Minnesota first lady Gwen Walz meets AANHPI Dems in Las Vegas
This is the Minnesota first lady’s first trip to Nevada since her husband, Tim Walz, joined Harris’ campaign
GWEN Walz, wife of vice presidential hopeful Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, kicaked off a major canvassing effort for Democratic voters and volunteers in Nevada on Tuesday, Sept. 17, which happened to be National Voter Registration Day. The event, held at Xiao Long Dumplings in Las Vegas’ Chinatown, was designed to mobilize Nevadan Democrats from Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI)
US role pushed to help PH missions, deter China reclamation
by Jacob Lazaro, Nestor corraLes Inquirer.net
MANILA — With the increasing Chinese presence at Escoda (Sabina) Shoal blocking supply missions to Filipino troops stationed in the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine government should now accept the offer of the United States to escort its ships in the
disputed waters, former Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said on Tuesday, Sept. 17.
“We should have regular joint patrols with the U.S. and accept the U.S. offer to escort our resupply ships,” Carpio told the Inquirer in a Viber message on Tuesday, Sept. 17.
His statement came days after the pullout of the BRP Teresa Magbanua, one of the
NEVER FORGET. Remedios
the
the
Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) biggest and most modern ships, from Escoda after a fivemonth deployment.
The 97-meter Teresa Magbanua was called to port and left the shoal on Sept. 14 for repairs and due to limited supplies and the health condition of its crew, who were forced to subsist on “lugaw” (rice porridge) for three
Filipino community celebrates San Lorenzo Ruiz Feast Day at St. Patrick’s Cathedral
MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will skip the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) this month as he has “limited his trips” for the rest of 2024, said Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez on Thursday, September 19.
Indigenous Community’s five-decade fight to recover its ancestral domain in an interview with the Philippine News Agency in Calauit Island, Busuanga, Palawan on Friday, Sept. 13. The community marked 27 years since the recovery of parts of Calauit in accordance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
PNA photo by Yancy Lim
PNP set to file a criminal complaint vs. persons who harbored Quiboloy
by Jacob Lazaro, Nestor
corraLes Inquirer.net
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 after Sunday they launched an investigation to hold accountable those
persons who aided the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) founder.
“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 appropriate legal consequences,” Marbil said in a statement.
“Obstruction of justice is a serious offense,
u PAGE 2
Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
Mondejar Tradio, 82, recalls
hardships during
Tagbanua
San Lorenzo Ruiz, first Filipino saint, honored in NYC
The San Lorenzo Ruiz Global Ministry was honored with a Feast Day Mass on Sunday, Sept. 15, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. The Mass was led by Reverend Gregory Ramon Gaston, Rector of the Pontificio Collegio
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Father Gregory Gaston (center) Principal Celebrant of the San Lorenzo Ruiz Feast Day Mass with Concelebrants Fr Erno Diaz, Fr Sebastian Bacatan and clergy of St Patrick's Cathedral. The statue of San Lorenzo Ruiz in the foreground permanently resides in St. Patrick's Cathedral.
Photo by Troi and Kielan Santos
First Lady of Minnesota Gwen Walz
AJPress photo by Robert Macabagdal
F rom the F ront P age
set to file a criminal complaint vs...
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.
Marbil said Quiboloy could not have evaded arrest for a long time without the 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.
On 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 Sylvia Cemanes surrendered after they were
given a 24-hour ultimatum.
Quiboloy is detained in the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City. The 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.
Marcos to skip UNGA in NYC, limits foreign...
According to Romualdez, Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo will instead represent Marcos in the assembly, which will be held in New York City from September 22 to 23.
“Sec. Manalo [will attend the UNGA], [The]President is limiting his trips up to the end of the year,” Romualdez told INQUIRER.
net Meanwhile, in a Viber message to reporters, Press Secretary Cesar Chavez said Manalo’s agenda in the assembly includes “articulating the country’s responses to global challenges.”
“[Sec. Manalo] will articulate the country’s responses to global challenges which we assert should be resolved within
the framework of peace and cooperation enshrined in the UN Charter,” he said.
Asked if there will be
‘US role pushed to help PH missions...
weeks and on water dripping from the ship’s air conditioning unit.
