ImPoster scams are rising at alarming rates, thanks to sophisticated new tactics; here’s how to protect your money. of the millions of scam reports the federal trade Commission gets each year — 2.6 million in 2023 — the most common type by far are imposter scams, where scammers impersonate an entity, usually a business or government agency. the first half of 2024 alone saw 360,000 impersonation scam reports, with $1.3 billion in reported losses and a median loss of $800. Less than 5% of scam victims report at
Fil-Am cop killed in pursuit crash honored at memorial service
Filipino American police officer Austin Machitar, 30, was killed in the line of duty
sAN DIeGo — filipino American police officer Austin machitar, who was killed in the line of duty last month, was honored saturday, september 21 at a memorial service in el Cajon. he was 30. our city stands united in grief over the death of this brave soul,” said todd Gloria, the fil-Am mayor of san Diego, who paid a special tribute to machitar during the service at shadow mountain Community Church.
“he lived a life by the code of service, courage and sacrifice. for five-and-a-half years, he served our department knowing the risks yet never hesitating to protect and serve.” machitar was killed in a fiery crash in san Diego while pursuing a suspect, who allegedly fled from an attempted late-night traffic stop.
Gloria said machitar was known for having an “extremely positive attitude” and for his infectious smile that was “as bright as san Diego’s sunniest day.”
Poll: Harris leads over Trump among Asian American voters
‘I’m a victim,’ Alice Guo says as she denies masterminding
by Jean Mangaluz Philstar.com
mANILA — former Bamban mayor Alice Guo claims to be a victim.
In what was supposed to be the final hearing on Philippine offshore Gaming operators (PoGo), Guo deviated from her usual responses to assert her innocence—and to hint at a bigger boss.
“Your honor, hindi ako mastermind. masasabi ko po is isa akong victim (Your honor, i am
not a mastermind. i can say that i am a victim.) ,” Guo said. for most of her appearances in the senate since being detained by Indonesian authorities in september, Guo has typically given one of three responses: she either claims ignorance, invokes her right against self-incrimination or cites a death threat. sen. Jinggoy estrada then asked Guo if she was a pawn of an international criminal syndicate. Guo responded that she was not exactly used, but acknowledged
by Dominique nicole Flores Philstar.com
mANILA — house lawmakers on tuesday, september 24, said that Vice President sara Duterte should resign if she has no intention of fulfilling her duties as the official holding the second highest position in government.
“Kung hindi na po siya interesado sa kanyang pong duties and functions as the vice president, we can ask the vice president to step down,” rep. Jil Bongalon (Ako Bicol Party) said at a press conference.
(if she is no longer interested in her duties and functions as vice president, we can ask her to step
down.)
this is the response of lawmakers to Duterte’s refusal to attend the proceedings for the office of the Vice President’s (oVP) proposed 2025 budget. No authorized representative was also present at the oVP’s scheduled plenary debate on monday, september 24. Asked about their reaction to Duterte’s alleged vacation at a beach in Camarines Norte over the weekend, Bongalon said there is no problem with that. however, the lawmaker said that if Duterte is serious about her duties as vice president, she should have returned to manila by sunday, september 23 or coordi-
that she has a reputation for being helpful.
“hindi naman po sa ginamit, if ever po, kung meron man akong naitulong, ano po akong tao, helpful akong tao, kung mayroon man po, yun lang po. Pero sa mga activities na ginawa, o sa mga allegations, wala akong kinalaman (Not that i was used, if ever, if i ever helped anyone, it is just because i am a helpful person. But the activities done, the allegations, i had nothing to do with it),” Guo
Palace:
Video of Marcos using drugs a fake
by Kristina Maralit ManilaTimes.net
mALACAÑANG said digital media experts have found that the viral video showing a man looking like President ferdinand marcos Jr. using drugs had been faked.
Presidential Communications office (PCo)
secretary Cesar Chavez said over the weekend that artificial intelligence experts from the Deepfakes Analysis Unit (DAU), which is part of the India-based misinformation Combat Alliance, found the video to have been extensively manipulated to make it appear that the man in the video was the president. the video was released in July during a gathering of f ilipinos in Los Angeles, California, ahead of marcos’ third state of the Nation Address.
several government agencies, such as the Department of National Defense (DND) and Philippine National Police (PNP) have previously tagged the video as fake. the findings of DAU was corroborated by Vera files, an independent and awardwinning social media unit and one of the country’s leading fact checkers.
In an extensive report published last september 16 and written by Celine Isabelle samson and Bryan Daniele manalang, the Vera files said that it sent copies of the video to an India-based misinformation advocate. the PCo added that the DAU found traces of extensive digital manipulation on what is now known as the “polvoron video.” Using a tool called sensityAI, the DAU found that a “face swap” was used in manipulating the u
Foreign divorce now recognized by PH courts
by christine Boton Philstar.com
m ANILA — Divorce obtained abroad even through mutual agreement may be recognized in the Philippines, according to the supreme Court. the landmark decision penned by Associate Justice Japar Dimaampao expands the scope of foreign divorce recognition in the country, which had long been contentious. In its ruling, the sC clarified that Philippine courts may recognize divorces obtained overseas, regardless of whether they were achieved through legal or administrative processes, or even mutual agreement. the sC decision cited the case of filipino citizen r uby Cuevas Ng who married Japanese national Akihiro sono in Quezon
City in 2004. After the couple relocated to Japan, their relationship deteriorated, leading to a “divorce decree by mutual agreement” in Japan. the Japanese embassy issued a divorce certificate attesting to the arrangement. Acting on Ng’s petition, a regional trial court in the Philippines issued a judicial recognition of her divorce, allowing her to remarry. h owever, the o ffice of the s olicitor General (osG) challenged the rtC ruling, arguing that only court-issued foreign divorce decrees should be recognized in the Philippines. this was debunked by the sC. “filipinos previously married to foreigners can seek judicial recognition of their foreign divorce
Former Bamban Mayor Alice Guo Philstar.com photo
Poll: Harris leads over Trump among...
