081524 - Las Vegas Edition

best finish in 100 years of participating in the Games, claiming two golds and two bronzes for joint 37th place.

In Tokyo, the Philippines posted a 1-2-1 gold-silver-bronze haul highlighted by weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz winning the country's firstever Olympic gold. This is the first time that the

OF the 83 million Americans enrolled in Medicaid, nearly half being children, about 23 million have lost coverage since the pandemic, or stand to lose it.

The federal COVID-19 emergency froze the process of annual Medicaid eligibility checks known as redetermination. Since the emergency was lifted in May 2023, redetermination has begun again for the nearly one in four Americans and nearly half of all children in the country who are on Medicaid — worsening historic coverage gaps in many states.

Redetermination and coverage gaps

“Because of the bureaucratic hoops

MANILA — The Philippines plans to file a new diplomatic protest against China after two Chinese aircraft dropped flares in the path of a Philippine Air Force aircraft patrolling Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) last week, an incident that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has "strongly" condemned.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo bared this during an ambush interview on Monday, August 12, where he also noted that the latest incident comes at a time when tensions between the two countries are "already calming down."

"I don't know why they did it. ... It took us by surprise," Manalo said on the sidelines of

the government's commemoration of the 2024 International Humanitarian Law Day and the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

On Saturday, August 10, the Armed Forces of the Philippines accused China of "dangerous and provocative actions" after two Chinese Air Force aircraft executed a dangerous maneuver that "posed a threat to Philippine Air Force (PAF) aircraft and its crew" and "interfered with lawful flight operations in airspace within Philippine sovereignty and jurisdiction."

Marcos said in a statement on Sunday, August 11 that China's actions were "unjustified, illegal and reckless." Meanwhile, the Chinese People's Liberation Army said the "on-site operation was

VP Sara impeachment? Solons say it’s unheard

but not surprising

MANILA — There are no talks of an impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte at the House of Representatives, but a lawmaker said that it would not be a surprise if someone actually files a petition given the second-highest official’s recent activities.

Roque in a video posted on his official Facebook page said that he heard from his “classmates” in the 17th Congress who are still part of the 19th Congress that a complaint will be filed this week.

La Union Rep. Francisco Paolo Ortega V said he has not heard of such talks, claiming that the crystal ball that showed such predictions might just be dirty.

THE 2024 Paris Olympics marked a historic moment for both the sport of breaking and the Filipino American community as Logan Edra, known in the dance world as “Logistx,” made history as the first Filipina to compete in breaking, a newly added Olympic event.

After her Olympic debut, Edra took to Instagram to express her pride in her performance, despite not securing a medal. “Trust you are seen. All your life’s battles. Even if it stays between you and God,” she wrote, reflecting on the personal significance of the experience.

She continued, “Although I didn’t walk away with the outcome I envisioned, I still fought through to be here and did what I came here to do, and that was to represent and enjoy. I love how I danced out there, and that makes me proud.”

Edra acknowledged the challenges of competition, noting that while some rounds felt like victories, the unpredictable nature of the sport is all part of the journey.

During a press briefing on Monday, August 12 at the Batasang Pambansa complex, Young Guns bloc members were asked about former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque’s prediction that an impeachment complaint against Duterte is in the works.

“I have two crystal balls, but I have not seen anything like that, I looked at the left, and then the right, but there’s nothing. We’re sticking to the facts, of course, were sticking to the issues in the House of Representatives, and we have not heard anything like that,” Ortega said.

Ombudsman sacks Alice Guo

THE Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of Alice Guo as mayor of Bamban, Tarlac, finding her guilty of grave misconduct, in a decision approved Monday, August 12 by Ombudsman Samuel Martires.

"Guo's purchase of individual agricultural lots and consolidating and having them reclassified as residential and commercial lots; to the formation of Baofu, Hongsheng, and Zun Yuan; to throwing her hat in the mayoralty race, all point to the fact that she carefully planned, orchestrated and masterminded the POGO (Philippine offshore gaming operator) operations in Bamban, Tarlac," the decision said.

The Ombudsman said Guo's acts, such as

her involvement in the raided POGO hub in Bamban, showed a "willful intent on her part to violate the law or disregard established rules."

"The series of acts are interconnected, leaving no other conclusion than that they were committed by Guo with ulterior motive or self-interest," the decision read.

The penalty of dismissal comes with forfeiture of retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification from government service.

If the penalty of dismissal can no longer be enforced, it can be turned into a fine equal to Guo's salary for one year.

"It shall be understood that the accessory penalties attached to the principal penalty of dismissal shall continue to be imposed," the decision read.

professional, abided by norms, legitimate and legal."

The incident marks the first time that the Philippines and China have traded accusations over the conduct of military planes instead of boats or vessels in the West Philippine Sea.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. said the Philippines cannot let the incident pass without lodging a diplomatic protest against China, which it has repeatedly done after past confrontations between Chinese and Filipino vessels in the contested waters.

"Naturally, hindi tayo pwedeng pabayaan ito kahit na sabihin ng publiko na 'diplomatic protest, what not.' We cannot not do it, kung hindi nag-a-acquiesce tayo," Teodoro added.

 PAGE 2

U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and local Las Vegas officials on Monday, August 12 celebrated the groundbreaking of the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Southern Nevada’s Maryland Parkway Bus Rapid Transit project.

The project will expand transit service along Maryland Parkway, which connects the Las Vegas Medical District and Harry Reid International Airport.

Infrastructure upgrades will include enhanced transit stations, shared bus-bike lanes, wider sidewalks, and improvements to lighting and landscaping. Cortez Masto secured over $150 million in funding for this project through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law she helped pass.

“The Maryland Parkway corridor is home to 90,000 Nevada families

PH back-to-back best SEA...

Philippines won multiple medals in two consecutive Olympic editions.

In Paris, Carlos Yulo ruled the floor exercise and vault competitions in the men's artistic gymnastics to deliver the two gold medals.

Boxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas then bagged a bronze medal each for reaching the semifinals of the women's 57-kg and 50-kg classes, respectively.

At joint 39th, Indonesia also bagged two gold medals in Paris but second only to the Philippines with just one bronze only. Thailand, at joint 44th place, won the most medals with six but ranked just third in Southeast Asia with one gold medal on top of three silvers and two bronzes. Malaysia, joint 80th overall, placed fourth with two bronze medals while Singapore, joint 84th, finished fifth best in Southeast Asia with one bronze.

Heroes parade Yulo, Petecio and Villegas as well as the other Filipino Olympians are set for a heroes parade on Wednesday, August 14.

The Filipino Olympians arrive from Paris on Tuesday afternoon, August 13, at the Villamor Airbase and will proceed to the Malacañang Palace, where President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meets the Olympians as they are expected to be feted and granted incentives by the country's top official. g

VP Sara impeachment? Solons say...

“So maybe that crystal ball is just dirty, maybe it needs cleaning,” he added.

Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon agreed with Ortega, saying that he also has not heard of any possible impeachment complaint against Duterte.

Bongalon however said it would not be a surprise if someone actually files a complaint.

“So I will echo the statement of Cong. Paolo Ortega, we have not heard about any complaints, but it would not be a surprise if somebody would file an impeachment case against the vice president. It’s not bewildering, and we would not be shocked if there are actually groups or individuals out to file complaints who want to hold the vice president accountable,” he said.

Mere gossip

“But as of now, I am saying that we have not heard anything or any news about a possible filing of an impeachment case against the VP. So as of now, his (Roque’s) post will remain a mere gossip,” he added.

Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong meanwhile urged the public to separate the truth from hearsay, especially regarding this issue—adding that he does not know what are the intentions behind talks that Duterte might face an impeachment complaint.

“You know, we need to identify what is true news and what is mere gossip. I think we have been too reliant on gossip. I do not know what the intention is, maybe to preempt whatever is the result of this (quad-committee) investigation, to somehow divert

the attention, make this issue political, which is not […] really political,” Adiong said.

“They’re trying to make it as a politically-motivated (issue).

Remember when we said earlier, this (quadcomm) investigation is not political because this investigation has separate investigations by these committees,” he added.

Duterte has been facing criticisms recently over her statements, especially since she resigned from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s cabinet last June 19.

When Duterte announced that she would not be attending Marcos’ third State of the Nation Address and was instead appointing herself as the designated survivor, several lawmakers and observers felt the joke was done in bad taste — as if a veiled threat that something wrong might happen during the event.

Then, when Duterte complained about the removal of 75 police officers from her security detail, past and present solons were quick to remind her that she still had over 300, with former Office of the Vice President spokesperson Barry Gutierrez saying that this was still three times greater than what exvice president Leni Robredo had.

Duterte also drew flak for supposedly making it appear that her security was depleted when the Armed Forces of the Philippines said that 400 military officers were securing her.

According to Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez, having this number might be excessive already.

Several media outfits, including INQUIRER.net, have asked the Office of the Vice President for their response to the criticisms hurled at Duterte, but they have not issued any response as of now. g

Philippines to file new diplomatic protest...

(Naturally, we cannot just ignore this, even if the public says 'diplomatic protest, what not.' We cannot not do it; otherwise, we are acquiescing.)

The defense chief said he does not think the incident is "alarming."

"It's a response that we should need to be acclimated to," he said.

While the Philippines and China's latest agreement only covers de-escalating tensions during resupply missions to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Teresita Daza said that the Philippines adopts a "de-escalatory approach to tensions in the WPS."

"It remains committed to diplomacy and peaceful means

The feature is at least 472 nautical miles away from the nearest coast of China. g

Fil-Am breakdancer Logan Edra looks back...

In her message, Edra also paid tribute to the origins of breaking, expressing deep gratitude for the pioneers and creators of the art form.

“Shoutout to Hip Hop for being a light in my life. SHOUTOUT TO THE PIONEERS/CREATORS OF BREAKIN. Thank you Breakin for being true medicine. Thank God for dance and music,” she added.