Recent resupply missions to Escoda were unsuccessful due to the blockade of Chinese ships swarming the resource-rich shoal.
In his recent visit to Manila, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command chief Adm. Samuel Paparo Jr. said U.S. ships providing escort to Philippine vessels on resupply missions in the West Philippine Sea was “an entirely reasonable option within our Mutual Defense Treaty.”
But Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. earlier said the military was “very much capable” of doing the resupply missions “safely and successfully” despite repeated Chinese blockade of Filipino ships.
Physical presence
For Carpio, who was part of Manila’s legal team that won the 2016 landmark arbitral ruling on the West Philippine Sea, the Philippines should maintain its physical presence at Escoda.
“[China is] an expansionist power and the only way to address the ambitions of an expansionist power is to ensure that there is a physical presence in order to push back,” he added.
Over 60 Chinese vessels have remained at Escoda despite the pullout of the Teresa Magbanua, the AFP said on Tuesday.
Data from the military showed that nine China Coast Guard vessels, four China warships, and 52 Chinese maritime militia vessels were swarming the shoal as of Sept. 16.
According to Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, China does not control Escoda despite the pullout of Teresa Magbanua.
Prepare for ‘longer game’
bilateral talks with China on the sidelines of the UNGA, Romualdez responded: “None.”
“Since the Philippine Coast Guard suspects that China will reclaim Escoda Shoal, physical presence is important to expose and stop any reclamation,” he said.
Escoda, which is about 139 kilometers west of Palawan province, is within the Philippines’ 370-km exclusive economic zone.
In a separate message to the Inquirer, Don McLain Gill, a geopolitical analyst and a lecturer of international studies at De La Salle University in Manila, shared Carpio’s view, saying the Philippines should “supplement our presence” or pursue frequent joint patrols at Escoda with Manila’s allies.
“Physical presence is of utmost importance, particularly when it comes to maintaining our position in the West Philippine sea,” Gill said.
Having joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea, he said, would show that the international community of like-minded democracies [is] “watching China very closely.”
“I think it is perhaps timely to reconsider options that involve bringing in the United States as well, depending on how our next missions would go,” he said.
Escoda, according to Gill, has become “a critical flashpoint” and “a new hot spot for Chinese power projection.”
“Presence is not only defined as physical presence,” Trinidad said. “There are a range of different capabilities that are sea-based, air-based, or space-based—that we are developing in conjunction with our partners and allies to be able to monitor not only Escoda but the entire West Philippine Sea.”
He pointed out that there were contingencies in place for the military’s Western Command based in Palawan “to compensate for the absence of one.”
On Monday, the National Maritime Council (NMC) said another PCG vessel was on its way to Escoda after Teresa Magbanua left the shoal.
The NMC had yet to provide updates on the status of this PCG ship on Tuesday.
Ray Powell, director of SeaLight, a maritime transparency initiative of the Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation at Stanford University, said Manila should prepare for the “longer game” as China continues to face opposition from all directions.
“The Philippines will need to play a longer game, recognizing that Escoda itself is not a primary objective of this long struggle. This is a contest over maritime sovereignty, and China is in danger of overextending itself while it has a host of other strategic, military and economic challenges at home and abroad,” Powell said in a message to the Inquirer on Tuesday.
“While China’s current control of Escoda Shoal may seem like a setback, it is a more symbolic than strategic objective,” he said.
SAFE AT PORT After a five-month patrol at Escoda (Sabina) Shoal, the BRP Teresa Magbanua has returned to port at Puerto Princesa City in Palawan province. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel, which was rammed by the Chinese during its deployment to Escoda, will undergo repairs.
Photo from PCG
Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Apollo Quiboloy
DILG photo
Minnesota first lady Gwen Walz meets...
communities—the latest in a series of cultural campaign stops from the Harris-Walz 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 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. “Our 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 Minnesotan first lady shared traditional Chinese mooncakes and dumplings while highlighting the HarrisWalz promise to bolster small businesses and “give middleclass families a fighting chance.”
“This election is about who’s fighting for you—Kamala and Tim 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 good-paying 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.”
