Suspect in murder of newlywed Fil-Am nurse pleads not guilty
the suspect in the killing of a 32-year-old filipino American nurse from oregon pleaded not guilty during a preliminary hearing monday afternoon, september 16.
Bryce schubert, 27, accused of killing her neighbor melissa Jubane, now faces an updated charge of first-degree murder, according to the Washington County District Attorney’s office.
Jubane, who was reported missing on sept. 4 after returning home from her hawaii wedding, was found dead on sept. 7. schubert, who had been Jubane’s neighbor at a Beaverton apartment complex, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. It has been updated to first-degree murder, and schubert now also faces new charges of kidnapping and abuse of a corpse, according to the DA’s office. on sept. 4, Jubane, a nurse at Providence st. Vincent hospital in southwest Portland, was reported missing after she failed to show up for her morning shift at the hospital.
Mass deportations would be disastrous for the US economy
Economists predict the US economy would shrink by at least $1 trillion
rePUBLICAN Presidential candidate
Donald trump’s proposal to deport at least 15 million migrants from the U.s. would be disastrous for the American economy, said experts at a news briefing sept. 12. trump has made mass deportations one of the touchstones of his 2024 campaign. he reiterated the threat sept. 10 evening at the Presidential debate in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. he evaded a question from ABC News anchor David muir as to how he would carry out the deportations, but did answer that the number of migrants facing removal could be as high as 21 million. on the campaign trail, the former president has said he would use the National Guard, the U.s. military, and local law enforcement to carry out the deportations. roughly 22% of American farm-workers are undocumented migrants, while 15%
No legal basis for China claims in South China Sea
mANILA — the Philippines can count on continued U.s. support amid repeated harassment at sea by the Chinese whose maritime claims in the south China sea (sCs) have no legal basis, according to the U.s state Department. there’s no legal basis for the PrC’s maritime claims in the south China sea, and the dangerous ways in which it attempts… to enforce those claims put filipino lives and livelihood at risk,” state Department spokesman matthew miller said at a press briefing on tuesday, september 17, referring to China by its official name.
“It is up to the Philippines to decide how they operate their vessels in areas where it enjoys the freedom of navigation on the high seas under international law, and I wouldn’t want to forecast what this particular incident might mean other than to say that we continue to support our Philippine allies,” he said.
miller’s assurance came after the departure from escoda shoal of the only Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship stationed in the area.
executive secretary Lucas Bersamin, who also chairs the National maritime Council (NmC), confirmed on sunday, september 15 that the BrP teresa magbanua left escoda shoal after being deployed in the area in the past five months.
mANILA — A complaint of obstruction of justice will be filed against individuals suspected of harboring captured alleged rapist Apollo Quiboloy, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
PNP chief Gen. rommel marbil said on sunday, sept. 15 they launched an investigation to hold accountable those persons who aided the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) founder.
appropriate legal consequences,” marbil said in a statement. obstruction of justice is a serious offense, and those who aided in shielding Quiboloy from law enforcement will be charged accordingly. the law is clear — no one is above it, and those who helped Quiboloy will be held accountable,” he added. the preacher was captured on september 8. Before that, he had been in hiding for almost 6 months since the warrant of arrest against him was issued on April 3. m arbil said Quiboloy could not have evaded arrest for a long time without the
“We will not tolerate any form of obstruction of justice. our investigation aims to identify those who knowingly provided refuge to Quiboloy, and we will ensure they face u PAGE 4
mANILA — A former chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) may have been bribed to help dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo escape, a Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCor) official told senators on tuesday, september 17.
During the continuation of the senate’s public hearing on Philippine offshore gaming operator-related crimes, sen. risa hontiveros asked PAGCor senior vice president raul Villanueva about
the possibility that government officials may have helped Guo escape in exchange for money.
“Apart from that general detail, which is P200 million (given) to a high Bureau of Immigration official, are there other people who were allegedly bribed? Are there additional amounts being discussed?” hontiveros said. there was talk about border immigration. I just don’t know, ma’am, the exact amount, including PNP officials. But I still can’t confirm that as I’ve been outside of the loop lately,” Villanueva
Bersamin said the PCG vessel had to sail back to its home port in Palawan so that it could undergo repairs and allow its crew to have furlough and attend to their medical needs. At a meeting of the Bilateral Consultation mechanism in Beijing on Wednesday last week (sept. 11), the Philippines firmly voiced its position that escoda shoal is within the country’s exclusive economic zone (eeZ). the Department of foreign Affairs (DfA) said on thursday, september 12, Undersecretary ma. theresa Lazaro had a “frank” and “candid” exchange of views with Chinese Vice foreign minister Chen Xiaodong on managing the situation in the West Philippine sea,
PU erto P r INC es A CI t Y, PALAWAN — t he government will send another vessel to escoda (sabina) shoal to replace a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship that returned to port on sunday, september 15 after an unprecedented deployment at the contested feature in the West Philippine sea.
the 97-meter BrP teresa magbanua, one of the PCG’s biggest and most modern ships that spent five months anchored at escoda shoal to keep China in check, was pulled out for repair and maintenance and to give its crew some rest.
In a Viber message to the Inquirer, National maritime Council (NmC) spokesperson Alexander Lopez made the assurance that the PCG was replacing the magbanua with another vessel, but did not provide other details.
“I cannot divulge operational matters at the moment. What we can state is that our presence will be sustained and we will keep monitoring and documenting any or all illegal activities of the other side for our strategic purpose,” he said, alluding to China. he said the magbanua’s replacement vessel was en route to its destination in escoda shoal.
GW e N Walz, wife of vice presidential hopeful minnesota Gov. tim Walz, kicked off a major canvassing effort for Democratic voters and volunteers in Nevada on tuesday, s ept. 17, which happened to be National Voter registration Day.
t he event, held at Xiao Long Dumplings in Las Vegas’ Chinatown, was designed to
mobilize Nevadan Democrats from Asian American, Native hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AAN h PI) communities—the latest in a series of cultural campaign stops from the harrisWalz team.
Gwen Walz, 58, worked as a public school teacher for two decades before her husband became governor of minnesota. on tuesday, she shared that this experience helped her appreciate
US: No legal basis for China claims...
It was during the meeting that Chen asked Philippine officials to immediately pull out a PCG ship from escoda shoal, apparently referring to teresa magbanua.
“ e mphasizing that e scoda s hoal is within the e xclusive economic Zone of the Philippines, Undersecretary Lazaro reaffirmed the consistent position of the Philippines and explored ways to lower the tension in the area,” the DfA said in a statement.
Defense of allies
In a high-level military-tomilitary talks with their Chinese counterparts in Beijing over the weekend, U.s. defense officials reaffirmed their commitment to peace in the Indo-Pacific region as well as their readiness to defend allies.
michael Chase, deputy assistant secretary of defense for China, taiwan and mongolia, led the U.s delegation to Beijing for the 18th iteration of the Defense Policy Coordination talks between the U.s. and China.
“DoD also reaffirmed the U.s commitment to defending its IndoPacific allies, and the department emphasized the importance of respect for freedom of navigation as guaranteed under international law in light of ongoing aggressive PrC (People’s republic of China) harassment against lawfully operating Philippine vessels in the south China sea,” a senior official said at the conclusion of the talks. the U.s. delegation expressed concern over China’s increasingly coercive behavior in the region.
t he U. s . delegation also underscored the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the taiwan s trait, and called the attention of China to provocations from North Korea.
Last week, the commander of U.s. Indo-Pacific Command Admiral samuel Paparo warned China against the use of dangerous, coercive and escalatory tactics in the south China sea against U.s allies in a video teleconference with China’s Gen. Wu Yanan, commander of the People’s Liberation Army’s s outhern theater Command.
following the latest talks in Beijing, officials emphasized that the military-to-military dialogue did not signal a change in the U.s approach to China.
t he department continues to view (China) as our pacing challenge as described in the National Defense s trategy,” a senior official said. “(China) continues to be the only U. s competitor with the intent and, increasingly, the capability to overturn the rules-based infrastructure that has kept peace in the Indo-Pacific since the end of the second World War.” the official added that the U.s “remains clear-eyed about China’s intentions and their actions in the region and around the world.”
Chinese paranoia
In an interview with “storycon” on one News on tuesday, PCG Commodore Jay tarriela said the heightened level of Chinese aggression in escoda shoal in August was due to paranoia over a possible grounding of teresa
This
magbanua in the shoal.
“It’s just their paranoia. they were just so paranoid believing their own narrative that teresa magbanua, the most expensive vessel that we have, will be run aground,” tarriela, who is also spokesman for the National task force for the West Philippine sea, said.
the Philippines has repeatedly stated that it does not intend to ground a second vessel in the West Philippine sea.
t he B r P s ierra m adre, still considered an active vessel of the Philippine Navy, was run aground in Ayungin shoal in 1999.
“We have repeatedly said it … We’re just basically exercising our sovereign rights and protecting our marine environment. But despite that, they still think that our intention is to ground (teresa magbanua),” said tarriela.
In the same program, N m C spokesman Vice Admiral Alexander Lopez said the pullout of teresa magbanua from escoda had President marcos’ approval.
“When we say strategic presence, it does not necessarily mean that we will put a vessel there permanently or static. We can do monitoring, we can do the coverage, we can do the documentation, we can detect any illegal activities not only by putting a ship in the area,” Lopez said in english and filipino.
Asked about the offer of the U.s. to escort Philippine vessels on supply missions, Lopez said the government is studying its implications.
“We are still not pushed to the wall … we still have some dignity, we have some pride,” he said in filipino. “If push comes to shove and worse comes to worst, it will be an executive decision whether to tap the offer.”
Fewer Chinese vessels m eanwhile, the number of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine s ea (WP s ) has decreased to 157 from 207 recorded last week, the Philippine Navy reported. from sept. 10 to 16, the Navy observed 123 Chinese maritime militia (Cmm) vessels, 26 China Coast Guard (CCG) ships, seven People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLN) warships, and one research vessel within the country’s ee Z. (With reports from Mark Ernest Villeza, Janvic Mateo)
‘Ex-PNP
chief may have helped Alice...
said, citing raw reports from the intelligence community.
Asked which PNP unit he was referring to, Villanueva replied, “not PNP unit, but (PNP) personalities.”
“PNP personalities. Who are they?” hontiveros asked.
“I think it was mentioned, a former chief PNP,” Villanueva said, adding he could not provide details pending further verification.