The Fil-Am dancer emphasized the importance of respect for BIPOC, Hip Hop, and the breaking community, asserting, “BIPOC / HIP HOP / BREAKIN IS NOT TO BE MESSED WITH WE ARE TO BE RESPECTED.”

In an interview shared by NBC Olympics, Edra expressed her excitement and confidence about breaking’s debut on the Olympic stage. Her vision for the sport extends beyond personal success. She aims to captivate audiences worldwide, highlighting breaking, like skateboarding, as an “art-sport.”

“I pray that we bring the most hype and steal attention from the other sports,” she told Reuters. “They are going to hear the music and be so curious. Like, what’s going on?”

Unfortunately, Team USA missed the podium in breaking at the Summer Games, as both of its B-Girls, Sunny Choi and Logistx, were unable to advance beyond the round-robin stage. (Inquirer.net)

REDUCING BACKLOG. Plastic driver’s

photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.

Photo from Instagram/@logistx_ugf

Vice President Sara Duterte File photo

California bill would require state review of private equity deals in health care

by BERNARD J. WOLFSON KFF Health News

A BILL pending in California’s legislature to ratchet up oversight of private equity investments in health care is receiving enthusiastic backing from consumer advocates, labor unions, and the California Medical Association, but drawing heavy fire from hospitals concerned about losing a potential funding source.

The legislation, sponsored by Attorney General Rob Bonta, would require private equity groups and hedge funds to notify his office of planned purchases of many types of health care businesses and obtain its consent.

It also reinforces state laws that bar nonphysicians from directly employing doctors or directing their activities, which is a primary reason for the doctor association’s support.

Private equity firms raise money from institutional investors such as pension funds and typically acquire companies they believe can be run more profitably. Then they look to boost earnings and sell the assets for multiples of what they paid for them.

That can be good for future retirees and sometimes for mismanaged companies that need a capital infusion and a new direction. But critics say the profit-first approach isn’t good for health care. Private equity deals in the sector are coming under increased scrutiny around the country amid mounting evidence that they often lead to higher prices, lower-quality care, and reduced access to core health services.

Opponents of the bill, led by the state’s hospital association, the California Chamber of Commerce, and a national private equity advocacy group, say it would discourage much-needed investment. The hospital industry has already persuaded lawmakers to exempt sales of for-profit hospitals from the proposed law.

“We preferred not to make that amendment,” Bonta said in an interview. “But we still have a strong bill that provides very important protections.”

The legislation would still apply to a broad swath of medical businesses, including clinics, physician groups, nursing homes, testing labs, and outpatient

facilities, among others. Nonprofit hospital deals are already subject to the attorney general’s review.

A final vote on the bill could come this month if a state Senate committee moves it forward.

Nationally, private equity investors have spent $1 trillion on health care acquisitions in the past decade, according to a report by The Commonwealth Fund. Physician practices have been especially attractive to them, with transactions growing sixfold in a decade and often leading to significant price increases. Other types of outpatient services, as well as clinics, have also been targets.

In California, the value of private equity health care deals grew more than twentyfold from 2005 to 2021, from less than $1 billion to $20 billion, according to the California Health Care Foundation. Private equity firms are tracking the pending legislation closely but so far haven’t slowed investment in California, according to a new report from the research firm PitchBook.

Multiple studies, as well as a series of reports by KFF Health News, have documented some of the difficulties created by private equity in health care.

Research published last December in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed a larger likelihood of adverse events such as patient infections and falls at private equity hospitals compared with others. Analysts say more research is needed on how patient care is being affected but that the impact on cost is clear.

“We can be almost certain that after a private equity acquisition, we’re going to be paying more for the same thing or for something that’s gotten worse,” said Kristof Stremikis, director of Market Analysis and Insight at the California Health Care Foundation.

Most private equity deals in health care are below the $119.5 million threshold that triggers a requirement to notify federal regulators, so they often slide under the government radar.

The Federal Trade Commission is stepping up scrutiny, and last year it sued a private equitybacked anesthesia group for anticompetitive practices in Texas.

Lawmakers in several other states, including Connecticut, Minnesota, and Massachusetts, have proposed legislation that would subject private equity deals to greater transparency.

Not all private equity firms are bad operators, said Assembly member Jim Wood, a Democrat from Healdsburg, but review is essential: “If you are a good entity, you shouldn’t fear this.”

The bill would require the attorney general to examine proposed transactions to determine their impact on the quality and accessibility of care, as well as on regional competition and prices.

Critics note that private equity deals are often financed with debt that is then owed by the acquired company. In many cases, private equity groups sell off real estate to generate immediate returns for investors and the new owners of the property then charge the acquired company rent.

That was a factor in the financial collapse of Steward Health Care, a multistate hospital system that was owned by the private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management from 2010 to 2020, according to a report by the Private Equity Stakeholder Project, a nonprofit that supports the California bill. Steward filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May.

“Almost all of the most distressed US healthcare companies are owned by private equity firms,” according to another study by the group.

Opponents of the legislation argue it would dampen muchneeded investment in an industry with soaring operating costs.

“Our concern is that it will cut off funding that can improve health care,” said Ned Wigglesworth, a spokesperson for Californians to Protect Community Health Care, a coalition of groups fighting the legislation. The prospect of having to submit to a lengthy review by the attorney general, he said, would create “a chilling effect on private funders.”

Proponents of private equity investment point to what they say are notable successes in California health care.

Children’s Choice Dental Care, for example, said in a letter to state senators that it logs over 227,000 dental visits annually, mostly with children on Medi-Cal, PAGE 5

Ombudsman sacks Alice...

In the same decision, the Office of the Ombudsman ordered the three-month suspension of the following as it found them guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service: Business Permit and Licensing Officer Edwin Campo, Municipal Legal Officer Adenn Sigua, Leonardo Anunciacion, Johny Sales, Jayson Galang, Nikko Balilo, Ernesto Salting, Jose Salting Jr., Robin Mangiliman, Jose Casmo Aguilar, Mary Andrei Lacsamana, and Ranier Rivera.

If the suspension can no longer be enforced, it can be turned into a fine equivalent to their salary for three months.

Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) issued Guo a subpoena directing her to personally appear before the Comelec Law Department for the preliminary investigation of the material misrepresentation case filed against her.

The subpoena was served by Elmo Duque, assistant regional election director, Comelec Region 3, and was received by Alice Manaloto, the secretary of Guo, who has gone into hiding.

Duque said the subpoena was first served at Guo's residence, as declared in her certificate of candidacy (CoC), but she was not there. A copy of the subpoena was also received by an unidentified caretaker.

"To satisfy the process to inform her (Guo) of the existence of a preliminary investigation to determine probable cause against her, we went to her office as she is a public official. We served [the subpoena] to a competent person in charge of her office, Ms. Manalot. She received it, and therefore, at that moment, we have served the subpoena," Duque said.

Duque said it does not matter whether Guo would acknowledge or not the receipt of the subpoena, saying that it was received by a competent person working in her office, which is in compliance with the provision of law.

The next move, Duque added, is for the suspended mayor to personally appear at the Comelec office and submit her counteraffidavit within 10 days of receiving the order.

Duque warned Guo that her non-participation in the process would compel the investigating officer to recommend the filing of criminal charges against her because the evidence they have

is uncontroverted.

On Aug. 6, the Comelec en banc unanimously adopted the recommendation of the Legal Department to file a formal complaint against Guo for alleged misrepresentation in her candidacy in the 2022 local elections.

The commission's decision was based on the findings of the Comelec investigating panel that all fingerprints provided by the National Bureau of Immigration (NBI) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) matched with the fingerprints in Guo's certificate of candidacy, application for registration as voter, and her fingerprints on the election day computerized voters list or EDCV when she voted in the 2022 elections and 2023 BSKE polls.

The fingerprints from the BI belong to a certain Guo Hua Ping, a Chinese citizen, but subsequent examinations by fingerprint experts from the NBI and the Comelec showed that it was a 100 percent match with the mayor's prints.

Chairman George Erwin Garcia pointed out earlier that under Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC), misrepresentation is a criminal case punishable by one to six years imprisonment if proven guilty, Garcia added that Guo is also liable for perjury, a separate case, because she lied under oath when she claimed that she was a Filipino citizen in her CoC.

If Guo is found guilty in court and the sentence becomes final and executory, she would be perpetually disqualified from holding public office.

Garcia further said there is no pardon for one found guilty of an election offense, adding that the "presidential pardon could only be granted with the consent of the Comelec."

Sen. Risa Hontiveros said Guo, apparently Chinese, is not qualified to be a local official as she lauded the Ombudsman for ordering her dismissal for grave misconduct.

"I commend the Ombudsman for this sound and sensible judgment," Hontiveros said in a statement. She said that Guo or Guo Hua Ping "should have been stripped of that title immediately after we confirmed that she was not Filipino."

"She does not deserve to serve the Filipino nation. And she must be held liable for violating our laws. I trust that our law enforcers are working double time to catch this fugitive," Hontiveros said in Filipino and English.

"All these cases against Alice Guo are well and good, but until she has not been found [or arrested], our quest for justice is not fully achieved," she added.

Guo was ordered arrested by the Senate for refusing to attend the public inquiry on her alleged link to Chinese criminals who allegedly financed and operated the POGOs in Bamban.

Guo denied the charges. 

Guo holds her proclamation document after winning the elections

Rams honor first Fil-Am quarterback in NFL at preseason opener

INGLEWOOD – The Rams

honored Roman Gabriel

– the record-setting first Filipino American quarterback in the NFL

– as the “Legend of the Game” at Sunday’s preseason opener against the Dallas Cowboys at SoFi Stadium, nearly four months after his death at age 83.

A tribute video was played during the first quarter and Gabriel’s son, Roman Gabriel III, was interviewed on the field to highlight his father’s legacy.