“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 plan to increase tax deductions for new small businesses from $5,000 to $50,000.
Filipina 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 Harris is fighting for AANHPI communities – lowering costs, expanding opportunity – Donald Trump is fighting for billionaires and big corporations at our expense,” Francisco 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.
Tim 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.
Lorenzo Ruiz, First Filipino Saint...
Filippino in Rome and National Coordinator for Filipino Chaplains in Italy, who served as the Principal Celebrant and Homilist. He was joined by both Filipino and American clergy as Concelebrants, with Rev. Erno Diaz acting as the Minister of Welcome.
In his homily, Fr. Gaston highlighted the important role Filipinos play in spreading the Gospel, drawing parallels between San Lorenzo Ruiz, who left the Philippines and brought his faith to Japan where he was martyred, and Filipinos abroad who, like the early Christians, carry the Good Word wherever they go. He emphasized that Filipinos are key partners in the Church's mission of evangelization in their local communities, likening their influence to that of the early Christians mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles (8:4), who preached wherever they were scattered.
Fr. Gaston also commended the vibrant spirit of Filipino parishioners in the U.S., noting that Filipino traditions, such as the feasts of San Lorenzo Ruiz and San Pedro Calungsod, Simbang Gabi, and the Santo Niño celebrations, have been embraced by many U.S. parishes, often with nonFilipinos actively participating. He concluded with a prayer that, through San Lorenzo's intercession, Filipinos worldwide may continue to spread the Gospel wherever they are.
The Feast Day Mass included participation from various community members, including Attorney Ferdinand Suba, Jr., who served as the Lector for the First Reading, and Susan Gasis, who read the Second Reading. The Gospel was read by Rev. Sebastian Bacatan, with Larry and Cindy
Balagtas presenting the water and wine. Ambassador & Mrs. Antonio Lagdameo presented the bread, and Dr. Lorna Avila, Dr. Manny Lagmay, and Marcos Ping Panlilio were among the special gift presenters.
The Mass was attended by prominent figures from the Filipino community, including Grand Hermana and Hermano Mayor Larry and Cindy Balagtas, along with several other Hermana and Hermano Mayores, Terry Beldia, Norma Bhavsar, Vickie Calderon, Petite & Edwin Camarista, Marietta de Perio, Fernando Ian Hinonangan; Loida Nicolas Lewis, Bert Olimpo & Eileen Magno, Dr. Joe and Luchie Quiwa, Loreta Rivera, Ma Evelyn Samson, Elena Santos, and Joan Vinluan. Among the Hermanos and Hermanas were Nilda Adalen, Marilyn Bader, Corazon Canete, Lou Jaffe, Mitzi Laurente Forman, Evangeline Lazaro, Norma Mascarinas, Aurora Ocampo, Rose Palma, Veronica & Nenito Rosario, and Gloria Uy.
The choir for the event was led by Jessie Duma, musical director of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Apostolic Ministry Choir. Fr. Erno Diaz, Chair of the San Lorenzo Ruiz Global Ministry (SLRGM),
expressed gratitude to the Archdiocese of New York, Fr. Brian McWeeney, Director of Ethnic Ministries, and Fr. Enrique Salvo, Rector of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, for their support in making this annual observance possible. "It is a joyous spiritual experience for all Filipinos and devotees of San Lorenzo," he remarked. San Lorenzo Ruiz, born in Binondo around 1600, was a married layman who served the Dominicans as a clerksacristan. He was martyred in Nagasaki, Japan, in 1637 for refusing to renounce his Christian faith during Japan’s persecution of Christians. His steadfast faith has made him a beloved figure among Filipinos worldwide. The SLRGM Executive Committee includes Fr. Erno Diaz as Chairperson, Jose Ramos as Vice Chairperson, Marilyn Abalos as SecretaryTreasurer, and Atty. Ferdinand Suba as Legal Advisor. The Advisory Committee includes Fr. Sebastian Bacatan, Fr. Frank Lazaderas, Myrna and Rolan Gutierrez, and other key leaders. Together, they continue to advance the mission of spreading devotion to San Lorenzo Ruiz and fostering Filipino spiritual traditions.