“Just to be clear, part of the talk in the intelligence community is that a former PNP chief is on the take with Guo hua Ping, right?” the senator asked Villanueva.
“Yes, ma’am. But I also cannot ascertain that, from whom the report came… It’s just like rumors within the intelligence community. I think they are validating it right now. I even went to NICA (National Intelligence Coordinating Agency) last week, but there’s no information about it,” Villanueva explained.
“the talk there, ma’am, seems to be on the payroll, the monthly payroll ever since,” he added. Villanueva clarified that the information about a former PNP chief being included in the payroll from PoGos – which he described as rumors or “usap-usapan” – was subject to further validation.
PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Deputy Director for Administration
Gen. raul tacaca said that “so far, (there’s) no report with regards to whether any PNP personnel have been bribed.”
Not Bato sen. ronald “Bato” dela rosa did not waste time clarifying with Guo about the former PNP chief who was reportedly in the payroll of PoGos. Dela rosa was the first PNP chief under the administration of former president r odrigo Duterte. he (Villanueva) said that there is a former PNP chief receiving a monthly payroll from you (Alice Guo), can you find out who it is?
I am concerned because I am a former PNP chief,” Dela r osa asked Guo. t he senator expressed concerns that “maybe later there will be a script out there that Bato is taking money from you.” the mayor formerly known as Guo hua Ping replied, “Nothing like that happened.” Dela rosa further pressed Guo, “Are you sure?” to which she said she was sure. the senator asked Guo if she knew him, and she claimed she only got to know Dela rosa when
she came to the senate. s he also added she did not even have any selfie pictures with the senator. even Villanueva cleared Dela rosa, saying “I don’t have any confirmation, but I’m sure you are not the one.”
Guo pre-signed counter affidavit
Guo admitted before the senate that she pre-signed her counter affidavit before fleeing the country last July, bolstering allegations that a lawyer had the public document notarized to cover her tracks.
Guo admitted signing the last page of her counter-affidavit to the charges prepared against her before she fled the country in early July.
s he then left the paper at her farm house in Bamban and instructed her secretary Cath salazar to attach it to the draft counter-affidavit that was notarized on Aug. 14, when she had already fled the country. Guo was arrested in Indonesia on sept. 3. hontiveros noticed that the last page of Guo’s counter-affidavit is the signature page that she signed before she fled. hontiveros presented the affidavit of an unnamed Pangasinan u PAGE 4
Minnesota first lady Gwen Walz meets AANHPI...
and understand
“the importance of diversity in our classrooms” which extends to all corners of American life.
“that’s why I’m so proud to support a ticket with a vision for the future that everyone can be a part of, especially our AANhPI neighbors, family and friends,”
Gwen Walz said. “ o ur nation has been blessed by your many contributions. You have enriched our nation with beautiful and diverse cultures and strong values, like hard work, inclusivity, community service, faith and family, and love of country.” the campaign stop also doubled as a fall celebration where the m innesotan first lady shared traditional Chinese mooncakes and dumplings while highlighting the harris-Walz promise to bolster small businesses and “give middle-class families a fighting chance.”
“this election is about who’s fighting for you—Kamala and t im have spent their careers fighting for middle-class families like the ones they grew up in,” she said. “so when we send them to the White house, they'll be a President and Vice President for all Americans. they’ll lower the cost of your health care and housing, gas and groceries, they’ll make sure you can get a goodpaying job, and help new small businesses get off the ground.”
In addition to Gwen Walz, local AANhPI also emphasized key aspects of the harris-Walz ticket that they say benefit the silver state’s growing AANhPI community.
maya Kwong, owner of Xiao Long Dumpings who is Chinese American, shared her support for the harris-Walz team—which she said is making sure that small business owners like herself have “an opportunity, not just to get by, but to [go] forward.”
plan to increase tax deductions for new small businesses from $5,000 to $50,000.
Gerri Norington, 78, never wanted to be on her own as she grew old.
If help at home isn’t available when needed — an altogether too common problem — being alone can magnify these difficulties and contribute to worsening health.
long will I be able to take care of myself, and what will happen when I can’t?
“I know firsthand that opening a business takes more than just hard work. It takes a whole lot of money as well and VP harris has a plan to increase tax incentives for new small business owners, and for that I’m very thankful,” Kwong said, referencing harris’ ambitious
f ilipina American Catherine francisco, president of the AAPI Chamber of Commerce of southern Nevada, shared that while the harris-Walz ticket will help the community thrive, the republican ticket will do the opposite.
“While Kamala h arris is fighting for AANhPI communities – lowering costs, expanding opportunity – Donald trump is fighting for billionaires and big corporations at our expense,” f rancisco said. “As life-long public servants, Vice President harris and Governor Walz have always stood up for the AANhPI community, and they know that the country can not afford four more years of Donald trump’s divisiveness.”
Gwen Walz’ visit to Las Vegas is the latest of a series of visits to other West Coast stops to drum up support for the Democratic ticket, with less than 50 days before election Day.
t im Walz is scheduled to square off against republican vice president hopeful sen. JD Vance (r-ohio) on oct. 1 in a debate hosted by CBs News. n
But her first marriage ended in divorce, and her second husband died more than 30 years ago.
When a five-year relationship came to a close in 2006, she found herself alone — a situation that has lasted since.
“I miss having a companion who I can talk to and ask ‘how was your day?’ or ‘What do you think of what’s going on in the world?’” said Norington, who lives in an apartment building for seniors on the s outh s ide of Chicago. Although she has a loving daughter in the city, “I don’t want to be a burden to her,” she said.
Norington is part of a large but often overlooked group: the more than 16 million Americans living alone while growing old. surprisingly little is known about their experiences. this slice of the older population has significant health issues: Nearly 4 in 10 seniors living alone have vision or hearing loss, difficulty caring for themselves and living independently, problems with cognition, or other disabilities, according to a Kff analysis of 2022 census data.
s tudies find that seniors on their own are at higher risk of becoming isolated, depressed, and inactive, having accidents, and neglecting to care for themselves. As a result, they tend to be hospitalized more often and suffer earlier-than-expected deaths.
Getting medical services can be a problem, especially if older adults living alone reside in rural areas or don’t drive. too often, experts observe, health care providers don’t ask about older adults’ living situations and are unaware of the challenges they face.
***
During the past six months, I’ve spoken to dozens of older adults who live alone either by choice or by circumstance — most commonly, a spouse’s death. some have adult children or other close relatives who are involved in their lives; many don’t.
In lengthy conversations, these seniors expressed several common concerns: how did I end up alone at this time of life? Am I oK with that? Who can I call on for help? Who can make decisions on my behalf if I’m unable to? how
t his “gray revolution” in Americans’ living arrangements is fueled by longer life spans, rising rates of divorce and childlessness, smaller families, the geographic dispersion of family members, an emphasis on aging in place, and a preference for what eric Klinenberg, a professor of sociology at New York University, calls “intimacy at a distance” — being close to family, but not too close. the most reliable, up-to-date data about older adults who live alone comes from the U.s Census Bureau. According to its 2023 Current Population survey, about 28% of people 65 and older live by themselves, including slightly fewer than 6 million men and slightly more than 10 million women. (the figure doesn’t include seniors living in institutions, primarily assisted living and nursing homes.) By contrast, 1 in 10 older Americans lived on their own in 1950. this is, first and foremost, an older women’s issue, because women outlive men and because they’re less likely to remarry after being widowed or divorcing. twenty-seven percent of women PAGE 4
Catherine Francisco, founder and president of the AAPI Chamber of Commerce
Maya Kwong, owner of Xiao Long Dumplings AJPress photos By Robert Macabagdal
Minnesota
(center)
by Judith GrahaM KFF Health News
Mass deportations would be disastrous for...
of construction workers and 8% of care workers are also undocumented.
Lost sales revenue
the U.s. would lose about
$100 billion in federal and state tax revenues, said Dr. robert Lynch, co-author of “the economic Impact on Citizens and Authorized Immigrants of mass Deportation.” Inflation would rise by about 3% he predicted at the news briefing, organized by America’s Voice.
on the demand side effect, we have 8 million undocumented workers who spend hundreds of millions of dollars in the U.s Deport them, and you lose that revenue,” said Lynch, professor emeritus at the University of Washington.
the economy of America
shrinks,” said Lynch, noting also that low-skilled white men who work in blue collar jobs would be hardest hit. Wages go down when the economy shrinks, as small businesses shutter or cut down their labor force due to revenue loss, he explained.
the notion that undocumented immigrants are stealing jobs from American workers is a false narrative, said Lynch. “Americans are not going to go
out in the blazing heat to pick cotton or peanuts,” he said.
“Undocumented immigrants take jobs that American workers will not do.”
‘Pet eating Haitians’
At the news briefing, several speakers noted that trump has demonized migrants to appeal to his ‘make America Great Again’ base. But there is scant evidence of such appeal to voters outside the base. Zachary mueller, research director at America’s Voice, said republicans have spent $458 million in television ads and a similar amount on social media ads to promote anti-immigrant messaging. “But it has not delivered at the ballot box.”
the most discussed moment of the debate was when trump alleged that haitian immigrants in springfield, ohio were capturing pets, and eating them. City officials have said there is no evidence of such claims.
“trump has dehumanized a group of people, and cast them as an existential threat,” said mueller. “he is engaging in racist theory, and it is clear there are going to be consequences.”
SAVE Act earlier that morning, spring-
field City hall received a bomb threat, which forced all workers there to evacuate. mayor rob rue said the perpetrators had “used hateful language towards immigrants and haitians in our community.”
the safeguard American Voter eligibility Act — sAVe — requires voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship at the time of registration. the pending legislation, known as a continuing resolution, has been attached to the budget bill. house speaker mike Johnson has said he will not allow the budget bill to pass without the sAVe Act also being passed, even if it means a government shutdown, reported the Associated Press.
False narratives Jonah minkoff-Zern, codirector of the Public Citizen’s Democracy Campaign, said the statements made in the sAVe Act are not verified by facts. Incidents of non-citizen voting are extremely rare.
“People would not risk their livelihoods and their families to illegally cast a vote,” said minkoffZern. “Using this blatantly false narrative, trump is setting the tone to disrupt the election if it doesn’t go his way.” n
Suspect in murder of newlywed Fil-Am nurse...