Gabriel threw a team-record 154 touchdown passes for the Rams from 1962-72. He also holds the team record for victories by a starting quarterback, 74.

Following a college career at North Carolina State that would lead to his election to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989, the Rams selected Gabriel with the second pick of the 1962 NFL draft, behind Heisman Trophy- winning running back Ernie Davis.

After splitting time as the starter with Zeke Bratkowski and Bill Munson during his first four seasons with the team, first-year coach George Allen made Gabriel the starter in 1966, and he guided the team to an 8-6 record, its first winning season since 1958.

The Rams won the Coastal Division title in 1967, reaching the playoffs for the first time since

1955, with Gabriel selected for the Pro Bowl for the first of three consecutive seasons.

Gabriel was selected as the NFL’s MVP in 1969 when he threw a league-leading 24 touchdown passes as the Rams won their first 11 games, but lost their final three regular-season games and firstround playoff game.

The Rams acquired John Hadl from the San Diego Chargers in 1973, with the intention of making him their starting quarterback. Gabriel requested a trade and was dealt to the struggling Philadelphia Eagles.

In his first season with the Eagles, Gabriel was voted Comeback Playerof the Year by sports writers after he tied for the league-lead in touchdown passes, led in passing yards and completions and was selected for the Pro Bowl.

Gabriel rejoined the Rams — as did Allen — in 1978 after becoming a free agent, drew rave reviews for his play in two minicamps, but was waived after failing a physical because of what he said was arthritis in a leg.

Following his playing career, Gabriel was an analyst on CBS’ NFL telecasts in 1978 and 1979, coached Cal Poly Pomona from 1980-82, was the offensive coordinator for the Boston Breakers of the United States Football League in 1983 and coach of the Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks of the World League of American Football in 1991. (Inquirer.net with reports from CNS)

Senator Cortez Masto, Secretary Buttigieg join...

and supports 80,000 jobs. This investment in public transit is critical for our economy, our transportation, and the safety of our communities,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “In Nevada, we are embracing 21st century innovation, and I am proud to support projects like this one that make our roadways safer and more accessible for everyone.”

“Thanks to President Biden, Vice President Harris, and this

Congressional delegation, we passed historic infrastructure funding that includes the biggest investment in public transit in U.S. history,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “We’re using that funding package to improve roads in Las Vegas, we’ve started work on America’s first high-speed rail line between Las Vegas and Southern California, and today we begin construction on a new rapid bus route that will give residents a faster, more reliable, more comfortable trip between the airport, UNLV, downtown Las Vegas, and the Medical District.”

“The benefits of this project are vast,” said RTC Executive Officer M.J. Maynard. “We are implementing a ‘complete streets’ design to enable safe use and support mobility for all users,

whether they choose to walk, bike, drive or take transit. We are enhancing Maryland Parkway for sections who lives, works, and travels within the corridor.”

Through her seat at the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, which has jurisdiction over the USDOT’s federal transit programs, Cortez Masto has advocated for increased support for vital transportation projects throughout Nevada. As part of her Innovation State Initiative, she secured multiple transportation provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, including funding to support smart cities that use technology to solve transportation challenges. This funding is already benefiting Las Vegas and the RTC and enhancing traffic safety and efficiency. g

Americans face historic Medicaid coverage gaps...

that people need to jump through, the past year has been like a disenrollment churn on steroids, even for many who are still eligible,” said Katherine Hampstead, senior policy advisor at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, at a Friday, August 9 Ethnic Media Services briefing on Medicaid coverage gaps.

69% of these disenrollments owe to paperwork issues rather than ineligibility, and nearly a quarter of the 20 million people dropped from Medicaid since the redetermination began are still uninsured as of April 2024.

“Medicaid is the largest single source of health insurance in the country, but there’s both federal and state money going into it … so it’s like 50 different programs state to state,” explained Hampstead, adding that redetermination is particularly worsening coverage gaps for the populations Medicaid was originally designed for, like low-income groups, seniors, people with disabilities, children and pregnant women.

Coverage gaps also disproportionately affect communities of color — especially in the 10 states, mostly in the South, which have not expanded Medicaid income limits from 100% to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for adults aged 19 to 64.

This FPL expansion is permitted by the Affordable Care Act, and was ruled by the Supreme Court in 2012 to be optional for each state.

As of 2024, the FPL is $14,580 for an individual, 138% percent of that being $20,783; or $24,860 for a family of three, 138% of that being $35,632.

In states which haven’t expanded FPL limits — like Florida, Texas, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi — “there’s a coverage gap where two to three million people, predominantly populations of color, are in a very unfortunate situation where they’re ‘too poor’ to get marketplace subsidized coverage, yet they don’t qualify for Medicaid because their state’s eligibility limit is so low,” said Hampstead.

Youth coverage

“Despite our name, young people are not invincible,” said Martha Sanchez, health policy and advocacy director at youth advocacy nonprofit Young Invincibles. “We’re the future of our U.S. workforce and economy, and we cannot afford to continue to regress in our health.”

About 30% of U.S. young adults aged 18 to 34 are uninsured, higher than any other age group and comprising over one in five of all uninsured Americans.

Meanwhile, a 2019 CDC study shows that at least half of young adults have at least one chronic condition like diabetes, cancer or mental health issues.

Since the pandemic these conditions have only been rising, with one third of all young adults — and half of those aged 18 to 24 — reporting symptoms of mental illness.

The American Cancer Society also reports increasing rates of cancer among young adults; particularly types associated with older adults, like colon cancer.

“We’re in a crisis where our health care systems are not meeting the needs of our young people, who are often in a stage of transition out of Medicaid … because there’s no expansion, they’re sold student health plans or they don’t know how to enroll in other plans,” said Sanchez.

“I grew up on Medicaid, and I never understood all of the benefits I had until I transitioned out as a college student,” she explained. “I had annual checkups, vaccinations and dental care, but I had no idea about the mental health benefits. And we’ve heard this from other young adults who shared that they would have taken advantage of mental health resources, but had no idea it was covered … We need not only Medicaid expansion but health literacy, so people can actually use their coverage.”

Since redetermination, 5.5 fewer children below 18 are enrolled in Medicaid as of July 2024.

“Many of these children remain eligible, and we need to get them back enrolled, particularly in back to school right now,” said Joan Alker, executive director and co-founder of the Center for Children and Families and research professor at Georgetown University.

Net Medicaid enrollment changes vary drastically between states, with the largest drops by number being 1.3 million fewer children in Texas, approximately 542,600 fewer children in Florida and 373,000 fewer children in California.

The largest drops by percentage are Utah, with 34.5% fewer children on Medicaid; Colorado, with 30.9% fewer children; and Texas, with 29.1% fewer children.

“We’ve heard that parents are putting off care because they’re not insured, and just hoping their child doesn’t get sick. That children are having to skip their medications, not getting their inhalers and missing treatments for behavioral health conditions,” said Alker.

“Children are not expensive to our health care system, but they need regular care, so even a short gap exposes the family to large medical bills … and without that routine care, children are less able to learn,” she added. “Many of these children are still eligible for

Roman Gabriel Photo courtesy of LA Rams

INTERMISSION. Dancers perform the traditional fan dance of South Korea at the Senate in Pasay City on Monday, Aug. 12. The performance is a tribute to the 75th anniversary of the bilateral relations between Korea and the Philippines. PNA photo by Avito Dalan

IFB

SNRHA CONTACT PERSON(S) ONLY:

Note: Contact with any other SNRHA staff other than the named within this document is prohibited and will result in your Proposal being rejected. This also includes contact with SNRHA’s Residents and Board of Commissioners.

HOW TO OBTAIN THE SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS ON THE APPLICABLE INTERNET SITES:

the health insurance program for low-income Californians. “We have been able to expand to 25 locations, because we have been able to access capital from a private equity firm,” the group wrote.

Ivy Fertility, with clinics in California and eight other states, said in a letter to state senators that private investment has expanded its ability to provide fertility treatments at a time when demand for them is increasing.

Researchers note that private equity investors are hardly alone

when it comes to health care profiteering, which extends even to nonprofits. Sutter Health, a major nonprofit hospital chain, for example, settled for $575 million in a lawsuit brought by then-Attorney General Xavier Becerra, for unfair contracting and pricing.

“It’s helpful to look at ownership classes like private equity, but at the end of the day we should look at behavior, and anyone can do the things that private equity firms do,” said Christopher Cai, a physician and health policy researcher

Americans face historic Medicaid coverage gaps... California bill would require state review...

Medicaid. Any gap in coverage is not acceptable.”

What’s next?

“The price America pays for giving states enormous authority over their Medicaid programs is extremely high,” said Stan Dorn, director of the Health Policy Project at UnidosUS. “A family has a very different likelihood of getting health care based simply on the state in which they happen to live.”

To bridge these dramatic coverage gaps across states, Dorn suggested making “administrative burdens completely irrelevant for as many people as possible” through paperless eligibility;

linguistically and culturally accessible enrollment help; automatic renewal of qualified people using tax and wage information that the government already has; and providing continuous coverage in the case of missing paperwork.

As states pay a percentage of the cost of each Medicaid enrollee, Dorn also suggested creating federal standards for state redetermination performance to incentivize states that don’t want to pay.

States that exceed standards would get a bonus, as was done with the Children’s Health Insurance Program in 2009. For states that don’t meet standards,

at Harvard Medical School. He added, though, that private equity investors are “more likely to engage in financially risky or purely profit-driven behavior.”

This article was produced by KFF Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.

he suggested deferring federal payments until the state improved, while stopping families from being terminated.

“We found that the states with the worst problems in terms of people losing coverage had invested the least amount of money in their eligibility infrastructure. So ultimately, it’s a question of values,” said Dorn. “Are the states’ officials willing to invest enough money in running a Medicaid program that they would trust with their own family’s health care? Some are willing to invest in systems that work for families and providers, and others are not.” (Selen Ozturk/ Ethnic Media Services)

Pre Bid Meeting It is recommended that bidder attend this meeting. Note: This meeting is not mandatory.