ONE FINE DAY. A group of visitors at the Manila Baywalk Dolomite Beach find a spot to watch the sun set on Saturday, Sept. 14. Tropical Storm Ferdie did not affect Metro Manila and spared the beach from heaps of trash, unlike when Enteng hit last week. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc
Catherine Francisco, Founder & President AAPI Chamber of Commerce
Maya Kwong, Owner Xiao Long Dumplings AJPress photos By Robert Macabagdal
The San Lorenzo Ruiz Global Ministry Executive Committee pose with Fr Gregory Gaston, Fr Erno Diaz, Fr Sebastian Bacatan and St Patrick's Cathedral Clergy along with Cora Rivera, Vangie Lazaro, Jose Ramos, Dean Suba, Marilyn Abalos, Susan Gasis and Hermanas & Hermanos Mayor.
Photo by Troi and Kielan Santos
Features OpiniOn 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
On Tuesday, September 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. This week the Department of Justice also said even former president Rodrigo Duterte, who has accepted his
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. Sadly, this type of crime has increased substantially over the past decade.
According to the non-
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 for facilitating her escape. The 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 Tuesday, Sept. 17 before the Senate, however, authorities may yet nail down persons still in the Philippines who helped her escape. 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.
The 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)
Extradition treaties – important tool against transnational crimes
government 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 “Operation Global Chain” targeted high-risk criminal organizations engaged in human trafficking, with particular
attention given to child victims and cases involving sexual exploitation, forced criminality and mendicancy. The operation resulted in the arrest of 219 criminals, and over 1,300 potential victims including children were identified. During the weeklong 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
any litigation.
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Babe’s Eye View
BaBe Romualdez
Dateline philippines Roque: I am not a fugitive
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.
Of 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 small-scale 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 Miguela 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.
The Commission on Human 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-yearold 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.
by Bella Cariaso Philstar.com
MANILA — Now an object of a police manhunt, former Duterte administration spokesman Harry Roque Jr. scoffs at being called a fugitive.
On Facebook Live, Roque declared: “I am not a fugitive. As an ordinary person, I am just exercising my right. I know that the lawmakers are powerful.”
The House quad committee has a standing order for Roque’s arrest over his failure to submit documents related to his assets, which lawmakers say may be connected to criminal activities of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO).
“I know that there are so many but as an ordinary person, I have my protection called the Bill of Rights under the Constitution,” he said.
Roque added that he would await the decision of the Supreme Court on his motion questioning the legality of the warrant of arrest issued by the quad committee.
“If the Supreme Court rules to provide the documents, I will comply but I will wait for the decision of the high tribunal and if I was cited in contempt of Congress, I will accept that because I am urging the Filipino people
to issue a contempt of the people against the quad committee and this Congress,” Roque said.
He insisted he has no unexplained wealth as alleged by members of the quad panel.
“They want to charge me for unexplained wealth, excuse me, my family was able to send me in the United States, in London and then at the University of the Philippines, this could not be considered as unexplained wealth,” Roque added.
Roque said that he will not allow himself to again be detained at the House of Representatives where he spent 24 hours in
PAGE 8
Harry Roque on July 29, 2024. STAR / Jesse Bustos
Roque: I am not a fugitive...
detention after being cited in contempt.
“My freedom is very important to me. I will no longer surrender my freedom just like what happened when I surrendered it for one day,” he added.
“(I am) availing of judicial review against an order issued in grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack of jurisdiction,” Roque, meanwhile, said in a text message to The STAR
Panel co-chair and Sta. Rosa, Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez condemned Roque’s evasive actions, underscoring that his blatant disregard for the House’s authority is a direct challenge to the institution.
Another committee co-chair, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, said Roque’s refusal to cooperate only deepens suspicions regarding his involvement in the illegal activities in some POGO hubs.
The committee has urged the public to provide any information on Roque’s whereabouts to aid law enforcement.
Quad committee member Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel said Roque may be prevented from leaving the country if he fails to show up on Thursday at the hearing of the panel.
Pimentel said the quad committee may ask the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to issue a hold departure against Roque if the latter again skips the next hearing – the sixth on the issue – and evades the “order of detention” issued by the panel.