1
s he had just returned from hale’iwa in oahu, where she got married to her boyfriend of 10 years, U.s. Navy member Bryan Llantero, last Aug. 24.
Jubane’s mother-in-law, Imelda Llantero, told KhoN-tV that the newlyweds returned to the U.s mainland on sept. 1 and spent the Labor Day holiday together before Jubane returned to work in Portland.
A public facebook group, “find melissa Jubane case Discussion and Updates,” was set up on Aug. 26 to help search for the fil-Am nurse.
By 3:12 p.m. on sept. 4, Jubane was officially entered into the national law enforcement systems as a missing person.
Jubane was found dead on sept. 7, but the police declined to disclose more details, including where the body was located.
schubert, who was also a nurse and a former Providence Portland medical Center employee from september 2022 to october 2023, was arrested after investigators
Bryce
Jubane
Photos from @iamlegacy23/X found evidence linking him to Jubane’s disappearance.
Washington County Chief Deputy District Attorney Jeff Lebowski requested Judge Lemoine to seal the documents revealing details about the murder case, including the summary of evidence, search warrant affidavit and the possible cause that led to the arrest. s chubert did not physically appear in court on sept. 16 and, instead, appeared on a screen behind a cell door at the county jail, according to KoIN 6. his attorney, Gregory scholl, entered a not guilty plea on s chubert’s behalf. t he judge accepted the plea. schubert is scheduled to appear in court on oct. 15. (Mary Villegas/inquirer. net)
Historic numbers of Americans live by...
ages 65 to 74 live alone, compared with 21% of men. After age 75, an astonishing 43% of women live alone, compared with only 24% for men.
t he majority — 80% — of people who live alone after age 65 are divorced or widowed, twice the rate of the general population, according to Kff’s analysis of 2022 census data. more than 20% have incomes below $13,590, the federal poverty line in 2022, while 27% make between that and $27,180, twice the poverty level. of course, their experiences vary considerably. h ow older adults living alone are faring depends on their financial status, their housing, their networks of friends and family members, and resources in the communities where they live.
Attitudes can make a difference. many older adults relish being independent, while others feel abandoned. It’s common for loneliness to come and go, even among people who have caring friends and family members.
“I like being alone better than I like being in relationships,” said Janice Chavez of Denver, who said she’s in her 70s. “I don’t have to ask anybody for anything. If I want to sleep late, I sleep late. If I want to stay up and watch tV, I can. I do whatever I want to do. I love the independence and the freedom.” Chavez is twice divorced and has been on her own since 1985. As a girl, she wanted to be married and have lots of kids, but “I picked jerks,” she said. she talks to her daughter, tracy, every day, and is close to several neighbors. she lives in the home she grew up in, inherited from her mother in 1991. her only sibling, a brother, died a dozen years ago.
In Chicago, Norington is wondering whether to stay in her senior building or move to the suburbs after her car was vandalized this year. “ s ince the pandemic, fear has almost paralyzed me from getting out as much as I would like,” she told me.
she’s a take-charge person who has been deeply involved in her community. In 2016, Norington started an organization for single Black seniors in Chicago that sponsored speed dating events and monthly socials for several
years. s he volunteered with a local medical center doing outreach to seniors and brought health and wellness classes to her building. she organized cruises for friends and acquaintances to the Caribbean and hawaii in 2022 and 2023.
Now, every morning, Norington sends a spiritual text message to 40 people, who often respond with messages of their own. “It helps me to feel less alone, to feel a sense of inclusion,” she said.
In m aine, Ken e lliott, 77, a retired psychology professor, lives by himself in a house in mount Vernon, a town of 1,700 people 20 miles northwest of the state capital. h e never married and doesn’t have children. his only living relative is an 80-year-old brother in California. for several years, elliott has tried to raise the profile of solo agers among maine policymakers and senior organizations. this began when e lliott started inquiring about resources available to older adults living by themselves, like him. h ow were they getting to doctor appointments? Who was helping when they came home from the hospital and needed assistance? What if they needed extra help in the home but couldn’t afford it? to elliott’s surprise, he found this group wasn’t on anyone’s radar, and he began advocating on solo agers’ behalf.
Now, elliott is thinking about how to put together a team of people who can help him as he ages in place — and how to build a stronger sense of community.
“Aging without a mythic family support system — which everyone assumes people have — is tough for everybody,” elliott said.
In manhattan, Lester shane, 72, who never married or had children, lives by himself in an 11-by-14-foot studio apartment on the third floor of a building without an elevator. h e didn’t make much money during a long career as an actor, a writer, and a theater director, and he’s not sure how he’ll make ends meet once he stops teaching at Pace University.
“ t here are days when I’m carrying my groceries up three flights of stairs when I think, ‘this is really hard,’” shane told me.
Although his health is pretty good, he knows that won’t last forever.
“I’m on all the lists for senior housing — all lottery situations. most of the people I’ve talked to said you will probably die before your number comes up,” he said with mordant humor. then, shane turned serious.
“I’m old and getting older, and whatever problems I have now are only going to get worse,” he said. As is the case for many older adults who live alone, his friends are getting older and having difficulties of their own.
t he prospect of having no one he knows well to turn to is alarming, s hane admitted:
“Underneath that is fear.”
Kate shulamit fagan, 80, has lived on her own since 1979, after two divorces. “It was never my intention to live alone,” she told me in a lengthy phone conversation. “I expected that I would meet someone and start another relationship and somehow sail off into the rest of my life. It’s been exceedingly hard to give up that expectation.”
When I first spoke to fagan, in mid-march, she was having difficulty in Philadelphia, where she’d moved two years earlier to be close to one of her sons. “I’ve been really lonely recently,” she told me, describing how difficult it was to adjust to a new life in a new place. Although her son was attentive, fagan desperately missed the close circle of friends she’d left behind in st. Petersburg, florida, where she’d lived and worked for 30 years. four and a half months later, when I called fagan again, she’d returned to st. Petersburg and was renting a one-bedroom apartment in a senior building in the center of the city. she’d celebrated her birthday there with 10 close friends and was meeting people in her building. “I’m not completely settled, but I feel fabulous,” she told me. What accounted for the change? “here, I know if I want to go out or I need help, quite a few people would be there for me,” fagan said. “the fear is gone.” KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces indepth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.
PNP set to file a criminal complaint...
help of his close associates and legal representatives, whom he said helped the sect leader by “misleading authorities regarding his whereabouts.” the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group will facilitate the case build-up and gather pieces of evidence relevant to the case.
o n August 24, some 2,000 PNP members served the arrest
warrant of Quiboloy at the KJC compound in Davao City.
Quiboloy and four of his subordinates Jackielyn roy, Ingrid Canada, Cresente Canada and s ylvia Cemanes surrendered after they were given a 24-hour ultimatum.
Quiboloy is detained in the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City. t he other respondents, who were also previously in the custodial center, have been transferred to Pasig City Jail last friday, sept. 13. one of the suspects, Paulene Canada, was the first to be arrested in July and is now detained in Pasig.
Quiboloy and five other suspects pleaded not guilty to charges of human trafficking and child abuse filed before the Pasig City regional trial court (rtC) and Quezon City rtC. n
Melissa
(left) and
Johnathan Schubert.
Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Apollo Quiboloy
DILG photo
AFTERMATH. A resident returns to one of the collapsed structures in the razed Aroma Compound in Road 10, Barangay 105, Tondo, Manila on Sunday, Sept. 15. Nearly 2,000 displaced families are staying in three evacuation centers -- covered courts of Barangay 105 and 106 and
General Vicente Lim Elementary School, and in modular tents along the center island of Mel Lopez Boulevard and Maginoo Street. PNA photo by Avito Dalan
PCG pulls out vessel from Escoda...
the commandant’s instruction is that as soon as weather permits, that ship will be on its way because as of yesterday (saturday), the seas were rough,” he added, referring to Adm. ronnie Gil Gavan.
the NmC will make sure that China’s occupation of Panatag (scarborough) shoal in 2012 will not be repeated on escoda, Lopez said in a separate message to reporters.
“scarborough shoal is a lesson learned for us, so again, the government resolved that we will maintain our presence in whatever way and we will continue to monitor and enforce our rights, exercise our rights, sovereignty and jurisdiction over the area,” he said.
the 2012 standoff led to the filing by the Philippine government of a case at the hague arbitration tribunal, which in 2016 issued a ruling voiding China’s expansive and historical claims. Beijing has refused to recognize the decision.
‘mission accomplished’
As soon as the magbanua docked in port, three of the four personnel suffering from dehydration were evacuated on stretchers and taken by three waiting ambulances.
“We decided to direct you to proceed to Puerto Princesa City because your crew is getting sick, your ship has suffered critical damage and the weather is bad,” said Gavan, as he welcomed the BrP teresa magbanua and its 63-strong crew.
“I’d like to emphasize… that you have accomplished your mission,” he said. for months on end, the men and women aboard the 2,000-ton Japanese-built ship were in the open seas of escoda shoal with their view on the horizon the same except for the shift between day and night, the transition from dry to rainy season, and the constant presence of Chinese vessels nearby.
Lt. Cmdr. e fren Duran, commanding officer of the ship, said they dealt with Chinese ships every single day, monitoring and challenging them.
It was also a difficult task to stretch the food supplies and water that they were provided and more recently, to deal with inclement weather in the open seas, Near the end of the deployment they had to make do with porridge seasoned with salt or go fishing, he added.
Gavan pinned medals on the crew and enjoyed a feast with them over a “boodle fight” with lechon,
fish, adobo, and soda drinks after his short speech, saying “I want to spend time with them.”
China’s blockade of Philippine ships attempting to resupply at e scoda s hoal in recent weeks forced the PCG to air drop the supplies using a helicopter on Aug. 28. the last supply run of the PCG using a ship was on July 15.
Strategic role
t he m agbanua has been anchored inside the shoal since April 16 in response to the continued presence of Chinese vessels and suspected reclamation activities in the area.
Aug. 31 was the worst yet for the magbanua after a Chinese coast guard vessel “intentionally and repeatedly” rammed the ship as it lifted anchor “with the intention of loitering” around the shoal. the magbanua sustained some damage but no one was injured.
t he move to replace the magbanua is likely to irk China as Beijing had demanded the Philippines withdraw the vessel it claimed was “illegally stranded” at the atoll, which it asserts it owns as part of its broader claim to nearly the entire south China sea.
escoda shoal lies 150 kilometers west of Palawan, well within the country’s exclusive economic zone (eeZ).