Ryan J Perry, Contract Administrator

Telephone: (702) 477-3142

TDD: (702) 387-1898

Email: rperry@snvrha.org or not available, contact Linda Price Simpson, Contract Administrator Telephone: (702) 477-3144

Email: lpsimpson@snvrha.org

WHERE TO DOWNLOAD AND RESPOND TO SOLICITATION: DOWNLOAD AND RESPOND TO THIS SOLICITATION:

Bidders must register Nevada Government Marketplace (NGEM). to access, download and respond to this solicitation. Bidder Registration & Bidding Platform: https://nevada.ionwave.net/Login.aspx

If a supplier is not registered with NGEM, it will not receive automatic notification of notices and addendums issued in connection with this solicitation. There is no charge to suppliers for registering and using the NGEM system. DOWNLOADS ONLY: SNRHA website: www.snvrha.org clicks on Procurement and “Current Bid Invitations” and proceed to the solicitation

SOLICITATION SUBMITTAL RETURN & DEADLINE:

ANTICIPATED APPROVAL BY SNRHA BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, if necessary Thursday, October 17, 2024

Emerging Small Businesses (ESB), Minority, Women-Owned and Small Business Enterprises are encouraged to participate in this Solicitation Process. For additional information regarding ESB, please contact Nathan Jackson of the Governor’s Office at (702) 486- 4674 or njackson@diversifynevada. com.2700 rmonroe@DIVERSIFYNEVADA.COM

OPINION FEATURES

Come out and talk

EVEN the person identified as the architect of Oplan Tokhang has admitted that police abuses were committed in carrying out the bloody crackdown on the illegal drug scourge during the previous administration. Relatives of many of the thousands of drug suspects who were killed in the so-called war on drugs are still hoping for justice.

If those with intimate knowledge of the brutal campaign want to talk about what happened, this is a good time to do so. President Marcos is standing firm on his policy, which he has made clear since the start of his administration, that he is pursuing a different tack in confronting the illegal drug problem. The other day, he reiterated it before the Philippine National Police: “Indeed, police operations are now conducted as humane, as truthful and as bloodless as possible.”

Editorial

offered to serve as witnesses in the House probe. In the early months of the Marcos administration, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla had urged law enforcers to come out and testify about abuses committed in the war on drugs, promising protection to those who decide to talk. There were no takers. Remulla issued the call as Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra lamented the difficulty of finding witnesses and even complainants in possible EJKs in the war on drugs.

At the same time, anyone can infer from the pronouncements of administration officials that the government will not block the International Criminal Court in its effort to determine whether murder as a crime against humanity was committed in the drug war launched by Rodrigo Duterte when he was president and before that, mayor of Davao City. Congressmen, for their part, are looking into reports that dirty money from Chinese-run Philippine offshore gaming operator firms, which proliferated in the previous administration, were used to finance an alleged reward system that encouraged extrajudicial killings or EJK in the war on drugs. The congressmen said several police officers, some retired and others still in the active service, have

At the time, however, administration officials were saying that the Philippines did not recognize ICC jurisdiction. Also, the 2022 alliance between the Marcos and Duterte groups appeared to be intact. This time, both sides have acknowledged that the UniTeam has broken up, with the government’s indirect cooperation with the ICC reportedly among the reasons.

These developments open opportunities for the truth to be known in the drug killings. If there are police officers who are ready to talk, it’s time for them to come out. Whether they are genuinely bothered by their conscience or simply want something in return, what matters is that they tell the truth, and help deliver justice. (Philstar.com)

SOME hopes must have run high when another newspaper bannered last month that the Supreme Court had moved to compel Congress to finally pass a law defining political dynasties, which our 1987 Constitution expressly prohibits. Article II Section 26 asserts: “The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.” The report added that the Court considered the latter’s failure to pass the enabling law to implement the ban to be a grave abuse of discretion, and represents a continuing violation of the Constitution. But it all turned out to be a mistake. The paper had to apologize the following day, admitting it had misinterpreted

THEY say the true measure of one’s character is the ability to bounce back from failure and disappointment. But it’s equally true that success and glory can be revealing. The past week was easily among the proudest and most joyful moments for the Filipino nation. Carlos Yulo defied all odds by claiming not one but two gold medals for the country, thus catapulting our nation to the top 35 nations in the overall Olympic medal rankings. And mind you, he achieved this in the field of gymnastics, arguably the pinnacle of all sports.

In fact, Yulo’s unfathomable success singlehandedly made sure that the Philippines remained the leader among all Southeast Asian countries. Bronze medals from our valiant boxers, Aira Villegas and Nesthy Petecio, cemented our regional position ahead of both Indonesia and Thailand well into the end of the games. If anything, the Philippines comfortably ranked among the top 10 nations in the entire Asian continent, with the usual “Big Four” of China, South Korea, Japan, and Iran putting up dominant performances in their respective fields of strength.

the Court’s posting on its website of petitions and other pleadings asking it to compel Congress to pass such a law. The Court clarified that all remain pending, including one such petition that a group of lawyers filed last March. Some expect that the high court would invoke separation of powers and avoid any such action that might be seen as encroaching on the powers of Congress as a co-equal body. The enabling law required to implement the constitutional ban on dynasties may yet remain a dream after 37 years, and still counting. It’s not for lack of bills filed in Congress. Numerous bills have been filed since 1987, but Congress simply passed them over. In more recent memory, the late former senator Miriam Defensor Santiago filed anti-dynasty bills in the 15th and 16th Congresses. So did former senators Franklin Drilon, Panfilo Lacson, and Francis

Pangilinan, the last being in the 18th Congress in 2019. Similar bills had been filed in the House of Representatives, including by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and various party list and district lawmakers in the 16th Congress. Most recently, Sen. Robin Padilla, as chair of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes, filed Senate Bill No. 2730 “seeking to finally fulfill the 1987 Constitution’s mandate to prohibit political dynasties.” Padilla cites findings by scholars documenting the harm dynasties have done, and how they have become more and more prevalent in the Philippines over the years.

Studies distinguish between “fat” and “thin” dynasties: the first is when family members hold simultaneous government positions (“sabay-sabay”), while the latter is when family members succeed each other in the same position (“sunod-sunod”). Either

way, the Philippines appears to have earned the “dynasty capital of the world” tag that Santiago described us to be. A group of Ateneo de Manila University researchers led by Dr. Ronald Mendoza noted that looking at legislators alone, 75 percent belonged to dynasties in 2013. The same figure was 6 percent in the United States, 10 percent in Argentina and Greece, 22 percent in Ireland, 24 percent in India, 33 percent in Japan, 40 percent in Mexico, and 42 percent in Thailand—all far below us.

Apart from much higher incidence, Philippine dynasties kept expanding over time, quite unlike experience elsewhere where dynasties have declined.

A 2009 study led by Ernesto Dal Bo found that 11 percent of US legislators between 1789 and 1858 were dynastic, but fell to 7 percent after 1966, and more recently, to 6 percent. A 2011 study by Brian Feinstein noted a similar

decline in various countries that introduced political reforms to curb dynasties, notably in Latin America. But in the past three decades, the Philippines moved in the opposite direction. From 62 percent in the 8th Congress (1987-1992), it rose to 66 percent by the 12th Congress (1998-2001), and further to 75 percent in the 14th Congress— jokingly described then as a “Montessori Congress” for the unusually large number of young legislators who were offspring of their predecessors. But even more glaring is the current 19th Congress, where husbands and wives, parents and sons or daughters, and siblings have won seats together. Almost 80 percent of our lawmakers now belong to dynasties. Disturbingly, even sectoral representatives are also increasingly dynastic, defying the intended aim of party list representation to make representation in Congress more inclusive. How then can one

expect an anti-dynasty law to come out of such a legislature? It’s the same story with local elective positions. Mendoza’s updated data show governors with at least one relative in office having grown from a 41-percent share in 1988 to 80 percent in 2019. Vice governors’ fat dynasty share had risen from 18 to 68 percent in the same period. For mayors, it grew from 26 to 53 percent. With countless studies having shown close correlation between dynasties and persistent backwardness and poverty, it looks and feels like a cancer getting out of hand, overwhelming our politics and our society. One can only pray it’s not terminal. (Inquirer.net) * * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

* * * cielito.habito@gmail.com

The Koreans did their magic in taekwondo, while the Persians easily reminded the world of their wrestling pedigree. As for China, they got 13 gold medals in diving and shooting alone, with five in both table tennis and weightlifting. As for tiny impoverished Uzbekistan, it easily ranked in the top 15 nations on earth by leveraging its Sovietera legacy of sports excellence, particularly in boxing and judo. In short, the Philippines was in a rarified company of Asian sporting giants.

It was precisely at this moment of singular national glory that things took a bizarre turn. Instead of pouring over sports analytics and Yulo’s incredible journey to an unprecedented double-gold at the Olympics, the national conversation was seamlessly hijacked by a family feud and personal drama. I’m neither in a position to nor, frankly, interested in pouring over the precise circumstances of private squabbles in Yulo’s life. I’m not here to judge. It’s his private life, and I respect that. The problem, however, is that too many extraneous elements seemed more than eager to cash in on the controversies surrounding our new national hero’s private life. And entrepreneurial vloggers and click-bait media practitioners were the main culprits. But there was more. Talent

managers reportedly angled to handle Yulo’s budding “showbiz” career, while credit-grabbing politicians began flexing their alleged past support for the new hero ahead of next year’s elections. As of this writing, the total amount of pledged prizes in both cash and properties is approaching a whopping 20 percent of the Philippines’ entire annual sports budget.

It’s not that Yulo is getting too much—he deserves every million he is getting—but that our total investment in sports is so minuscule. The proposed 2025 national budget decreased dramatically, from last year’s P1.156 billion to only P725 million in the upcoming fiscal year.