“So I strongly suggest to Mr. Harry Roque,
for him to appear, we will have another hearing this coming Thursday so that he could shed light on the different questions that arise from his involvement in POGO, more specifically in Lucky South 99,” Pimentel said in an interview with ANC.
The panel branded Roque as a “fugitive” for failing to fulfill his commitment to submit some documents related to POGO operations.
Last week, the House’s Sergeant-at-Arms served the order to his law office in Salcedo Village, Makati but went away empty handed.
Pimentel said the committee secretariat has not received any “pertinent documents” from Roque.
He also revealed the committee also considers issuing a “show cause order” to Roque’s wife Myla, who also snubbed an invitation to appear before the committee.
“She has not appeared so most probably or highly likely during the next hearing, we will already move for a show cause order to Mrs. Myla Roque, why she does not want to appear in our committee,” Pimentel added.
He explained that Myla Roque’s participation in the probe is crucial because her signature is on the lease contract for a house in Tuba, Benguet where two Chinese nationals linked to POGO were arrested.
The house is “owned by a cor poration, and that corporation is owned by a corporation wherein Harry Roque is a majority stakehold er, so in effect it is Harry Roque who owns the house actually,” Pimentel said. (Sheila Crisostomo, Delon Porcalla, Mark Ernest Villeza)
Philippines still deadliest country in Asia...
Rights groups have reported ongoing redtagging, 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)
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
Marcos: We must do more to stop online child abuse
by ZaCarian sarao Inquirer.net
MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday, September 16 pledged to further intensify efforts to combat online child sexual abuse, expressing his “deep sense of shame” over the continued recording of such cases.
Marcos made the pronouncement in an emotional speech during the 2024 National Summit Against Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC).
“As I was listening to the young lady, I could not help but shed a tear to think — to try — to relieve the suffering that they went through. And to think how many other children are even — as we’re here … continue to suffer the same fate as she has,” said Marcos, who was visibly emotional, as he referred to an OSAEC survivor who shared her experience
when she was only 13 years old.
“And for us to allow this to happen in our country, brings to me an overwhelming sense of shame because being in government, being in public service, we are not doing enough. We must do more,” he added.
According to Marcos, OSAEC cases remain one of the country’s “greatest challenges” as one in every 100 Filipino children is victimized by abuse.
“It is an appalling statistic. We cannot allow this to continue. We will not allow it to continue,” he committed.
With this, Marcos noted the measures currently being employed by the government to fight this issue, including the passing of the Anti-OSAEC and Anti-CSAEM Act and the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022.
He cited the Philippine National Police-Women and Children Protection Center reports that it had rescued more than 1,099 victims of trafficking in
persons and OSAEC and arrested more than one hundred suspects from 2022 to July 2024.
He then called on various agencies to remain committed to protecting children and to develop training programs that would ensure “law enforcement, prosecution, social workers, teachers, and other public servants are well-equipped to handle OSAEC cases.
He also called for a strengthened criminal justice system that will make sure all criminals perpetrating such an “abhorrent crime” are “put behind bars and made to pay for what they have done.”
“I have said it before, I will say it again: this Administration will do everything – we will spare no effort – to combat these heinous crimes against our children,” he said.
“Let us all make the Philippines the absolute worst place for those who abuse and exploit children,” he added. n
Pagcor exec tags ex-PNP chief in Pogo ‘payroll’ talk
The statements made in the Senate by an official of the regulatory body appear to corroborate intelligence community chatter about senior law enforcement officers being on the ‘monthly payroll’ of Philippine offshore gaming operators ( POGOS ).
by Marlon
MANILA — A retired chief of the Philippine National Police was among the senior law enforcement officers who were allegedly on the “monthly payroll” of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), the head of security of the state-owned Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) told senators on Tuesday.
At the resumption of the Senate hearing on POGOs, Pagcor senior vice president Raul Villanueva said they have heard “rumors” in the intelligence community that a former high-ranking police official was taking bribes apparently to protect the illegal online gaming business.
But Villanueva, a retired Army general, admitted that they have yet to independently verify the intelligence information. Replying to questions from Sen. Risa Hontiveros, the Pagcor official said the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency told him that it did not have a similar report on the matter.