It is strategically important because it has access to Ayungin ( s econd t homas) s hoal from north or south of Palawan, while Ayungin lies between escoda and Chinese-occupied Panganiban (mischief) reef—a feature within the Philippines’ eeZ that Beijing seized in 1995.
the shoal also serves as a meetup point for PCG and Philippine Navy vessels conducting resupply missions to Ayungin shoal, where the Philippine Navy keeps the B r P s ierra m adre, which was
deliberately grounded there in 1999 to serve as the country’s outpost.
Wake-up call
Duran, who was teary-eyed while Gavan was giving his remarks, later told reporters they are willing to return to escoda after getting some rest and the ship undergoes repair and maintenance.
t his is not just for the Philippines but for the entire world. We are implementing international law and we need to defend it,” he pointed out.
maritime security expert Jay Batongbacal of the University of the Philippines Institute for maritime Affairs and Law of the sea said the recent events at sea should be a wake-up call for other nations “with respect to the reality of China’s aggressive maritime expansion.”
“ t hey are appropriating an entire sea area for themselves, and demonstrating that they constitute a real threat to the freedom of the seas in this strategic region,” he told the Inquirer.
“It’s disappointing that the magbanua was unable to remain on station, but we also have to keep in mind that its five-month deployment is unprecedented and she stood her ground for as long as she could,” he said.
In a statement on s unday, s enate m ajority f loor Leader francis tolentino said “It’s only right that the crew of BrP teresa magbanua take a rest and seek medical assistance. We salute their heroism. And the ship also needs repair.”
he also urged the 107,000-strong reservists in the country’s different branches of the military to play an active role in defending and safeguarding the Philippines’ sovereignty. (With a report from Tina G. Santos)
‘Ex-PNP chief may have helped Alice...
trader who was approached by the secretary of sual, Pangasinan mayor Liseldo Calugay to find a lawyer to notarize Guo’s counter-affidavit. for its part, the Department of Justice (D o J) is eyeing to file administrative complaints against the lawyers of Guo over her “fake” counter-affidavit that was notarized and submitted to prosecutors in absentia.
the document was then notarized by lawyer elmer Galicia on Aug. 14 and later submitted before the DoJ.
DoJ Undersecretary Nicholas felix ty said that possible complaints await notary public Galicia, as well as Guo’s lawyers since they have drafted and submitted the counter-affidavit before the department.
While the DoJ is still studying the cases they will file, ty said it is certain that they will file a complaint before the supreme Court, such as a disciplinary case against the lawyers for their “possible misbehavior.”
the criminal charges of human trafficking and money-laundering filed against Guo had been ordered transferred from the Capas, tarlac trial court to the Pasig City trial court, ty said. It is possible that future cases to be filed against Guo will be before the Pasig court.
Calugay denies romantic relationship
m eanwhile, m ayor Calugay denied he has a romantic relationship with Guo despite mounting
evidence that the two shared more businesses bearing their combined names and photos of them wearing matching shirts during the campaign and when they were both serving as mayors.
senate President Pro tempore Jinggoy estrada pursued the line of questioning about their supposed romance, showing photos of them together, including one of Guo and a large bouquet of flowers Calugay sent for Valentine’s Day.
“You sent her flowers on feb. 14, and yet you deny your relationship?” a smiling estrada said.
“I send flowers to many people during Valentines,” Calugay said.
“Are you not lovers in PoGo?” sen. Joel Villanueva asked.
“I have no business partnership with her. she is not my girlfriend,” Calugay said.
senators showed to Calugay the following businesses which bore his name with Guo – AC Aqua farm, Dee Aqua farm, Licsel fish farm, Donguo fish farm, and GuCo Aqua farm, all based in Baquioen, sual, Pangasinan. estrada earlier bared that an Alisel Aqua farm also bore their name.
Both Calugay and Guo denied having any business or romance.
“I am not lying. she is not my girlfriend. And we do not have any joint business,” said Calugay, who asserted that his previous marriage was annulled and he now has a new partner.
Proactive
t he PNP should have been more proactive in its investigation to identify the people who assist-
ed Guo’s escape from the country, a ranking security official said on tuesday. the official, who is privy to the ongoing investigation into the activities of illegal PoGos, scored the police force after reports surfaced that a former PNP chief was instrumental in Guo’s escape.
“Because of all the names mentioned, they should have investigated it,” the official said in a phone interview. the official declined to be named so that he could speak freely about the issue.
Closer to the truth the senate investigation into Guo’s links to PoGos and other illegal activities is “about to end, and I believe that we are getting closer and closer to the truth,” hontiveros said.
“Policy-wise, I want to share what we have achieved so far. We have managed to identify gaps in border control, the system of granting visas, law enforcement, and birth registration, and now the government agencies that operate in these aspects are having their own investigations,” hontiveros noted.
h ontiveros added the joint committees also gathered information, which prompted the filing of criminal charges against several individuals. our hearings have allowed us to craft an amendment – accepted and passed into law – to the Anti-financial Account scamming Act Law. We are also crafting amendments to the e xpanded Anti-trafficking in Persons Act to add ‘forced criminality’ in the definition of human trafficking,” she added.
estrada warned Alice Guo that she “will live most of your adult life behind bars” as her convoluted testimonies earned the ire of filipinos. h ere we GU o again. It’s season 2 of ‘I don’t remember / I don’t know, your honor.’ Because of your lies, Alice, and your convoluted answers, you have really captured the annoyance of the f ilipino people,” estrada said.
“And we are far from over,” he said. “however, even if we get almost nothing from asking you (Alice Guo), and even if you mislead this committee with your answers, we will not stop here in the senate because we know that the whole truth will come out in the end.” (With reports from Emmanuel Tupas, Marc Jayson cayabyab, Daphne Galvez)
WATER ALWAYS WINS
As little as 6 inches of water can sweep a person off their feet, and a foot of water can cause a car or truck to float. Turn from flooded roadways no matter what kind of vehicle you’re driving.
SACRIFICE AT SEA. The BRP Teresa Magbanua docks at Puerto Princesa City, provincial capital of Palawan, after five months of patrolling Escoda (Sabina) Shoal, with some of its dehydrated crew members given medical attention upon the vessel’s return. Philippine Coast Guard handout photo
HEARING WITNESS. Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo appears anew before the Senate inquiry on illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators in Pasay City on Tuesday, Sept. 17. Guo and Mayor Liseldo Calugay of Sual, Pangasinan denied a partnership of any kind and links with POGOs. PNA photo by Avito Dalan
OpiniOn Features
Harboring fugitives
It took considerable state resources, time and effort to find pastor Apollo Quiboloy in the huge Kingdom of Jesus Christ estate in Davao City. the government also had to scramble to track down Alice Guo after the dismissed mayor of Bamban, Tarlac was confirmed to have fled the country together with her alleged siblings Shiela and Wesley.
those involved in the manhunt for Quiboloy and Guo complained that they were misled by supporters of the two including lawyers. In Quiboloy’s case, amid efforts to stop the police search for the pastor at the KoJC compound, even Vice President sara Duterte said he was no longer there, joking that he had gone to heaven, while his chief legal counsel expressed a similar view.
Editorial
for facilitating her escape. t he man Guo has identified as the person who financed her departure allegedly by yacht from manila and escape to malaysia, singapore and then Indonesia is a Chinese who is reportedly no longer in the Philippines. following Guo’s testimony on tuesday before the senate, however, authorities may yet nail down persons still in the Philippines who helped her escape.
o n tuesday, s eptember 17, the Philippine National Police said that aside from indictments for harboring a fugitive and obstruction of justice, the government is studying possible sedition cases against KoJC members who staged mass gatherings during the manhunt for Quiboloy. t his week the Department of Justice also said even former President rodrigo Duterte, who has accepted his designation as administrator of KoJC assets, may be indicted for obstruction of justice.
As for Guo’s escape, a lawyer is in hot water for apparently playing a role in covering up her departure from the country in July. Authorities are still determining who can be held liable
A former “chief PNP” reportedly received a generous amount of money to help, although at this point, this story is more like raw, unverified intel bordering on gossip.
t he cases of Quiboloy and Guo have raised questions on the extent of protection allowed under the principle of attorney-client privilege. the privilege is not supposed to extend to cases wherein the services of a lawyer are used or obtained to aid or enable the client to commit a crime. Is the lawyer allowed to help the client evade arrest or prosecution? these issues need to be clarified, if only to prevent more fugitives from evading the law. (Philstar.com)
BaBe romuaLdez
oNe of the crimes considered as the most heinous and serious worldwide is the sexual abuse and trafficking of minors and children who are among the most vulnerable members of society. s adly, this type of crime has increased substantially over the past decade. According to the nongovernment organization save the Children, child trafficking refers to the exploitation of girls and boys, primarily for forced labor and sexual exploitation.
“Children account for 27 percent of all the human trafficking victims worldwide, and two out of every three child victims are young girls,” the organization says. At least 120 million girls (about one in 10) have been forced to engage in sex or perform other sexual acts, says the UNICef although the actual number is probably much higher.
Last June, a large-scale joint initiative across 39 countries in europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa dubbed as “ o peration Global Chain” targeted highrisk criminal organizations
Extradition treaties – important tool against transnational crimes
engaged in human trafficking, with particular attention given to child victims and cases involving sexual exploitation, forced criminality and mendicancy. t he operation resulted in the arrest of 219 criminals, and over 1,300 potential victims including children were identified. During the week-long operation, 276 new investigations were initiated, while additional 362 suspects were identified.
According to the Interpol, among the most abhorrent cases involved a hungarian couple who were sexually exploiting six of their children and making them beg on the streets around their village.
It’s not surprising that law enforcement agencies highly prioritize child trafficking and sexual abuse/exploitation cases, working with their international counterparts to go after suspects of these heinous crimes and using extradition as a legal mechanism to bring perpetrators to justice.
Because the arrest of Apollo Quiboloy, the leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ religious group, took so long, it has now turned into the most watched case all over the world – taking
center stage in the international media. Quiboloy is currently in the fBI’s “most Wanted” list, having been indicted by a federal grand jury in California for “conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; conspiracy and bulk cash smuggling” with a federal warrant issued in November 2021 for his arrest.