If anything, the bulk of new funding in sports is expected to go into basketball, an unquestionably much-beloved sport that is yet to produce an Olympic qualification in this century. Meanwhile, most of our national sportsmen and potential Olympians will have to survive on barely minimum wage level support for the foreseeable future. We clearly have a winner-takes-all culture, which handsomely rewards only those who have won medals rather than those who could win our next ones en masse.

More fundamentally, however, we need to overcome a culture of mediocrity, which prioritizes drama, sentimentality, and

showbiz. It’s the same culture that has driven away among the best and brightest in this country, including former Olympians and many of my colleagues, both academics and professionals, who are now instead working at the world’s leading institutions rather than directly helping their motherland.

This year’s memorable Olympics showed us that we never lacked in talent, or in determination.

If anything, a new “golden era” in Philippine sports could be on the horizon. But we need a culture of excellence, which knows how to prioritize investment in nurturing our best and brightest as well as developing a wide range of sports endeavors capable of delivering us Olympic glory. As the 13th most populous nation on earth, we are clearly yet to fully optimize the vast and impressive pool of talent and energy in our beloved Philippines. (Inquirer.net)

rheydarian@inquirer.com.ph

RICHARD HEYDARIAN

Carlos Edriel Yulo

Photo courtesy of International Gymnastics Federation

Dateline PhiliPPines

Philippines, US hold joint air exercises

by Michael Punongbayan Philstar.com

— Air forces of the Philippines and the United States carried out a joint maneuver on Friday, August 9 over Pampanga and Cebu, in what organizers said was a demonstration of the two allies’ enduring partnership.

Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo, Philippine Air Force public affairs office chief, said the exercise –dubbed as Iron Blade – involved two Philippine FA-50PH fighter aircraft, two U.S. Air Force FA22s and a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.

During the activity, the aircraft conducted formation

flights between Basa Air Base in Pampanga and Brigadier General Benito Ebuen Air Base in Mactan, Cebu.

Castillo said a photo exercise was also included in the mission, aimed at further improving cooperation and interoperability between the PAF and the USAF. Apart from the aerial maneuvers, she said subject matter expert exchanges were held in Pampanga focusing on flight operations and maintenance, while cargo-related exchanges took place in Cebu.

Castillo said Iron Blade is part of the two air forces’ redeployment activities following their participation in the Pitch Black Exercise in Australia.

Marcos to give P1-M to all athletes in Paris Olympics

by Catherine S. Valente ManilaTimes.net

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, August 13, announced a P1-million cash incentive to each of the Filipino athletes who competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The president, First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos and their sons welcomed two-time Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo and other Filipino Olympians in Malacañang.

In his speech, Marcos said all Filipino Olympians would be given P1 million from the Philippine Amusement and

Gaming Corporation, and the amount would be matched by the Office of the President.

"So let's give all our Olympians one million each. The Office of the President will match what you give so that at least they would have P2 million," Marcos said.

Meanwhile, the president said each coaching staff would get P500,000.

The president bestowed the Presidential Citation on all the athletes, including Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas who bagged bronze medals in women's boxing.

The citations recognize the athletes' exemplary performance and demonstration of the Olympic ideals of excellence, respect and friendship.

Yulo received the Presidential Medal of Merit in recognition of his historic twin triumphs at the Paris Olympics in the men's floor exercise and vault events.

He also received P20 million as mandated by law for gold medalists.

The Philippines placed 37th in the overall ranking at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

This is the country's best performance to date as it surpassed its medal haul from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. g

Bill filed to regulate artificial intelligence use in 2025 polls

by Delon Porcalla Philstar.com

MANILA — A bill regulating the use of artificial intelligence before the May 2025 midterm elections amid cybersecurity threats and deepfakes has been filed before the House of Representatives.

House Bill 10567 aims to regulate AI amid the threat posed by the proliferation of deepfakes or digitally altered images and audio or video recordings that misrepresent victims.

“The warning by DICT (Department of Information and Communications Technology) Secretary Ivan John Uy on the threats that deepfakes and generative AI tools pose to the electoral process should prompt us legislators to write new legislation regulating the use of AI technology,” said Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte, the bill’s author.

The measure will penalize producers or distributors of deepfake materials who fail to make public disclosures that the altered images, audio or video recordings are deepfakes.

Violators will face fines of up to P5 million.

Deepfakes are meant to misrepresent real people as doing or saying something that was not done or said.

Uy earlier tackled the rise of a “scamdemic” using deepfake and

generative AI tools.

“Deepfakes and generative AI tools are also threatening the electoral process when unscrupulous individuals use them for political gain. Especially during elections, where they use them whether to malign or to discredit certain people by attributing quotations or phrases that are extremely unpopular and then making it appear that that person uttered those statements,” he warned.

“And that becomes even more destructive if they’re released a few days before people cast their ballot, so that there is no more time anymore for the real person to say, ‘I never said that,’” he added.

Meanwhile, the DICT has raised a red flag amid hackers’ use of deepfakes and AI, which could alter the results of the 2025 polls.

DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Ian Dy called on House lawmakers to draft legislation regulating AI, especially the creation of “misleading videos.” Broadcasters and news reporters have been featured in altered videos on social media, wherein they supposedly endorsed products or reported fake news, Dy told the joint House committees of information and communication technology and public information, respectively headed by Reps. Toby Tiangco and Jose Aquino III. g

No plans to make PH holidays fewer – Escudero

by Jean Mangaluz Philstar.com

MANILA — Senate President Francis Escudero on Monday, August 12 said there are no plans to cut down the number of holidays following the online uproar his previous comments stirred.

Last Wednesday, August 7, Escudero floated the possibility of combining or reducing the number of holidays, saying there were already too many, which was making the Philippines less productive.

“Walang issue sa holiday. Ang polisiya ng Senado: ‘wag nang dagdagan ang holiday natin ngayon kasi sobrang dami na pero wala kaming balak bawasan,” Escudero said in a media interview at the Senate.

(There is no issue about holidays. The policy of the Senate is this: do not add to our holidays now because there are already too many, but we have no plans to reduce them.)

The Philippines is one of the stopover points of the US air group before heading for Kadena Air Base in Japan. The U.S. Air Force contingent had six F-22s and three C-130s participating in the stopover.

Castillo said the latest joint exercise also underscored the Philippines and U.S. commitment to regional security and stability. g

Escudero acknowledged that it would be a long and drawn-out process that would outlast the 19th Congress.

He noted that in addition to the 21 national holidays, there are also provincial and municipal holidays, bringing the total number a person could observe to 23 or 25 days.

Escudero said the Senate had to deliberate on three holiday bills on that day alone. They had to reject one provincial holiday, as the said province already had two.

Holiday economics is also being considered, as the president could choose to declare a holiday on days that are sandwiched between a holiday and the weekend. This would allow more people to schedule trips and vacations.

“We’re granting holidays in provinces that don’t have a holiday yet pero kung mayroon na, ‘wag na nga dagdagan,” said Escudero. (We’re granting holidays in provinces that don’t have a holiday yet, but if there is one, we will not add any more.)

Escudero faced backlash from

Senate President Francis Escudero Philstar.com

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. File photo

VEGAS&STYLE JOURNAL

by HannaH Mallorca Inquirer.net

FILIPINO -Canadian actor

Manny Jacinto, who rose to international fame after starring in “The Acolyte,” will star as the onscreen husband of Lindsay Lohan in the sequel of the hit 2003 film “Freaky Friday.”

Jacinto’s casting was confirmed in an Entertainment Weekly report last August 10, where he will be joining Lohan and her onscreen mother, Jamie Lee Curtis.

“Manny [Jacinto] plays Lindsay’s husband, but that’s as much as we can say… Manny is lovely, so funny,” Curtis said of Jacinto in the report.

Details of Manny’s character and how he was tied into the storyline of Anna Coleman (Lohan) are yet to be announced, as of this writing.

Aside from Jacinto, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Sophia Hammons, and Julia Butters join the film.

Mark Harmon, Chad Michael Murray, Christina Vidal Mitchell, Haley Hudson, Lucille Soong, Stephen Tobolowsky, and Rosalind Chao will also reprise their roles in the sequel.

Titled “Freakier Friday,” the sequel to the hit 2003 film was revealed at the “D23” Disney Studios presentation earlier this month. The announcement puts an end to the longstanding rumors about the movie getting a sequel.

The movie will reportedly center around a “multigenerational twist,” picking up years after Tess Coleman (Curtis) and her daughter Anna Coleman (Lohan) switched bodies. It will also tell

the story of how “lightning might indeed strike twice,” referring to another potential switch between the mother-and-daughter duo. Jacinto was born in Manila before moving to Canada in 1990.

The actor is best known for his roles in the series “The Good Place” and “Star Wars” series “The Acolyte.” He also appeared in the film “Top Gun: Maverick” and provided the voice for Kenshi in “Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind.”

LOS ANGELES – The Filipino American Symphony Orchestra (FASO) will pay tribute to the timeless music of renowned Filipino pop music composer Louie Ocampo at “A Soulful Summer Night,” a one-of-a-kind concert on Saturday, August 17 at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Led by musical director Robert Shroder, FASO will perform an eclectic repertoire that includes a reimagination of Ocampo’s hits through new orchestral arrangements, along with Filipino folk songs and classical music favorites. Joining the orchestra and Ocampo are guest vocalists Joey Albert, Charlie Green, Lindsay Solo, and Madison Lauren.

“We are excited to showcase a special anthology of Louie Ocampo’s compositions, which have stood the test of time,” Shroder said. “In true FASO tradition, this unique concert will have something for everyone in the audience, including classical favorites, Filipino folk songs and Louie’s hits.”

by Tessa Mauricio-arriola

IT is without question that Dennis Trillo has firmly established himself as a versatile actor. His filmography is quite incomparable among his peers, never allowing his matinee idolgood looks to get in the way of taking on grittier and more offbeat roles.