As Hontiveros had earlier revealed, he said they also stumbled upon information that a huge amount changed hands in helping dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor
Extradition treaties...
PAGE 6
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.
Alice Guo slipped out of the country in July. Up for validation
The senator had previously said that Guo spent P200 million in buying her way out of the country to evade the Senate investigation and criminal charges filed in the Department of Justice against her and her alleged cohorts.
According to Hontiveros, a “high official” of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) had received the grease money.
“There’s talk that there are immigration (officers) who got bribed. They also included PNP officials. But I could not confirm it because I’m outside of the loop lately,” Villanueva told Hontiveros.
When the senator asked him which PNP unit was supposedly on the take, he said: “It’s not a PNP unit, but personalities. I think it mentioned a former PNP chief.”
“But I could not ascertain where the report came from. It’s just like rumors within the intelligence community. I think they are validating it right now,” he added.
Asked by Hontiveros if the former PNP chief had participated in Guo’s escape, Villanueva said: “The talk
was that [he] was on the monthly payroll (of POGOs) ever since.”
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada pressed Villanueva to identify the retired senior police official, saying it was unfair to the other former PNP chiefs who might be dragged unnecessarily into the issue.
In response, the official of the state gaming regulator said: “I don’t have the name. The intelligence community is still verifying it.”
NBI, PNP probe
Angelito Magno, assistant director of the National Bureau of Investigation,
said they were already investigating the supposed payoffs involving senior BI and PNP officials.
“We are looking at all these. But at this moment, we cannot comment on the investigation and intelligence gathering that we are conducting,” Magno said.
Brig. Gen. Raul Tacaca, the deputy chief of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, told Hontiveros that they were not aware of Villanueva’s claim.
“Despite that, our intelligence (unit) is
Undoubtedly, each country has its own laws and naturally, President Marcos 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.
Many countries, most especially the United States, 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 Jimenez-Rodriguez, 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 Agent-in-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.”
Last March, 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.
“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.
Pagcor Senior Vice President, Security and Monitory Cluster Ret. Gen. Raul Villanueva Photo from Inquirer/Richard A. Reyes
raMos, Tina G. sanTos Inquirer.net
Sunday on Citizen Pinoy
MOST people think they can only file family petitions for relatives. Actually, they can also petition their family member for a green card through employment.
In this encore episode, viewers can learn how Ana petitioned her aunt, Susan, as a housekeeper. Since the minimum requirement for the job was three months of experience in housekeeping, Aunt Susan was qualified since she worked as a housekeeper in the Middle East and Canada for years.
Ana consulted with and retained leading U.S.
Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel, who prepared and submitted all necessary documents, including police clearances from Canada and other countries where Aunt Susan has worked before.
Watch this success story on an encore episode of Citizen Pinoy on Sunday, September 22 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET thru select Cable/Satellite providers), right after TV Patrol Linggo.
Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download free app. (Advertising Supplement)
Health@Heart Is your water safe?
PhiliP S. Chua, md, FaCS, FPCS
THE First Industrial Revolution (1760) and the Second (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 – and 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 twonon-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
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 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 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, 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 as a 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,
Pagcor exec tags ex-PNP chief in...
PAGE 10
continuously coordinating with other agencies to determine if there are PNP personnel involved (in Guo’s escape),” Tacaca said.
Hontiveros, who headed the hearing as chair of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality, was shocked by Villanueva’s revelation.
“It gets worse and worse. It’s bad enough that P200 million in bribe money was allegedly paid in Guo’s escape. It’s even worse if historically, there’s a monthly payroll (that included a PNP chief),” she said.
“This is a big development and horrifying to hear. If this is true, POGO money has indeed reached the highest levels of our government,” she lamented.
Sen. Joel Villanueva said the rather disturbing information that the Pagcor official disclosed should be pursued as it again proved that POGOs had indeed become a national security concern.
“That’s very serious… [but] it’s not surprising anymore because billions of pesos are involved in (POGO) operations,” Villanueva told the Inquirer after the proceedings, which lasted for almost six hours.