According to the fBI, Quiboloy is “wanted for his alleged participation in a labor trafficking scheme that brought church members to the United states, via fraudulently obtained visas, and forced the members to solicit donations for a bogus charity, donations that actually were used to finance church operations and the lavish lifestyles of its leaders. members who proved successful at soliciting for the church allegedly were forced to enter into sham marriages or obtain fraudulent student visas to continue soliciting in the United states year-round.”
Women were allegedly recruited to work as personal assistants or “pastorals” for Quiboloy and that “victims
prepared his meals, cleaned his residences, gave him massages and were required to have sex with Quiboloy in what the pastorals called ‘night duty’.” the Philippines and the U.s signed an extradition treaty in November 1994 and was ratified by the senate later, with Presidential Decree 1069, also known as the “Philippine extradition Law,” as the implementing law. According to the Department of Justice, a U. s . extradition request is expected soon.
Under the extradition law, a formal request is coursed through the Department of foreign Affairs, then forwarded to the Department of Justice for evaluation, with the request supported by required documentation. A petition will then be filed in the appropriate court that decides if the request has merit, after which an extradition order is issued.
Undoubtedly, each country has its own laws and naturally, President m arcos needs to have Quiboloy face the charges before the local courts first before extradition, especially with more alleged victims locally – many of them girls as young as 12 – now coming out against the
religious leader, claiming they were subjected to systematic sexual abuse and manipulation. m any countries, most especially the United s tates, are known for being relentless when it comes to sex trafficking cases, especially of minors. As one international enforcer commented one time, “We may not get the trafficker today, we may not get him tomorrow, but we’re going to get him.”
Last year, Leonardo Jimenezr odriguez, the leader of a transnational sex trafficking ring that lured young women and girls and employed beatings, threats and psychological abuse to force them into prostitution in New York and elsewhere –was extradited to the U.s. from mexico. According to the special Agentin-Charge who took part in the operation, Jimenez-rodriguez’s extradition was the “result of years of extraordinary collaboration with law enforcement agencies spanning multiple countries and investigative jurisdictions.”
J U st a few days ago, selfproclaimed “Appointed s on of God” and “ o wner of the Universe” Kingdom of Jesus Christ (K o JC) Pastor Apollo Quiboloy was finally brought to court. he was finally arrested just last sunday (sept. 8). similarly, a few days before, on s ept. 4 (Wednesday), suspended Bamban, tarlac mayor Alice Guo was arrested by Indonesian law enforcement and brought back to the Philippines to answer to the Philippine senate for PoGolinked crimes such as human trafficking, money laundering, violence against women and children and torture.
Cynics say that the arrests of Alice Guo and Pastor Quiboloy, and its grabbing international news media headlines, amount to nothing but infamy for our country. however, I see this as an opportunity to prove ourselves and overcome challenges.
It’s a new opportunity for us to demonstrate that crime does not pay in the Philippines. No
matter how seemingly powerful the personality, if there exists strong evidence of their crimes and other wrongdoings – and especially if it harms our children, our economy and our national security – then the Philippines can and will bring criminals to justice. Alice Guo and her associates are international in scope with Chinese financiers and “big bosses” having fled abroad, and linked to personalities involved with the notorious Pharmally. on the other hand, the arrests present to us a challenge to vastly augment the abilities of our intelligence agencies. We must realize that these abhorrent criminal incidents involving transnational organized crime have highlighted the highly influential role of understated elements of our national security apparatus – intelligence networks, surveillance operations and its necessary interconnectedness with the international community. It includes the Intelligence service, Armed forces of the Philippines (IsAfP), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA). the arrests of Alice Guo and Pastor Quiboloy would not have
succeeded without intelligence agencies. the Philippines’ National security Policy 2023-2028 recognizes the foundational role of intelligence operations. It states “any effort to formulate a National security Policy should therefore start with an awareness and assessment of the factors and circumstances that can influence or shape the nation’s security outlook in the foreseeable future.”
t he f ive e yes, an intelligence-sharing alliance among Australia, Canada, New Zealand the United Kingdom and the U.s., raised the issue of commercial, industrial and conventional espionage by asserting that the “Chinese government is engaged in the most sustained, scaled and sophisticated theft of intellectual property and expertise in human history;” that China state-sponsored hackers have been spying on U. s . critical infrastructure and China has been doing all of it alongside conventional espionage around the world. We are more than familiar with Chinese infringement, interference and infiltration. strengthening our intelligence apparatus is thus our responsibility to meet the requirements of our vision of
national security.
As senator Grace Poe, principal sponsor of republic Act No. 11934 or the subscriber Identity module (sIm) registration Act, remarked, “nagkandahirap tayo ipasa ang text scam law na finally napasa na [,] pero nagugulat tayo dahil tuluy-tuloy pa rin ang mga pagti -text ng mga scam sa atin. ‘Yun pala, siguro merong correlation between those scammers and those [PoGos] that were raided just recently[.]” true enough, police raids on PoGo revealed droves of cyber-criminals and potential cyber espionage elements being conducted against us inside our own territory.
As a total ban on P o G o s is close, despite deportations and other cases in court, it’s inevitable that the most stubborn P o G o s would operate underground. e nsuring a just and complete conclusion to this crime-ridden sequence in our modern history requires sufficient support to our intelligence agencies.
s ince we now work in the committee on finance in the s enate, let’s put things in perspective here from a fiscal standpoint. It was reported
“We cast a wide net in search of mr. Pratt,” U.s. Attorney tara mcGrath stated, adding they are prepared to bring michael Pratt to justice and thanking the spanish government for its assistance. today, child sexual abuse is considered to be the most disgusting, abhorrent crime ever worldwide, more so when perpetrators use the name of God in committing this despicable act. even ordinary prisoners are well known to have their own brand of justice when it comes to sex abusers of children – punishing the offenders by continually raping them and occasionally subjecting them to various kinds of sexual humiliation. often, these child sex trafficking criminals are placed in separate isolated cells –but only if they are lucky enough. (Philstar.com)
* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
Last m arch, the alleged mastermind of a sex trafficking ring that victimized teenagers from Canada and the U. s who were forced to appear in pornographic videos was extradited to the U.s. from spain.
‘Isang bala ka lang’
that Alice Guo was willing to pay approximately P1 billion in bribe money. the 2025 National e xpenditure Plan provides the following approximate amounts for specific agencies: P3.5 billion to the NBI; P2.24 to NICA and P896 million to the National security Council (NsC). In other words, one suspected foreign agent is alleged to be capable of paying an amount so exorbitant that it can cover the entire budget of the N s C, a third of the NBI’s or close to half of the NICA budget. It exposes how currently lopsided the fight is in favor of extremely wealthy criminals and how our intelligence agencies are actually severely underfunded. July this year, just before the president announced the shutdown of P o G o operations in the Philippines, Presidential Anti- o rganized Crime Commission (PAo CC) reported that there were 42 licensed P o G o operators remaining. e ven with just 42 remaining, their combined financial capacity would most likely outspend our entire intelligence network. however, it’s not all bad news. Alice Guo’s arrest was the product of international, inter-agency coordination. t he Philippines
* * * babeseyeview@gmail.com
and Indonesia can use this recent intelligence victory as a rallying cry in gathering momentum to revitalize “our eyes Initiative,” which was envisioned as the AseAN counterpart of the five eyes. As our Alice Guo example has illustrated, two AseAN members collaborating against crime can lead to a mission accomplished. furthermore, all agencies are currently eyeing financing for cyber security and capacity building. We need to use these recent events as an opportunity to reflect on what is needed to ensure the safety and well-being of all our countrymen. As it turns out, s eptember, under Presidential Proclamation No. 713 dated sept. 22, 2004, is the “rule of Law month.” the arrests of Quiboloy and Guo serve as a stern warning: “ Wag mong sabihin malakas ka. Wag mong sabihin marami kang tauhan. At wag mo ring sabihin marami kang salapi. Pare-pareho lang tayo, isang bala ka lang!” (Philstar.com) * * *
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
Babe’s Eye View
Dateline philippines
Philippines still deadliest country in Asia for environmental defenders in 2023 – watchdog
mANILA
— the Philippines remains the most dangerous country in Asia for land and environmental defenders, accounting for 68% of the recorded killings and enforced disappearances in the region in 2023, the watchdog Global Witness found.
o f the 25 defenders in Asia whose lives were taken away in 2023, 17 of them came from the Philippines, where 10 were killed and seven have disappeared. India recorded five such cases, while Indonesia had three.
In 2023, a total of 196 defenders were killed or forcibly disappeared worldwide, with Colombia, Brazil, honduras, mexico and Philippines ranking as the top five most dangerous countries.
the marcos Jr. administration has failed to stem the tide of violence against those protecting our environment and natural resources,” Kalikasan People’s Network for the environment (Kaliaksan PNe) advocacy officer Jonila Castro said in a statement.
“In fact, repression and militarization have worsened under this regime. environmental defenders are being red-tagged, harassed, and murdered with impunity,” she added.
Data shows that the targeted killings and enforced disappearances of green activists in the Philippines have risen by 54.5%, up from 11 cases in 2022.
Global Witness has been documenting lethal threats against land and environmental defenders since 2012, and throughout this period, violence toward these individuals has been most concentrated in the Philippines.
from 2012 to 2023, 64% of the 468 recorded deaths and enforced disappearances in Asia occurred in the country.
Who were they? majority of the 17 filipinos listed were smallscale farmers, seven of which were tagged as “murdered” and two as “disappeared.”
In a constant battle against land grabbing, indigenous peoples are also common victims of murder and enforced disappearances. one of them was killed and two could no longer be found.
Globally, the report found that nearly half of the total number of defenders killed and forcibly disappeared in 2023 were indigenous
peoples and Afrodescendents. Children and relatives of targeted defenders are equally at risk, constituting three of the 17 killed in 2023. While Global Witness could not identify the industries behind the attacks, their report revealed that most of the perpetrators were from the armed forces. here are the names of the 17 land and environmental defenders who were forcibly taken or killed:
Ben fausto
Arjie Velasco salvador
Antonio Diwayan
rey Almario Belan
ravin fausto
Dexter Capuyan
Lee sudario
Gene roz Jamil De Jesus
roly fausto
Danny malinao
mariano Jolongbayan
Crispin tingal Jr
emelda fausto
Bea Lopez
Jose Gonzales
Norman ortiz
Peter Agravante. Local monitoring findings. environmental rights group Kalikasan People’s Network for the environment (Kalikasan PNe), meanwhile, said in a statement that they have recorded an even higher number of human rights abuses against green activists in 2023. the group tallied a total of 21 killings and 11 abductions in 2023, which Kalikasan PNe said had affected 19 environmental defenders.