Thanks to this attitude and, of course, the acting prowess he develops with each new challenging portrayal, Dennis has earned the trust of his home network, GMA, to deliver some of the most, if not the most, important roles in their biggest and most groundbreaking projects to date. Indeed, who can forget Dennis' portrayal of national hero Jose Rizal's alter ego Crisostomo Ibarra in GMA Network's widely successful series adaptation of the former's seminal novels "Noli me Tangre" and "El Filibusterismo" in 2023's "Maria Clara at Ibarra?"

It is no wonder that Dennis has been cast anew in another epic period drama series by GMA, "Pulang Araw," which has become the talk of the town since premiering on Netflix and across the Kapuso platforms at the end of July. While the series leads are portrayed by Alden Richards, Sanya Lopez, David Licauco, and Barbie Forteza — four childhood friends who grow up to endure the challenges and atrocities of the Japanese Occupation in the Philippines during World War II — GMA and "Pulang Araw" director, Dominic Zapata only had one actor in mind for a very critical role in this fictional drama set against one of the darkest times in the country's history.

Yet to appear in the captivating production come August 21, Dennis will portray "Pulang Araw's" major villain, the ruthless Japanese officer Colonel Yuta Saitoh. His first foray into playing a villain role, it is one that promises to be as complex as it is chilling.

At a media conference on Thursday organized just for Dennis, The Manila Times prompted the serious actor to reflect on his consistent inclusion in GMA's landmark historical projects. Very openly, he shared, "It feels really good to be given this importance — to always be placed in the cast of the network's most important projects."

Revealing he wasn't expecting to be part of the show, Dennis continued, "I first heard about 'Pulang Araw' maybe 10 years ago or more when it was still being developed. Back then, I already felt that if this happened, it would be one of GMA's most important projects because it's a story about the bravery of the Filipino people."

He admitted, "I dreamed of being a part of it, but when I saw that the cast was complete, I was OK with it and still said to myself that I would definitely watch the show when it comes out."

Eventually, the compelling yet ever-humble actor was happy and surprised to receive a call asking him to join the series. Smiling at the recollection, he expressed, "I almost couldn't believe it. This is a role of a lifetime, and I feel grateful that GMA Network always gives me these opportunities. It's a privilege to be part of this epic production."

Dennis's gratitude for being cast in "Pulang Araw" is mutual for his director, Dominic Zapata. From the sidelines of the same media gathering, Direk Dom revealed he couldn't imagine any other actor delivering the crucial role of Col. Yuta but Dennis.

"The first time I worked with Dennis was in his first show on GMA, 'Kahit Kailan,' and he was the consummate professional back then. Now, if being a consummate professional is a bad thing, then he's gotten much worse because [today], he immerses himself in every role he takes on beyond expectation."

Direk Dom went on to describe the extensive research and

preparation Dennis undertook for the demanding role of Col. Yuta. From working diligently to develop an authentic Japanese accent for delivering the soldier's lengthy lines in Japanese, Filipino, and English to performing his own high-intensity action stunts, along with the many other rigorous demands of the role, Dennis did not hold anything back.

"I can't think of any other actor who would commit to this role as much as Dennis does. [His portrayal of Col. Yuta] gives us all goosebumps, so for his effort, patience and skill, [the production] is truly grateful to Dennis."

Asked what viewers should expect of his character once Col. Yuta steps into the story of "Pulang Araw," Dennis replied, "For sure, in the beginning, the audience will really feel angry towards him because Col. Yuta Saitoh will be nothing but evil. But I think, in some way, my character will experience redemption, and that's important. No one just becomes a villain out of nowhere. Col. Yuta [has a back story, too] and harbors anger towards Filipinos because when he was growing up in the Philippines, thieves broke into their house and killed his family. Everything has a cause, and even evil has a chance to change."

As "Pulang Araw" continues to draw audiences for its grand set designs, period-accurate costumes, and gripping storyline, Dennis finally shared his thoughts on why those who haven't tuned into the show should not miss the historical drama: "Not everyone knows what happened during the Japanese era. It's important for everyone, especially the young, to watch this so they can understand their roots and become more proud of being Filipino. They will also see the bravery of Filipinos back then and how difficult the war was — something we don't want to experience again, which is why we should all advocate for peace no matter what."

FASO will honor Ocampo with an Excellence in Music award at the concert. Drawing from Ocampo’s oeuvre, the orchestra will perform “Foster in Mind,” “Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin ,” and “ Kahit Isang Saglit,” among other works. For the past 46 years, Ocampo has racked up an impressive 100 Original Pilipino Music (OPM) chart-toppers with total online plays exceeding 100 million, including “Tell Me,” “Say That You’ll Love Me,” “Points of View,” and “Forever.” He has been honored by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry’s AWIT Awards, receiving accolades such as Best Musical Arrangement, Best Ballad Recording, and Best Song of the Year. Ocampo graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass. with a degree in Music and Film Scoring.

Joey Albert, one of the Philippines’ beloved pop vocalists, has built an illustrious career filled with 14 studio albums, 5 compilation albums, and 15 awards. Her rendition of Ocampo’s compositions in the 1980s catapulted his songs to the top of the Philippine charts and brought both of them instant fame. Albert was Ocampo’s most prominent muse. Her upcoming performance of Ocampo’s songs is a much-anticipated nostalgic tribute to their collaboration and will be made spectacular by the might of a full orchestra.

Charlie Green is an awardwinning, acclaimed Filipino-British vocalist who first gained recognition in 2008 as a 10-year-old semifinalist on “Britain’s Got Talent.” His captivating performances earned over 10 million hits on YouTube. His career has since taken him to the Philippines, North America, China’s New Year Eve countdown TV show, and the UK, at London’s Royal Albert Hall. In

KAYE Abad said she has always dreamed of being a mother and taking care of her children, and she is living that life in Cebu City, away from the glaring spotlight and public scrutiny.

The former teen star confided her thoughts on living in Cebu and leaving behind a thriving showbiz career in the name of love during her interview with broadcast journalist Karen Davila for the latter's YouTube vlog.

Kaye was with her husband, Cebuano Paul Jake Castillo, who is no stranger to showbiz. Paul Jake was a housemate in one of the earlier editions of "Pinoy Big Brother."

Their paths crossed as co-stars in the 2010 afternoon drama "Alyna." Kaye played a major role, while Paul Jake was among the supporting cast members.

Prior to entering showbiz, Paul Jake was known in Cebu as part of the well-off family that owns the popular liniment brand Efficascent Oil.

Kaye said she has never left showbiz, she was just lying low. In fact, she recently reunited with her "Tabing Ilog" co-stars Patrick Garcia and Paolo Contis for their reunion Netflix film "A Journey."

While she said that she had to sacrifice her career back in Manila, where local showbiz studios and

2018, Green released his second gospel album and performed for a sold-out crowd at Huntington Hall in Worcester, UK for his first big band concert. Lindsay Solo is a dynamic vocalist renowned for her soulful pop rendition and compelling operatic performances. Originally from Denver, Colo., Solo studied vocal performance and opera at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and La Musica Lirica in Italy. A Disney alum and recording artist, she has sung duets with Michael Bolton. Her classically trained voice has led to collaborative performances with the members of the LA Philharmonic for “Phantom of the Opera” and singing at major sporting events such as Breeder’s Cup and World Ski Cup. Solo’s versatile repertoire spans classical crossover, opera, pop, jazz, musical theater, and more. Madison Lauren is a 9-yearold vocal prodigy known for her versatility and dynamism in soulful pop, R&B, musical theater, jazz, and even rap. She has been performing publicly since she was three years old. Madison has opened for prominent Filipino artists such as AGT finalist Marcelito Pomoy, hiphop group ALLMO$T, and double platinum artist Moira Dela Torre. Madison recently triumphed in a Bay Area music competition, winning her age group and the

networks are headquartered, Kaye does not have any regrets or dilemma about moving to Cebu when she married Paul Jake in 2016. "Never akong nag-dalawangisip 'cause it was really my dream to have my own family as early as 18. Sabi ko when I'll have my own family, I think I'll stop acting 'cause I want to concentrate with my family. So, at least ngayon, hindi naman ako nag-stop. I'm still here. Nag -lie low lang," Kaye said. Davila similarly asked Paul Jake

overall “Ultimate Champion” title.

The Filipino American Symphony Orchestra (FASO) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to fostering artistic excellence and community empowerment. Its mission is to cultivate cultural growth for present and future generations to develop a sense of pride in their identities through music. Annually, FASO supports 500 students with workshops in instruments, musicianship, performance, songwriting, and vocals. With a diverse staff and music educators who are steadfast in FASO’s mission, FASO engages over 100 Orchestra musicians and performers and over 40 youths in the Junior Orchestra in their annual concert season, presenting a synthesis of musical genres. With a program that engages more than 5,000 in person attendees and over 1 million virtually, FASO aims to broaden its reach and increase the number of students by providing free instruments while also increasing awareness of Filipino American music and narratives.

Proceeds from “A Soulful Summer Night” benefit FASO and its youth music education programs, which provide instruction in vocals, instrument, songwriting, musicianship, and performance. Tickets are available from $50 to $120 at www.fasomusic.org.

if he misses the limelight. "No,

kids to school. She does the grocery and goes to the mall by herself. Yung buhay na pinangarap ko, natupad lahat dito. So, pagiging motherhood, pagiging housewife, natupad lahat. Hindi ako artista

Featuring guest vocalists Joey Albert, Charlie Green and Lindsay Solo

Joem Bascon finds work-and-life balance

by Jerry Donato Philstar.com

RELIABLE actor Joem Bascon

feels very happy and honored to be included in the hit GMA Prime series, “Asawa Ng Asawa Ko,” he remarked in a recent group interview. It’s his debut acting project with the Kapuso network.

