. They used to live in Qatar. However, Leah’s husband still chooses to work in Qatar, so she wants to know if such an arrangement will become a problem.
Elvira’s daughter petitioned her brother back in 2014. She is asking why it is taking so long. Lyn, an employee of Valerio’s, wants to know how they can expedite the arrival of their son in the U.S. Her husband petitioned their son in 2018, and the son is
City of Santa Clara to place $400M...
Police Department facility and real-time crime center infrastructure
• Parks, libraries, senior center, and aquatics facilities
($115,258,750): Projects include renovation and expansion of all three libraries and Senior Center, renovation and/or replacement of community aquatic facilities, and renovation of park/playground facilities
• Storm drain system improvements
($46,000,000): Projects include storm drain system improvements and storm water retention basin remediation
• Historic buildings and beautification ($9,200,000): Projects include street/median beautification and renovations to historic buildings.
Bonds would be issued in phases to address prioritized needs. At full issue, the estimated annual levy would be $19 per
$100,000 of assessed property value applicable to residential and business property owners and is expected to generate approximately $21,674,000 annually.
“This bond would provide a dedicated funding source for some of our most critical infrastructure needs,” says Councilmember Karen Hardy. “It was crucial for the council to get this measure in front of voters in November.”
The bond ordinance also includes a Transparency and Accountability Plan, which codifies the accompanying Expenditure Plan, establishes a Community Oversight Committee to ensure compliance with bond requirements, and sets forth a strict process by which amendments can be made to the Expenditure Plan. Among other requirements, bond expenditures would be subject to independent annual audits, and bond proceeds would
be prohibited for use on Levi’s® Stadium improvements or within .5 miles of the stadium, except for improvements in residential neighborhoods within the .5 mile radius.
The $400 million general obligation bond measure will be placed on the November 5, 2024 general election ballot, requiring a 2/3rds vote in favor to pass. A State ballot measure, Proposition 5, also on the November ballot, would lower the threshold needed for the bond measure to pass to 55%.
“We do know that the city’s current pay-as-you-go approach to funding infrastructure projects is untenable,” says City Manager Jovan Grogan. “We are very hopeful for this opportunity to place an infrastructure bond before Santa Clara voters.” For more information, visit SantaClaraCA.gov/LocalFunding. (City of Santa Clara Release)
La Salle Greenhills (LSGH) Alternative
Lae Manego in a New York City billboard.
Composer Louie Ocampo (middle) with Bro. Vince Fernandez, FSC (left) and Nawaf Teody Castro (right), a graduate of LSGH-ALS.
The Pilipinas Dream Team
The Pilipinas Dream Team with NobleLife CEO Lila Macapinlac (seated, 3rd from left) and other doctors.
Atty. Gurfinkel with Liza Valerio Atty. Gurfinkel (left) and Jim Atty. Gurfinkel with Elvira
Valerio’s employee Lyn (right) and Atty. Gurfinkel
Atty. Gurfinkel (extreme left) with Lea (extreme right) and her family