Kalikasan PNe and the environmental Defenders Congress, another green rights group, reported that these attacks target those opposing excessive mining, mega-dam construction and reclamation and quarrying projects.
Attacks persist in 2024 environmental defender rowenda Dasig remains missing even after her reported release from Lucena City District Jail on August 22.
Dasig was arrested alongside community health worker m iguela Peniero by armed forces in Atimonan, Quezon in July 2023 on charges of illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, and explosives. Charges against Dasig were only dismissed over a year after her arrest, on August 13, due to lack of evidence, while Peniero remains in detention.
Dasig and Peniero were detained
while studying the potential environmental impacts of Atimonan one energy, Inc.’s construction of a combined cycle gas turbine power plant and liquefied natural gas facility.
they were examining how this power plant and facility, which burns natural gas and utilizes steam to generate power, might affect the health and livelihoods of coconut farmers and fisherfolk communities in Atimonan, Quezon. t he Commission on h uman rights has since investigated the case, urging for the stricter implementation of republic Act 10352 or the Anti-enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act of 2012.
Besides Dasig and Peniero, two other environmental defenders were reportedly abducted recently. more are missing. felix salaveria Jr., a 66-year-old cyclist and indigenous peoples’ rights activist, went missing on August 28 in tabaco City, Albay. this happened five days after labor activist and fellow cyclist James Jazmines disappeared.
meanwhile, Andy magno, a graduate of UP manila and former chairperson of the environment organization minggin, was abducted on september 11 in san Pablo, Isabela alongside migrant workers’ advocate Vladimir maro.
earlier this year, two other environmental defenders francisco eco’ Dangla III and Joxelle ‘Jak’ tiong were found on march 28, days after their abduction in san Carlos City, Negros occidental. Attacks against environmental defenders in the Philippines are not limited to killings and enforced disappearances.
rights groups have reported ongoing red-tagging, intimidation, harassment and arbitrary detention of individuals opposing government and private sector infrastructure projects that exploit the country’s resources and displace communities. environmental defenders play a crucial role in safeguarding our ecosystems and communities from destructive projects masquerading as 'development' or even 'green' initiatives. Yet instead of recognizing and protecting us, we are being systematically attacked and silenced," Dangla, eDC spokesperson said in a statement. (Dominique Nicole Flores/Philstar.com)
m ANILA — Police have intensified the manhunt for harry roque, who has an arrest order issued by the h ouse of representatives quad committee, with special tracker teams looking for the former presidential spokesman round the clock.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. rommel francisco marbil said on tuesday, september 17 they have mobilized tracker teams led by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to locate roque and bring him before the house’s quad committee.
“We have officially received the request from the house of r epresentatives and the PNP is fully committed to executing this order while adhering to our core mandate,” marbil said in a statement.
t he h ouse quad committee has a standing order for roque’s arrest over his failure to submit subpoenaed documents related to his assets. Lawmakers believe the documents could be connected to criminal activities of illegal Philippine offshore gaming operation hubs.
m arbil assured r oque that the manhunt for him would be carried out with the highest level of professionalism and respect for due process.
Apart from the PNP, m arbil said the National Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Immigration are helping in the manhunt for roque. n
“ o ur fundamental duty is to respect the decisions of our democratic institutions and ensure human rights are protected throughout this process,” he said. s peaking to reporters in an interview, marbil said it is up to roque if he will continue to evade the arrest order or surrender to the house of representatives as “he knows what is right and what is wrong.” roque, former spokesman of former President rodrigo Duterte, has denied being a fugitive and said he would seek judicial relief from the supreme Court.
VEGAS&STYLE Journal
11 National Artists for Film honored at FDCP
the
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(P f
with a gala night that honored 11 National Artists
film. the agency acknowledged their contributions in directing, scriptwriting and acting that helped grow the movie industry. h eld on s eptember 13, at teatrino Promenade in Greenhills, s an Juan, f DCP honored late industry titans Lamberto Avellana, Gerry de Leon, manuel Conde, e ddie r omero, Lino Brocka, Ishmael Bernal, m arilou DiazAbaya and fernado Poe Jr. as well as living legends ricky Lee, Kidlat tahimik and Nora Aunor. s a inyong mga balikat nakatayo kaming lahat, at sa inyong mga sining, darating ang mga nagniningning henyo ng kinabukasan ng talentong Pilipino (on your shoulders, we all stand, and through your arts, the shining geniuses of the future of Filipino talent will emerge)” fDCP Chairman Jose Javier reyes said during the program. Present at the event were National Artist Kidlat tahimik and ricky Lee who, together with Nora Aunor, were honored with remarkable portraits by filipino
visual artists teofilo m ontifar, teresita Dimanlig-torda, and Grandier Gil Bella. Aunor, however, did not make to the event. With the theme “ Tuloy ang Tradisyon ng Pelikulang Pilipino,” the evening also saw the attendance of the National Artists’ descendants such as Lovi Poe (daughter of “Da King” fernando Poe, Jr.), Janno Gibbs (grandchild of Gerardo de Leon) and director Joey r omero (children e ddie romero).
e nchong Dee stood as the master of ceremonies while singers Jona, Jason Dy, Nyoy Volante, Klarisse de Guzman, and Katrina Velarde added flair to the event by rendering songs associated with filipino film classics. the PfIm Gala Night was only one of the many activities fDCP scheduled for the month-long celebration. ongoing until september 27, fDCP will present classic films by National Artists at Cinematheque Centres in manila, Iloilo, Negros, Davao, and Nabunturan, with accompanying talkbacks. the inaugural film education Convention ( f ilm e C) is also happening at the De La salleCollege of s aint Benilde. t he
two-day event showcases top student films, engaging panel discussions, and film book sales. Designed for students and educators, filmeC aims to elevate film education in the Philippines and inspire the next generation of filmmakers. still to come is the sine Kabataan short film Lab and festival 2024 at shangri-La Plaza. the ten sine Kabataan finalists will premiere their short films on september 20. sine Kabataan offers a platform for youth to present their perspectives on contemporary issues through filmmaking.
Sept. 27 - PFIM Closing Ceremony at Seda Vertis North the PfIm will conclude with a closing ceremony honoring contributors to Philippine cinema. the event will feature the announcement of the Philippine entry for the 97th Academy Awards, unveil fDCP’s upcoming initiatives, and showcase PfIm 2024 highlights and f DCP’s achievements. By celebrating Philippine film Industry month, the fDCP reaffirms its commitment to nurturing and sustaining the growth of Philippine cinema. (ManilaTimes.net)
J ANIN e Gutierrez, with her striking mestiza features, could easily be mistaken for a european beauty. Yet no matter how the admiring eyes at the Venice film festival perceived her, she was, from head to toe and heart, a proud filipina through and through on her glamorous debut at one of the most prestigious stages in global cinema.
Janine wowed the Italian city in early september, just as the likes of hollywood’s George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchette, Nicole Kidman and Angelina Jolie arrived in haute couture hordes to grace the world premiere of their latest cinematic works. Janine flew to Venice to do the same, headlining the Philippine contingent with fellow actors ronnie Lazaro, hazel orencio, Dong Abay and Paul Jake Paule, producer Paul soriano and, of course, team captain and Venice film festival rock star Director Lav Diaz for his new film epic, “Phantosmia.”
Janine portrays r eyna in a four-hour psychological drama set primarily on an isolated island housing a penal colony. reyna lives with her adoptive mother in a destitute community just outside the prison’s boundaries, where she is exploited and pimped out to the corrupt men in charge. eventually, her character crosses paths with master sergeant hilarion Zabala (ronnie Lazaro), whose suffering from phantosmia — an olfactory hallucination triggered by PtsD — and search for redemption becomes intertwined with reyna’s plight.
featured in the non-competition lineup of the 87th edition of the prestigious festival, Direk Lav’s party received a grand reception nonetheless, given the filipino filmmaker’s repeated notable wins in Venice in past years. so, following the practice of such highprofile world cinema celebrations, “Phantosmia” had a proper photo call and a red carpet premiere.
It was on these two occasions that Janine dazzled the international press and cineast crowds of the Venice film festival — a twin experience, which she describes as her proudest moment to be filipino.
she said she was also deeply humbled to be part of the Lav Diaz movie since she came across audiences who flew from different parts of the world to Venice to specifically watch the filmmaker’s featured piece. Direk Lav is so revered in Venice that people would stop him whenever we were out, asking for photos. f ans even traveled from places like Germany just to watch the screening. It’s amazing because Direk Lav always describes his films as cultural works — his passion is to share our culture with the world. that’s why it’s so touching and wonderful to see how much we’re appreciated and to witness people from other nationalities genuinely excited about his work.”
and Vania for agreeing to dress me,” she expressed. “Wearing their creations was another way to showcase our local talent on the global stage, and that’s exactly what I wanted to do.”
Usually given a big glam team for her events in manila, Janine is also indebted to her lean and mean crew, who traveled with her to Venice. she had with her hairstylist Jay Aquino and makeup artist Anthea Bueno, who also played key roles in her festival debut.
“It was just the three of us, which made it more special,” Janine noted. “We’ve dreamed of doing this together, you see — to make it to an international film festival, having gone to New York fashion Week before. And it was so gratifying to see our shared dream come true.”
mIss Universe 2018 Catriona
Gray is looking back at a robbery incident her family experienced last month in London while on vacation.
During the tail end of the trip, which saw Catriona go around england and scotland with her parents for a special trip for her father Ian — who grew up in scotland before immigrating to Australia — the Grays' belongings were stolen.
At the time, Catriona shared a photo of a vehicle with its rear window smashed, indicating they just stopped for lunch on their way to the airport and their passports were also taken.
t he beauty queen recently touched on the incident again, posting on Instagram a photo of the iconic tower Bridge located
in the British capital. Catriona admitted to having newfound tension and anxiousness whenever going outside since the robbery, before going on to share what she learned from it.
t hings are just things and things can be replaced. family and their safety is the most important thing," Catriona said. she went on to list practical advice like not putting trust in London's paid parking facilities even with cameras and security, and to always have on hand one's passport and medications.
Cationa extended thanks to those who reached out asking how her family was, as well as to those who helped in the travel arrangements and find a doctor with important medications for her dad.