“A Chinese national like Guo Hua Ping becoming a mayor is already a national security matter. How much more… the highest position in the police organization being included in the payroll of POGOs?”
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
he pointed out, referring to Guo’s alleged Chinese identity.
Banks’ role in POGO transactions
For his part, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian has filed a resolution seeking to investigate the possible involvement of banks in the construction and establishment of POGOs in the country.
He filed proposed Senate Resolution No. 1193 calling for an inquiry in aid of legislation on the banks’ apparent failure to flag suspicious POGO-related transactions.
According to Gatchalian, recent Senate investigations revealed the existence of bank transactions involving companies owned by Guo Hua Ping, also known as Alice Guo, amounting to hundreds of millions of pesos which enabled the construction and establishment of the POGO hub in Bamban.
“The amount involved is far beyond the financial capacity of the companies as indicated in their financial statements,” he said.
“A remarkable surge in cash flows, check disbursements, and a number of transactions involving the said Guo accounts was highest in 2020, which was highly unusual and suspicious considering that the Covid-19 pandemic paralyzed businesses and economies worldwide,” he added.
He noted that the transactions involved significant amounts of money but were not flagged by the involved banks and financial institutions. n
maximal longevity possible.
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.
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.
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.
Piolo
happy to reunite with Kathryn: ‘Missed you’
PIOLO 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.
The two actors stood as godparents to the recent christening of Salvador and Rambo Nuñez’s first child, Maria.
Aside from the two, other celebrities invited to the ceremony were Maine Mendoza and MJ Lastimosa.
Pascual and Bernardo are co-owners 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. The 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, the pair has yet to work on an on-screen project. In February, upon her contract signing renewal, Bernardo shared that one of the actors she’s looking forward to working with is Pascual.
“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.
The “Hello, Love, Goodbye” actress affirmed
that she “respects” Pascual not just as an actor but also an individual.
“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 ABSCBN 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.
Meanwhile, another close friend of Bernardo, Dominic Roque, 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)
SB19 reveals biggest investment to date
by Deni rose M. AfiniDAD-BernArDo Philstar.com
MANILA — SB19 held a fan meet in a Manila mall last Saturday, Sept. 14 for McDonald’s Chicken, which had some wondering: Is the Pinoy pop group’s net worth now also “bigger and better” like the fried chicken they are endorsing?
When asked in a group interview, including Philstar.com, of what has been their biggest investment so far, Stell said, “building,” referring to their company, 1Z Entertainment, and its office.
“At inaalagaan namin ‘yung mga tao namin. May safe space na po ‘yung mga
empleyado namin Dati , lalo na nu’ng pandemic, pahirapan po – may mga work from home, kung saan-saan lang nagwo work. Ngayon po , proud po kami sabihin na mayroon kaming safe space.”
More than just their estates, the team considers their contribution to the music industry as their biggest assets.
“ S’yempre po, nu’ng tinataguyod palang po namin (ang SB19), hindi pa po gaanong nakikilala ang P-pop dati Medyo mahirap pa rin po talaga, lalo na nu’ng mga early days, kung mapapanood n’yo po ‘yung mga interviews namin , parang lagi kaming kinukwestiyon , ‘ Pa’no n’yo ipakikilala ang P-pop?’,” Josh recalled.
“ Pero parang ngayon , hindi na namin s’ya kailangang ipakilala . As in kahit saan
‘Family is the most important thing’: Catriona Gray reflects on London robbery last month
by Kristofer Purnell Philstar.com
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.
The beauty queen recently touched on the incident again, posting on Instagram
Catriona admitted to having newfound tension and anxiousness whenever going outside since the robbery, before going on to share what she learned from it.
"Things 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.
‘I’m a work in progress’: Bea Alonzo enjoys being single
by C. MendeZ leGaspi Philstar.com
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.
“Okay 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
Bea Alonzo Photo from Instagram/@beaalonzo
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. Selfcare, 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.”
Would she say she’s in a much better head space now, as compared to a recent turbulence in her love life?
“Yeah. I'm a work in progress. I'm always trying to do my job. I want to do my job, become a better daughter, a better artiste, a better friend. So I'm always a work in progress,” Bea said.