Joem’s character Leon has changed, as a manner of speaking, by leaps and bounds, from being the leader of Kalasag, an armed group that kidnapped Cristy (played by Jasmine Curtis-Smith) to becoming the latter’s lover. Such a transformation also sees Leon, Cristy and Jordan (Rayver Cruz), the husband of Cristy before the abduction happened, in a love triangle. Jordan is now with Shaira (Liezel Lopez), while the former partner of Leon, Hannah (Kylie Padilla), has entered the “Asawa Ng Asawa Ko” storyline.

“I’m happy that they’ve given me the chance to act for GMA.

This is my very first project with the Kapuso network,” said Joem.

“So, I’m very glad to be part of a group that is caring. We studied the scenes and the script well. Direk

Laurice Guillen looks after us on set… We never thought that the show would run this long.”

“Asawa Ng Asawa Ko” premiered in January of this year and is doing well at the ratings game. It started out as an afternoon show then moved to a primetime slot. With that, other characters have been given their own narrative arcs, and the new character Hannah has been introduced.

“What direk Laurice and I initially talked about was that my character would be a straight kontrabida (villain),” shared Joem. “I’m not sure where it began, but when we were reading the script, suddenly my character had an angle with Cristy (Jasmine) and also had an angle with Jordan (Rayver).”

The actor added that Leon should be treading the common path of a villain, who would consistently be around and make the life of every character miserable.

Given the development in Leon’s character, Joem does what he can and his portrayal sits well with the creatives and viewers.

Asked how the experience has been working with Kylie and what changes the actress’ character Hannah brings to the story, Joem answered that the relationship dynamics between characters have changed. The actors have

had to make some adjustments in approaching their roles.

“Kinabahan kami at first, siyempre, mahusay na aktres yung papasok (At first, we were nervous because a really good actress was coming in). We’re honored that she’s joining us,” added the actor, who further noted that working with Kylie has been “light and easy.”

Like any family man, Joem looks forward to seeing his family and spending time with them after a day of work.

“Sabi ko kanina gusto ko ng umuwi, gusto ko ng mag-alaga (I said earlier that I wanted to go home and take care of the kids). My baby boy has just started his schooling, pre-school. He goes to school for two hours every day. In my free time and free days, we, Meme (Meryll Soriano) and I, take him to school. Sabi ko naiingit ako at sana ako din ay makasama,” shared he. Joem and Meryll have their son Gido, while Meryll has another son Eli.

Since he is not getting any younger, Joem also chooses what projects to take on — the ones that will also allow him to spend time with his family. If he becomes “super rich,” he will venture into running a business. Joem and Meryll’s work setup is that when one of them is working, the other parent stays at home and looks after the kids. After work, Joem goes home, does errands, bonds with the children, and attends to household needs. This is his daily routine. He enjoys essaying one role after another.

Joem shared that he is saving for the future and trying to stay healthy. So, like parents out there, he will be able to provide for the family, and see the kids finish school and succeed in life.

“GOMBURZA,” referring to Fathers Gomez, Burgos and Zamora who were executed during the Spanish rule in the Philippines, is a historic Filipino film that is directed by Pepe Diokno, who will direct Ricky Lee’s “Himala The Musical,” a Metro Manila Film Festival entry this December 2024.

According to Canada-based Judy Garcia Fernandez: “My late father was Dr. Bienvenido Zamora Garcia. His mom was Carlota who was once the ‘Perlas de Quiapo’ and was the only daughter with six brothers. They are related to the Filipino priest Jacinto Zamora. I hope to watch this movie as requested by my siblings.”

* * *

This year’s Circle of Excellence awardees for the entertainment sector on August 10 at Teatrino Promenade in Greenhills, San Juan City (thanks to Richard Hinola) included Elizabeth Oropesa, Marissa Delgado, Manila Vice Mayor Yul Servo, William Thio, Angelique Lazo, Dr. Joseph Lee

and Daria Ramirez. The Empowered Men and Women 2024 from showbiz were Daisy Reyes-Tobias, Jak Roberto, Vandave L. Paragas, Janeena Chan, Roldan Frias Castro, Marissa Sanchez, Eraseph Winters, Hannah Precillas, Catherine O. Camarillo, Dingdong Avanzado, Bianca Umali, Aubrey Carampel Aricheta of GMA7, Arnold Reyes, Papa Ahwel Paz, Sugar Nabas Amper, Japper Ril, Nanet Bandola of Sparkle GMA Artist Center, Jimsen Jison, beauty queen-TV host-news anchor Emma Tiglao, beauty queen-actress Bianca Manalo, Ashley Rivera, Renz Verano, John Fontanilla, Jessa Zaragoza, Daryl Ong, Meg Siozon, Arthem Basierto, Donna Cariaga & Ely Cellan, Iyah Mina, Maricar de Mesa, Bigboy Villariza, Gianna Margarita Llanes, Alexander John Fong and many more.

* * *

Josie Cruz Natori, a Filipino-American fashion icon, loves the energy of New York City but she and her husband also have a weekend home in Westchester, New York. She loves promoting the Philippines, as she said to me when I first interviewed her years ago for The Philippine Star. Last year, I visited her in her mother’s home in Quezon City.

Shirley Halili-Cruz is Josie’s sister-in-law and she is the founder of Halili School of Ballet where I saw the graceful grit of Pia Allones (talented daughter of Department of Migrant Workers Undersecretary Atty. Ma. Anthonette Velasco-Allones) through countless hours of training and learning.

Five years ago she participated in the 21st Asia Pacific Dance Competition in Bangkok, Thailand and got honorable mention in a very tight section with 14 competitors. Pia, who studies Economics at the University of the Philippines Diliman, placed 1st in classical ballet solo in All Dance World Competition in Orlando, Florida in 2021. She also won 1st place (double platinum) in solo jazz and

Rogelio Constantino Medina

Pepe Diokno (extreme left) has been awarded best director at this year’s 40th FAP’s LUNA Awards for the film “Gomburza.”

At the MHE offices: (from left) Cris Hernandez, Cierus Suarez, Rogelio Medina, Guia Buenaventura, Jeizelle Duarte, James Tan. Photos courtesy of Rogelio C. Medina

Attys. Trisha Bunye and Joy Mendoza Rojas (center) with Joy’s artistic works.

Joem Bascon feels delighted to be part of the GMA series, ‘Asawa Ng Asawa Ko,’ his first project with the Kapuso network. GMA photo

Clockwise, from top left: Amb. Virgil Reyes, Consul General Lynn Gavino, May Rufino, Dahli Espellera, Rex Robles, Rogelio Medina, Gen. Sonny Yan, Gemma Cruz-Araneta, Eppie Valbuena and Encarnacion Laurel-Loewen.

Josie Natori and Rogelio Medina

1st place

(double platinum) in contemporary solo at the 2023

Get the Beat Competition held at Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig

PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS

AS of May 2024, there were 39 million adults (about 1/3 of the population) in the United States who had obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Out of this, only about 6 million had been confirmed by Sleep Studies. Roughly 80 percent with OSA never knew and had not been tested for sleep apnea.

The gold standard therapy for OSA is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). The CPAP machine pushes oxygenated air through a nasal pillow or mask into the back of the throat to keep the airway passage open using positive pressure, like inflating a balloon.

This prevents the tongue from falling backward to block the airway. Some people cannot tolerate the use of CPAP. An alternative is the implantable unit Inspire, but this requires surgery and is about only 78 percent effective compared to CPAP, which when used properly, is effective practically 100 percent. Medical science always aspires to find better, simpler, modes of therapy. Eli Lilly, in April 2024, announced the “early results of two Phase III trials testing its diabetes and obesity drug tirzepatide for people with both obesity and obstructive sleep apnea. This medication is expected to be available by the end of this year.

Obese individuals are more prone to having OSA, and the main target of this new drug is weight reduction, an indirect way of treating sleep apnea. Those who are not overweight and have OSA, will obviously not benefit from this medication. Eli Lilly and other pharmaceutical companies are still trying to develop a drug for everyone with sleep apnea, regardless of body weight.

Insomnia and health

Sleep is vital to health. Schoolage children need at least 9 hours; teens, 8 to 10 hours; and adults, 18 to 64, 7 to 9 hours; and adults over 65, 7 to 8 hours. Insomnia and sleeping less than 5 hours a night are linked to increased (69 percent) incidence of heart attack. Impairment in sleep and diabetes have double the risk, compared to those without both.

Sleep impaired individuals and those with untreated sleep apnea have greater risks for high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and even cancer. Meta analysis of more than 1 million patients, in their early 50’s without prior heart attack, and followed for 9 years, revealed the findings above. The study was posted in Clinical Cardiology and presented at the upcoming Amer-

Health news

ican College of Cardiology (ACC)

Scientific Session/World Congress of Cardiology (WCC) in 2023. Coffee warning George Washington grew coffee shrubs at his Mount Vernon estate, Thomas Jefferson (drank a pound of coffee a day), Theodore Roosevelt (consumed a gallon a day), and Geroge H. W. Bush imbibed up to 10 cups a day. Around 73 percent of people in the United States drink coffee daily, and about 80 percent, tea. Unlike soft drinks of any kind, which “poison” our body, increasing the risk for serious metabolic syndrome, especially among children, coffee, in moderation is a healthy beverage, like tea, in slowing cognitive decline. A new large study, however, reveals that drinking coffee more than 3 cups a day is linked to more rapid cognitive decline over time. Tea was not part of this study.

A cup is usually 5 - 8 fluid ounces or 150 to 237 milliliters. The adverse effects include “on abstract reasoning, pattern recognition, and logical thinking.” These findings of the advent Health research Institute in Orlando, Florida, were presented at the 2024 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference.