"At first I felt that the robbery and the stress that ensued blotted out the joy and happy memories from the special homecoming trip of my dad. But I decided I won’t let the thieves steal that too. stay safe everyone," Catriona ended.
“It was my first time to have a screening with an international audience,” the ever down-to-earth Janine gushed in an interview this week, gorgeously tanned from the Venice sun and still flushed from all the excitement. “I’m so grateful for everyone’s support,” she added, as she shared the wonderfully surreal experience of an entire cinema of foreigners applauding you at the screening and walking the glamorous red carpet as part of such a prestigious global event.
“I felt incredibly proud to be filipino at the Venice film festival. Walking the red carpet was an amazing experience, and seeing the filipino flag displayed when it was our turn, as they do for the different nationalities of the participating delegations, made it even more special.”
When asked how she felt about comments suggesting that, while Philippine cinema was celebrated in Venice, the spotlight back home seemed to shift to her red carpet looks, implying she stole the show, Janine responded thoughtfully. rather than becoming defensive, she offered an insightful perspective on the intersection of fashion and film.
“I’ve always believed that fashion and cinema go hand in hand,” Janine conveyed. “my idols like Lady Gaga use the red carpet to draw attention to their work, and I hope my choices did the same for ‘Phantosmia.’”
Despite the attention her absolutely gorgeous looks at Venice garnered, however, Janine remains clear that the film’s significance is paramount. “In the end, the film was still the real star, and I’m sure it will be here too when we show it very soon.”
Janine’s much-talked-about Venice looks featured two standout gowns designed by f ilipino fashion geniuses Inno sotto and Vania romoff. “I’m grateful to Inno
Janine said the preparation for the high-profile event was intense but fun, adding, “It would have been so overwhelming if they weren’t there with me. Actually, it was Anthea who was getting really nervous before the red carpet, and we all had a good laugh when she realized and blurted out she wasn’t even the one who would need to walk on it.”
Looking back at the entire experience, Janine feels a deep sense of accomplishment. “When I first started in showbiz, people would just say I was beautiful and didn’t talk about my talent,” she said quite bashfully. “But with this, I’m thrilled that people recognize me now for my acting. It’s a dream come true to be seen for my work and not only for how I look.” Indeed, Janine’s Venice debut was more than just a glamorous event. What it truly was a celebration of f ilipino artistry and her growth as an actress with a bonus. that is, superb fashion playing a supporting role in her cinematic journey.
ACtress Liza soberano is no longer signed under Careless music, headed by fellow artist James reid, the label confirmed. rumors of Liza's departure from Careless emerged when fans noticed she does not follow the label on Instagram. talks arose when Liza's former manager, o gie Diaz, who handled Liza for over a decade with star magic until June 2022 when the actress-singer signed with Careless, claimed in a video that Liza is no longer "friends" with James.
ogie also mentioned that Liza is in the United states allegedly with Jeffrey oh, the label's former chief executive officer. this has yet to be confirmed.
Careless then released a statement confirming Liza's departure from the label last July 29.
"It has been a pleasure to have represented her and wish her the best in all of her endeavors," the label said. earlier this year after Liza's hollywood debut in "Lisa fran-
ACtress Bea Alonzo is glowing as she graced the stage of sm Dasmarinas to face the throngs of fans that went to the launch of oppo's latest artificial intelligence (AI) phone, reno12 f 5G.
Bea is an endorser for the smartphone brand.
the actress currently topbills the trending nightly thriller "Widows' War" with Carla Abellana. she is also busy with her other projects, including her own lifestyle brand Bash.
the press present at the launch asked the actress questions that included those that pertain to matters of the heart.
“ o kay naman ang lagay ng puso ko ngayon . I’m enjoying being single. Marami pa akong kailangang gawin para sa sarili ko and I am enjoying myself right now," Bea said.
Asked about possible suitors, she playfully shared that some are showing interest: “But there are people na, siyempre — wow, feeling maganda. charot lang.” Besides the continued success of “Widows’ War,” what else is making Bea happy these days?
“I strive for work-life balance. And that’s what makes me happy right now,” she beamed, adding, most of the time ‘yung three days a week ko, minsan may trabaho, or my hobbies. self-care, like I go to the derma, I go to the salon. so, I would say I strive for a work-life balance and that’s what makes me happy right now.”
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Philippines Chelsea m analo believes that “everything happens for a reason.” As a child, she experienced bullying: “Yes, bullying doesn’t stop and still happens to any one... I keep focusing on what I am more passionate about and on what I can only control.” s he adds: “I have always believed that bashing comes from people who are only hurt and negative.” trials and hardships motivate her to be a better person. through these means, she has learned to excel in whatever pursuit she does and uses these to do the right thing. her parents are very supportive of her dream, stating, “I have always been telling them that I love them and that I am so glad that they have become my parents who are supportive of my dreams.” During weekends, she spends time with her parents and friends going to mass and dining out. she has also been supportive of charity works that deal with the youth and indigenous people. she wants to try acting, singing and dancing in a filipino theatrical musical play. “Anything that will unleash my star and diva childhood dreams of performing. Whatever comes I would gladly accept. I have actually been dreaming of one day performing as a drag queen.” this dark-skinned beauty from Bulacan will compete in the 73rd miss Universe pageant in mexico on November 16. Good luck and a myriad blessings!
* * * I am fortunate to have met in July this year Jo Berry (the lead actress in GmA7’s tV series “Lilet matias: Attorney-at-Law”); Dagul, or romeo Pastrana in real life (a filipino actor and comedian best known for being a host of the children’s sketch program Goin’ Bulilit on ABs-CBN); and former miss Universe Philippines michelle Dee who holds a special place in her heart for children with developmental disabilities, with autism awareness as her advocacy during the miss Universe pageant. t hanks to r ichard h inola for letting me to meet them in person during the Legacy Awards.
* * * Jade maris is my former student at holy Angel University in Angeles City, Pampanga. she has done
several commercials for PAG-IBIG fund, PsBank, magic Creams with actor Donny Pangilinan, Grab, Payless Pancit Canton, Jollibee Chicken Joy, Cliqq Card-7 eleven, Jollibee Aloha Burger, at t GP with actor Jericho rosales. she also appeared in a movie on the life of Philippine hero Jose Abad santos played by richard Cepeda in the lead role (with former beauty queen marina Benipayo and actor Alex Vincent medina). she is a resident theater actress of Uyat Artista, an Aliw Award and L.e.A.f Award winning theater group in Angeles City.
* * * the planned new Pacific Coast City, which is 80 kilometers from Central m anila, is situated on the eastern Luzon seaboard between Infanta and Dingalan municipalities. It is envisioned to have developed industrial cities, a government center, forest and wildlife preserves, residential areas, a worker’s city, an educational city, a tourism center, a religious center, a movie capital, and a sports center.
Infanta, which is considered the “Gateway to the Pacific,” is a first class municipality and the largest lambanog manufacturer in Quezon. Also known for its bayugo (giant mountain snail) dishes, the town is the center of economic activity in the northern part of Quezon province. meanwhile, Dingalan, dubbed as the “Gateway to s outhern t agalog,” is a 3rd-class municipality in Aurora province. It has several caves, of which the Lamao Caves are the best known. the town’s rough shoreline and very high waves make it attractive to surfers. It is envisioned to be the next Port of manila.
“In the pursuit and implementation of the strategy of development, a crucial and paramount component is the proper interrelationship among the government, the business sector and the educational system. If each of these three vital sectors performs their designated roles to the hilt, the cycle of economic growth, development and industrialization will continuously spiral towards greater heights,” said New York-trained think-tank Atty. romeo G. roxas, the man behind the new Pacific Coast City concept and author of the book Pathways to Progress, a compilation of articles he wrote
artist Isaac Medina with his artworks.
for the Philippine Star he continued, “Pacific Coast City is an actual model of a sustainable community with a livelihood component.”
* * * Promising artist and swimmer Isaac Antheo Diaz m edina, a freshman f ine Arts m ajor in Advertising student at the University of santo tomas, divides his love for visual arts and sports. At a young age, he had already joined an arts exhibit in sm mall
in mandaluyong City and won medals in swimming, having been trained by an olympic swimmer. he competed in the Philippine National Games in 2023 and is a member of the Philippine Aquatics Inc. and the Palms Kingfisher swimming team in montalban, rizal.
* * * s potted during the recent 2nd Philippines finest Business Awards and outstanding Achievers at t he h exagon e vents Place
in Quezon City were talented artists and broadcasters from GmA Network, 24 oras, PtV 4, Aliw Channel 23, DWIZ 882 Am 97.9 home radio, Net 25, DWAN Am 1206, IBC, Light tV, Light r adio, Balitang A2Z, Zoe t V, media house express, sword tV Philippines, and Win radio 91.5.
* * * Young performing members of the “sibol” showcased their talents in the recent Goldenberg Concert series at the Goldenberg
mansion, san miguel, manila. In attendance were first Lady Liza Araneta-marcos, former first Lady Imelda romualdez-marcos and Presidential sister Irene marcosAraneta.
* * * 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
The performing members of “Sibol” with (seated, front row, from right) First Lady Liza AranetaMarcos, former First Lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos and Irene Marcos-Araneta.
Young
Photos courtesy of Rogelio C. Medina
the first industrial revolution (1760) and the s econd (1870) when machines took over countless jobs originally performed by man, severely contaminated our water supplies, because factories directly dumped untreated waste into rivers and streams, resulting in widespread water pollution.
While machines boosted productivity, these advances came with substantial ecological and societal costs. they have contributed significantly to countless diseases, respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, metabolic, cancer, etc. Contaminated water kills more people each year than war and all forms of violence combined. today, the pollution continues. our source of water is not bottomless; only less than 1 percent of the earth’s freshwater is accessible to us. four billion people around the globe, out of our current 8.2 billion world’s population, experience severe water scarcity for at least one month each year, and 25 percent of them do not have access to clean drinking water.
We are blessed to live in a country, like the United states, the Philippines, and many others, to have almost unlimited clean water supply. But does this mean our drinking water is safe?
Las Vegas is one of the most contaminated waters in the United states. Its hard water contains lead, PfAs, arsenic, disinfectants byproducts, uranium, chromium, and two-non-toxic minerals causing hard water: calcium, and magnesium
I have tested Las Vegas tap water, under-sink filtered water, bottled water, distilled water, and Zero-filtered water, and found the following total Dissolved solids PPm counts: tap water has 305 tDs level; Under-sink filtered water: 56; bottled water: 50; distilled water: 0; commercial Zero-filtered water: 0.