Catriona Gray Photo from Instagram/@catriona_gray
Piolo Pascual and Kathryn Bernardo Photo from Instagram/@piolo_pascual
a photo of the iconic Tower Bridge located in the British capital.
A look at current Miss Universe Philippines Chelsea Manalo
Rogelio ConStantino medina My P.E.P. (People, Events,Places)
CURRENT Miss Universe
Philippines Chelsea Manalo 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.”
She 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: Attorneyat-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. Thanks to Richard Hinola 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 PAGIBIG Fund, PsBank, Magic Creams with actor Donny Pangilinan, Grab, Payless Pancit Canton, Jollibee Chicken Joy, Cliqq Card-7 Eleven, Jollibee Aloha Burger, at TGP 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 Manila, 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 Southern Tagalog,” is a 3rdclass 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 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 Medina, a freshman Fine Arts
Major 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.
* * * Spotted during the recent
2nd Philippines Finest
Business Awards and Outstanding Achievers at The Hexagon Events 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 Radio, Balitang A2Z, Zoe TV, 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 AranetaMarcos, former First Lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos and Presidential Sister Irene Marcos-Araneta.
* * * 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
2024 Miss Universe Philippines Chelsea Manalo (center) with her proud parents, Randy Angeles and Contessa Manalo.
Writer Rogelio Medina with (from top, clockwise) former Miss Universe Philippines Michelle Dee, Jo Berry, and Adelo Jose Iglesias and Dagul.
Miss Universe Philippines Chelsea Manalo will compete in the upcoming Miss Universe Beauty Pageant in Mexico
The performing members of “Sibol” with (seated, front row, from right) First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, former First Lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos and Irene Marcos-Araneta.
Actress and commercial talent Jade Maris
An artist rendition of Pacific Coast Cities Project, a master planned alternative to Metro Manila to solve the many problems besetting Manileños for the past decades through 8 modern resort style communities: shipping port, agro-industrial, workers, university, Olympic, government, resort and ecumenical.
PFBA awardees: (from left) Rogelio Medina, Net 25’s Wej Cudiamat and Belle Surara.
Young artist Isaac Medina with his artworks.
Photos courtesy of Rogelio C. Medina
Liza Soberano no longer with
Careless, James Reid’s label confirms
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, Ogie Diaz, who handled Liza for over a decade with Star Magic until June 2022 when the actresssinger 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
Frankenstein," James said there were "projects in the pipeline" for the actress and 2024 was going to be an exciting year for her.
When Liza visited the Philippines as a new endorser of Australian cosmetics brand BYS last July, she told Philstar.com that she signed with talent agency Verve for her career in the United States.
The BYS event, which Liza graced with fellow new
endorser Niana Guerrero, was held a day after the date Careless mentioned Liza was effectively no longer a part of the label.
Other notable people signed under Verve include "Before" trilogy star Julie Delpy, actors Matthew Lillard, Tony Revelori, and Brian Tee, "Drag Race" host Michelle Visage, and new "Saturday Night Live" featured player Ashley Padilla. (Philstar.com)
Sharon Cuneta bares plans to pen her autobiography
by JessicA evAngelistA Inquirer.net
MEGASTAR Sharon 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.
The 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!”
Arjo Atayde, Maine Mendoza celebrate 1st wedding anniversary; discussing having a baby
by Kristofer Purnell Philstar.com
MANILA — 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.
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
commented another netizen.
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 singer-actress.
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.
Cuneta 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 actresssinger 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.
Meanwhile, 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 singeractress will be joined by Julia Montes, Sam Milby, Janice de Belen, Jennica Garcia, and Christian Bables, among others, in the said series.
for their first wedding anniversary. 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 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."
James Reid and Liza Soberano at the 1st annual Gold Gala in LA. File photo
Sharon Cuneta Photo from Instagram/@ reallysharoncuneta
SB19 Philstar.com / Anjilica Andaya
Celebrity couple Arjo Atayde and Maine MendozaPhoto from Instagram/@mainedcm
po kami magpunta , parang alam na alam na ng tao lahat at marami na rin pong mga