Aluminum foil: toxic

As people grow more health conscious, they are staying away from using Styrofoam and plastic plates, glasses, etc. in warming food in microwave ovens, cookware made of stainless steel rather than dangerous aluminum (even Teflon-coated), which can leach into food items over time. Old vintage worn out aluminum pots/pans/utensils can leave toxic metals in foods. Health advocates warn the public to avoid aluminum foil “like a plague,” because it is a neurotoxin, which could harm the brain, suspected to contribute to Alzheimer’s dementia. The material could also increase the risk for bone disease.

A study shows “about 37 percent of dialysis patients had developed aluminum-associated bone disease.”

Aluminum foil can also promote lung fibrosis. A 2012 study showed that using aluminum foil for acidic items, like tomatoes, lemon juice, spices, etc., causes leaching of harmful aluminum compounds. The healthier, safer, alternatives: using glass storage containers, which are naturally inert (non-reactive) even for acidic food items. For cooking, ceramic dishes with lid is excellent, and for balking, high-quality silicone bakeware is safer.

Potatoes/yam

A healthier version of the potato family, sweet potato contains a lot of nutrients, including massive amount of antioxidant beta-carotene (vitamin A). It has 35 to 40 percent of vitamin C. It also has

manganese, potassium, thiamine, B-6, copper, and niacin. Sweet potato helps stabilize blood sugar and decreases insulin resistance, and boosts brain function and the immune system. Yam, a starchy tuber, native to the Americas, Asia, and Africa, are staple food in the tropics. They have higher calories, carbohydrates, fibers, potassium and manganese, but not as nutrient-dense or full of antioxidants as sweet potatoes.

A substance in yam is supposed “to help in women’s hormonal metabolism, especially progesterone, and extracts from yams may be a helpful remedy for some of the unpleasant symptoms of PMS and menopause.”

White potatoes have a lot of healthy minerals, fiber, and carbohydrates but not as much as sweet potatoes. It belongs to a different family. The nutritional value of white potatoes is also not as high as sweet potatoes.

The blood sugar (glycemic) index of sweet potatoes is around 60, yams, about 50, and white potatoes, 75. The lower the glycemic index (decreases absorption rate and minimizes blood sugar spikes) the healthier.

Alzheimer’s blood test

A wonderful news: Lund University in Sweden discovered “a new blood test called PrecivityAD2, which is about 90 percent accurate in identifying Alzheimer’s in people experiencing cognitive symptoms.”

An early diagnosis would also facilitate the study and discovery of new treatments.

* * *

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.

* * * The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people to live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation, or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable to or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health.

*

* * Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He was a recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995, presented by then Indiana Governor, US senator, and later a presidential candidate, Evan Bayh. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry Truman, President George HW Bush, Muhammad Ali and Astronaut Gus Grissom (Wikipedia). Websites: FUN8888.com, Today. SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com.

Angeli Khang shuns indecent proposals, focuses on going mainstream

ACTRESS and Vivamax

star Angeli Khang admitted to receiving indecent proposals from people online.

Angeli appeared on the August 9 episode of "Fast Talk with Boy Abunda" to talk about her career and personal life.

Boy and Angeli first discussed the actress being prominent in sexy films, which was something Angeli did not expect especially after just three years of acting.

She admitted that being in the entertainment industry is tough, but she still has plans to make it big and go further into mainstream popularity.

The actress also admitted to getting a lot of indecent proposals after Boy asked about them. Angeli said she received messages on Instagram, and even some had told there is an "available client."

As a response, Angeli posts whenever she was at shoots to

Instagram/@angelikhang_

show she was working and not attending to indecent proposals. Shifting to lighter topics, Angeli shared she was "single and ready to mingle" and hopes to do projects with Dingdong Dantes,

Alden Richards, or Dennis Trillo after working with Ruru Madrid on "Black Rider."

After the titular "Fast Talk" segment, Boy and Angeli talked about how her mother filed a case against her father following the physical abuse she and her brother went through.

Angeli has not seen her father since before the pandemic. An arrest warrant for her father has been issued since it was filed four years ago.

"'Yung case took a lot of years, ang dilemma na nangyari, but good thing nag-push through siya," Angeli said. "Thankful din [ako] sa career ko ngayon [kasi] mas naging easy 'yung pag-file... naawa sa'kin mga tao." Angeli choked back tears, admitting she would still forgive her father, but noted that he still has to face the consequences of his actions. (Philstar.com)

Joy Mendoza Rojas to have art show this...

parents of his classmates and to the offices where his father Jose Agreda Rojas would go during summer time. Later, he was exposed to real estate business after graduating at the University of Massachusetts where he completed his Bachelor of Arts degree, majors in Economics and Political Science, cum laude, in 1988.

He graduated at Ateneo de Manila University Law School in 1994 with Juris Doctor of Law. In that same year, he passed the grueling bar exams. After that, he tried working in a private law firm, the De Borja Medialdea Ata Bello Guevarra & Serapio Law Office as an associate from 1994 to 1995. Then he became a partner at Rojas Sales De Leon Tecson & Desiderio Law Office. In 2000, he put up his own law office, the Jose M. Rojas II Law Office, which is engaged in the general practice of law.

Though he has been into business and legal works, he has his other side: the visual artistry in him. His artistic journey has continued at the ArtistSpace situated at Ground Level, Ayala Museum Annex, Makati Avenue corner De La Rosa Street, Greenbale Park, Makati City for the 8th solo exhibit sometime in August this year.

He says he gets inspiration from the places, whether in the Philippines or abroad, usually in Japan, France, Spain and other European countries. He creates and innovates with his naturally gifted independent mind. He paints and paints most of the time in his rented studio in Pasig City.

* * * I was a recent guest by Guia Cruz Buenaventura in her program Coffee Tea on MHE, Mondays to Fridays from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Media House Express, the Philippines’ first radio-television situated in Mandaluyong City.

MHE is headed by Allan Afable Hobrero and it is an awardee in the 2nd Philippines’ Finest Business Awards and Outstanding Achievers in September 2024.

Guia, an educator from Philippine Normal University, has been supporting A Smile from Heaven (ASFH), a nonprofit organization in memory of her husband Dan that assists our less fortunate brethren and gives livelihood projects.

Assisting her in Coffee Tea on MHE are technical director Cris Janmille Hernandez, creative director Jewel B, and interns Cierus E. Suarez, Jeizelle R. Duarte and James Martin B. Tan.

* *

*

Years ago, I met the CGN (Carmen Guerrero Nakpil) Friends group for the first time days after the passing on of Chitang Nakpil, a noted and respected Filipino essayist, historian, and journalist. Artist-writer Mav Rufino told me they meet there Wednesdays during lunch time and they had been doing this since 2004. Now they have transfered to Kashmir (an Indian restaurant) in Taguig City’s BGC as the group’s meeting place.

Former Tourism Secretary Gemma Guerrero Cruz-Araneta, CGN’s eldest daughter and first Filipino and Asian to be Miss International in 1964, took over the helm of CGN Friends and she led briefly a moment of silent prayers for her affectionate mom whom she took care of during her last remaining days on earth. She vividly remembers that her mom did not allow her to join the movie world but she was encouraged to enhance Philippine history. In later years, however she hosted a daily radio program and a weekly TV show.

Nonon Padilla, director and theatre arts professor at De La Salle College of Saint Benilde, said his aunt Chitang spoke Spanish very well and was “formidable and aloof” but was caring, thoughtful

and humorous. It was he who organized the Guerrero family reunion in 1993.

For Consul General Lynn Gavino, Chitang has been her best friend and mentor since 1984, the year she was assigned as First Secretary and Consul at our embassy in Paris, France and Chitang was our ambassador and permanent delegate to the UNESCO.

She said that Chitang had a very keen memory. “Her memory was prolific. While riding with me in the car, she would remember the street names and the direction as to where we were. When we’re inside a restaurant, she could remember who is our waiter. She could even draft and edit her works in her mind so that time would not be wasted.”

She fondly remembers: “Chitang asked me the difference between a drunkard and a non-drunkard. She said that a drunkard would drink her red wine like a coke and would finish it right away while a non-drunkard would sip it slowly and finish it but you can take as many glasses as you want. Everything would be observed by her. Being with her as a friend, you feel like you were in a finishing school. I learned how to write my report, how to be proper and correct and most important how to be always punctual.”

* * *

This year’s Film Academy of the Philippines’ LUNA Awards was well organized and finished at 9 p.m. (it began at 6 p.m.) at the University of the Philippines Diliman’s performing arts theater, the IBG-KAL Theater in Quezon City.

“Gomburza,” a Philippine historic film, won Best Picture. Rod-

FOR RENT SERVICES SERVICES

erick Paulate and Maricel Soriano (both starred in the film “In His Mother’s Eyes”) were declared Best Actor and Best Actress, respectively. Pepe Diokno, son of Filipino lawyer and educator Chel Diokno, won Best director for the film GOMBURZA. Best supporting actor and actress were LA Santos for “In His Mother’s Eyes” and Ana Abad Santos for “Third World Romance,” respectively. Other winners were as follows: Jun Lana for best screenplay in “About Us, But Not About Us”; Carlo Mendoza for best cinematography in “Gomburza”; Marya Ignacio for best editing in “Third World Romance”; Ericson Navarro for best production design in “Gomburza”; Albert Michael Idioma/Janina Minglanina/Emilio Bien Sparks for best sound in “Gomburza”; Jesse Lasaten for musical scoring in “When I Met You in Tokyo.” Mary Liza Dino-Seguerra was the recipient of the Fernando Poe Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award. The FAP is headed by Manny Morfe, its OIC director-general. It will send soon an official Philippine entry to the International Feature Film Award category of the 97th Academy Awards (The Oscars).

Thanks to FAP’s special projects officer Raymond Diamzon for the assistance.

*

* * 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

From left: Rogelio Medina, Roderick Paulate and Manny Morfe.

Judy Garcia-Fernandez with her late husband Jim.

A collage of photos of ballerina Pia Allones.

Joy Mendoza Rojas with one of his paintings.

Angeli Khang Photo from