I also tested the water in our ancestral home in san francisco del monte, Quezon City, Philippines, and discovered to my surprise that its city tap water (supplied by the city government’s water filtration plants) had lower tDs level than the water in munster, Indiana, and even a lot lower than the water in Las Vegas. the fDA considers a tDs level of 50-150 PPm for bottled water to be safe for drinking. the other industry purifying
by Kristofer Purnell Philstar.com
m ANILA — Actor-politician
Arjo Atayde admitted he and wife maine mendoza are talking about having a baby, but such discussions they will keep to themselves.
Arjo held a press conference and thanksgiving party over the weekend to celebrate his recent Best Actor win for "Cattleya Killer" at the ContentAsia Awards 2024 in taipei.
he shared he's always excited whenever he and maine get to travel as those are only times they are able to spend time together, acknowledging they have responsibilities when they're both in manila.
"But rest assured, it's just time management, proper time management. And we're both very happy. It's just really time management po. And she's always on my priority at the end of the day as well," Arjo added.
Is your water safe?
method uses tap water that passes through multi-stage (at least 5), reversed osmosis filters plus UV-C light exposure, saving the beneficial minerals in it, and bottled for drinking. the popular Zero water filtration pitcher is a very convenient way to remove all total dissolved solid contaminants, practically like bottled distilled water.
Boiling tap water leaves sediments at the bottom of the pot and produces “almost distilled” water. this could be used in urgent temporary situations where no bottled water or filtered water is available. It may also be used safely for brewing beverages or for cooking. the Zero Water filter does Not get rid of bacteria, fungi, parasites, which the city water filtration system removes anyway, so it is safe to use it for cooking, CPAP devices, cleaning wounds, iron, steamers, humidifiers, and other devices that require distilled water to prevent harmful calcium build-up. Bottled distilled water, manufactured through condensation process also is free of bacteria, fungi, parasites, besides removing those harmful chemicals.
Unhealthy to drink however, distilled water and Zero-filtered water, are Not healthy for daily drinking because it lacks all the important minerals our body needs, like fluoride (for tooth health), especially for children. these beneficial minerals include calcium, magnesium, chloride, sodium, potassium, iron, zinc, and chloride. the harmful ones are pesticides, herbicides, chlorine, mercury, cadmium, benzene, asbestos, copper, particulates, copper, zinc, etc.
“Absolute”ly untrue
While distilled water is ubiquitous in the Philippines, super cheap, and available even in tiny street stores in the most remote rural areas of the country, while in the western world it is sold only in drug stores and big grocery stores. the brands Absolute (Asia Brewery) and Wilkins (Coca Cola Beverages Philippines) are two popular brands of distilled water in the Philippines. Kroger’s Purified water manufactured in ohio also tested 0 for tDs level, but not labelled as distilled water.
Unfortunately, distilled water is advertised in many cities around the world as “cleanest or purest drinking water,” which is Not true, a deceptive claim, and a public disservice, bordering on criminal false advertising practice endangering people’s health. the same thing is true with potentially
harmful alkaline water; a healthy person does not need alkaline water!
Bad side-effects
Drinking distilled water for daily beverage is unhealthy. Imbibing distilled water occasionally when regular bottled or clean tap water is not available, is fine, but not for regular daily consumption. Distilled water is more for machines.
Bad side-effects of drinking distilled water daily among adults, and more especially for children and those who are not eating a balanced diet, are: the bland and flat taste causes people to drink less; chronic drinkers of distilled water have a high risk of having electrolyte deficiency, imbalance, causing fatigue, muscle cramps, dizziness, organ failure, etc.; when distilled water is in contact with the air, it can absorb carbon monoxide, a poison, similar to the colorless, odorless gas from car exhaust that kills people in a closed garage.
A WArNING: Distilled water is not safe to drink every day. Bottled water from reputable water bottling companies is our best option today, anywhere in the world.
Let’s take advantage of modern scientific data to help us live a healthier lifestyle, for maximal longevity possible.
* *
*
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, medical missionary, newspaper columnist, and chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He is a recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995, presented by then Indiana Governor, U.S. senator, and later a presidential candidate, Evan Bayh. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry S. Truman, President George HW Bush, pugilist Muhammad Ali, TV talk show host David Letterman, Astronaut Gus Grissom, educators, scientists, etc. (Wikipedia). WS: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, philipSchua.com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com.
1st
by Kristofer Purnell Philstar.com
mANILA — Actress-singer and theater veteran Lea salonga is officially the fourth filipino to have a wax figure made by madame tussauds.
Both the entertainment franchise and Lea herself confirmed earlier this year that the award-winning artist would get a wax figure of herself that would be inside madame tussauds’ singapore branch.
Lea’s wax figure was unveiled at a special event held in a resort-casino in Parañaque, a week before the statue heads to singapore for its permanent home.
the artist was visibly in awe after pulling the curtain that publicly revealed the figure, dressed in a blue gown, while handling a microphone stand.
the dress was designed by rajo Laurel, Lea’s favorite designer whom she considers a good friend. madame tussauds previously made the wax figures of boxing champion manny Pacquio, miss
by Jessica evanGelista Inquirer.net
m e GA stA r s haron Cuneta shared that she is now “ready” to write a book about her life, as she asked fans to “pray” that she could find the time to do so. the actress-singer took to her social media pages to say that she is now in the process of “collecting” her thoughts to begin authoring her book.
“I think I am ready. to start writing my book. Just need to collect my thoughts, and slowly, but surely, begin. Please pray for me kasi am so busy taping pa!” she wrote in her caption.
t he megastar also “liked” netizens’ comments that expressed support for her decision to write her autobiography.
“An autobiography from sharon Cuneta herself!!! Wow! What a novel idea! Without a doubt you can do it. Ikaw pa?” said one Instagram user.
“You have always been a voracious reader hence your wit and intelligence. You will write a beautiful book, no doubt. Can’t wait to read it!” commented another
to
P I o Lo Pascual is happy to have reunited with actor-friend and business partner Kathryn Bernardo at the christening of maja salvador’s daughter.
Pascual took to Instagram to share a photo of himself with Bernardo inside a car, their heads pressed against each other. “missed you [Kathryn Bernardo],” he said in the caption.
the actress also re-posted the picture on her Instagram page.
t he two actors stood as godparents to the recent christening of s alvador and rambo Nuñez’s first child, maria.
Aside from the two, other celebrities invited to the ceremony were m aine m endoza and m J Lastimosa.
Cuneta also responded to a comment that says she should include the “spicy” episodes from her life in her book.
“No negativity in my book!” replied the award-winning singeractress. on the other hand, the “mr. DJ” singer previously announced that she and her former husband and on-screen partner Gabby Conception are set to take their reunion concert “Dear heart” to the U.s. and Canada.
and Concepcion first held their “Dear heart” show in Cebu and manila in october and November of last year, respectively. the show is based on the 1981 film of the same name. the “family of two” actress revealed in march 2024 that she and Concepcion were supposed to reunite at an another show called “P.s. I Love You,” but negotiations fell short. the former couple, who shares their only child actress-singer KC Concepcion, tied the knot in 1984 before their marriage was annulled in 1987.
Cuneta is now married to former senator francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, while Concepcion is now with his non-showbiz wife Genevieve Yatco Gonzales.
m eanwhile, after two years, Cuneta is also set to make her television comeback via the drama series “saving Grace,” which is the Philippine adaptation of hit Japanese drama “mother.” the 58-year-old singer-actress will be joined by Julia montes, sam milby, Janice de Belen, Jennica Garcia, and Christian Bables, among others, in the said series.
and Kathryn Bernardo
actor but also an individual.
the pair has yet to work on an onscreen project. In february, upon her contract signing renewal, Bernardo shared that one of the actors she’s looking forward to working with is Pascual.
Arjo did admit he and maine were talking about starting a family, but it would remain between the two of them.
During the event, Arjo shared that he was supposed be a part of the upcoming "Incognito" series with richard Gutierrez and
the actor-politician also shut down rumors that maine's recent absence from "eat Bulaga" was because she was pregnant, explaining the couple went on vacation for their first wedding anniversary.
Daniel Padilla, however, he had to turn it down because of other commitments.
"It was with a heavy heart that I had to decline, as I clearly have other priorities at the moment... if I’m not 100%, then it would also be unfair to my co-actors. And I've always worked a hundred percent for these," Arjo explained. so if given the opportunity, of course I wanted to give it my all. But for now, I have to focus on this."
Pascual and Bernardo are coowners of a small beach hotel resort in el Nido, Palawan since 2022.
At the time, the “mallari” actor lauded Bernardo for having a good “business” mindset despite being in her early twenties.
“It’s nice because she’s only in her 20s. t he kind of businesses she’s getting into are still conservative, but in a way, calculated risk. It’s admirable, especially for her age,” he said in an interview.
Despite being long-term friends,
“he’s Papa P., sino’ng ayaw na maka-trabaho si Papa P. safe to say na lumaki ako na kasama sila kasi we have the same handler… ta’s nagkita kami nung kay mr. m (Johnny manahan) na lunch and then nakapag-usap. of course I’m willing to work with Papa P. Who can say no to that?” said the actress at the time.
t he “ h ello, Love, Goodbye” actress affirmed that she “respects” Pascual not just as an
“I respect him so much as an actor, but then nung nakilala ko siya bilang tao and feeling ko makaka-attest dito lahat ng nandito sa ABs-CBN na he’s so loved by many because of his personality. And ‘yan ‘yung isa sa mga traits na nai-inspire ako. he’s so loved,” she added. m eanwhile, another close friend of Bernardo, Dominic r oque, recently hit back at the netizens who tend to put “malice” on his friendship with the actress, saying these merely stemmed from claims of “delulu” (delusional) and “toxic” people on social media. (inquirer.net)
Lea Salonga Photo from Instagram/@mtssingapore
Sharon Cuneta Photo from Instagram/@reallysharoncuneta
Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, and miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray. their wax figures are found in madame tussauds hong Kong, though Pia’s figure recently finished a tem-
porary stay in singapore. host-actress Anne Curtis is also getting a wax figure and it will also find a home in madame tussauds hong Kong once completed.