PAGE 1
findings of the survey include harris’ favorability among Asian American voters has increased by 18 points since the spring, with 62% now viewing her positively. meanwhile, 70% of Asian American voters have an unfavorable view of trump. the survey shows a boost in voter engagement, with 77% of Asian American voters saying they are “absolutely certain” to vote in the 2024 election—up from 68% earlier this year.
In terms of party outreach, 62% of Asian American voters reported being contacted by the Democratic Party, compared to 46% by the republican Party, signaling a greater effort from Democrats to engage this community. the survey also indicates that harris’ identity as a woman resonates more strongly with Asian American voters than her heritage
as an Asian Indian or south Asian. Christine Chen, co-founder and executive director of APIAVote, emphasized the growing political influence of Asian American voters, stating, “they are re-energized and poised to play a decisive role in the 2024 election.”
Karthick ramakrishnan, executive director of AAPI Data, added, “We now have nationally representative, in-language survey data that show AAPI voters and volunteers are highly engaged in this election.”
Asian Americans are the fastest-growing segment of eligible voters in the U.s., expanding by 15% in the last four years. As campaigns ramp up for 2024, both parties are increasingly aware of the importance of courting AAPI voters—a group that could once again shape the outcome of the presidential race. the 2024 AAPI Voter survey was conducted between septem-
ber 3-9, 2024 by Nor C using NorC’s Amplify AAPI® Panel for the sample source. the survey was offered in english, Chinese dialects of mandarin and Cantonese, Vietnamese, and Korean and was administered in two modes depending on the preference of the respondent provided during panel recruitments: 1) self-administered by the respondent online via the Web; or 2) administered over the telephone by a live interviewer. the surveys with a live interviewer were only conducted in english.
survey respondents are Asian American voters, Native h awaiians, and Pacific Islanders 18 years of age or older, with oversamples of citizens and registered voters. the data have been weighted by ethnicity, education, Census region, age by gender, ethnicity by gender, and ethnicity by nativity. the overall margin of error is +/- 4.7 percent. n
‘I’m
said.
a victim,’ Alice Guo says as she denies...
estrada asked if she believed there was someone more culpable than her. Guo reiterated that she was not guilty. she added that, given the length of the senate investigation, they should already know who the real mastermind is.
“It is known, especially by our m adame Chair, who is really [behind] everything,” Guo said, referring to sen. risa hontiveros, who chairs the panel leading the inquiry.
Next step: A closed-door session e strada suggested that Guo
could reveal who the “most guilty” party was in a closed-door executive session. Guo initially agreed but hesitated as her lawyers were not present. once the public hearing was suspended and the proceedings went off-air, Guo’s camp huddled opposite the senators.
s ens. h ontiveros, s herwin Gatchalian, francis tolentino, Bato dela rosa and JV ejercito waited for a response, as Guo vacillated on whether to accept the offer for an executive session. Dela rosa and hontiveros, in particular, grew increasingly impatient as they tried to persuade her to agree.
Guo eventually agreed, on
the condition that her lawyer, stephen David, could join via video conference. the former Bamban mayor has become the central figure linked to illegal P o G o activities, her name almost synonymous with the issue.
t he s enate investigation into Alice Guo and PoGos has exposed a range of other illegal activities, from human trafficking in gambling hubs to the issuance of fraudulent birth certificates to foreign nationals. Guo faces a slew of cases, including money laundering, human trafficking, graft and misrepresentation. n
Foreign divorce now recognized by...
under Article 26, paragraph 2 of the family Code.” the high tribunal emphasized that whatever way a divorce is settled is irrelevant as long as it is legally valid in the country of the foreign spouse.
the decision aims to prevent a situation where a foreign spouse can remarry while the filipino spouse remains legally bound to
the marriage. In Ng’s case, she claimed that Japanese law permits divorce by mutual agreement or judicial action.
h owever, the s C had to remand Ng’s case to the rtC to which she had to present first an authenticated copy of the relevant Japanese divorce law.
t he s C noted that while Circular No. 157-2022-A of the office of the Court Administrator includes a compilation of foreign divorce laws for reference, it does not exempt parties from complying with the revised rules on evidence. n
According to rule 132, sections 24 and 25 of the revised rules on e vidence, foreign public documents must be validated either by official publication or by copies attested to by the legal custodian.
Palace: Video of Marcos using drugs...
video.
Using another tool called hIVe the international misinformation advocates “found multiple points of manipulation in the video’s run-time and where the “no-deepfake and the deepfake manipulation overlapped.”
“In today’s world of trolls, bots, and deepfake manipulation, it has become easy to throw mud at others,” Chavez said.
h e reminded the public to be wary of malicious videos and social media posts.
Chavez also gave assurances that there will be no letup in the government’s fight against misinformation and disinformation.
h e urged all law enforcement agencies to ramp up their drive against fake news and harmful online posts. n
Lawmakers to VP Sara: Step down if you...
nated with rep. Zia Alonto Adiong (Lanao del sur, 1st District). he added that this would have allowed Adiong to prepare for questions during the plenary.
“In other words, this means she really has no intention to attend the plenary hearing to sponsor and defend the oVP’s budget,” Bongalon said in filipino.
Shared sentiment rep. Jay-Jay suarez (Quezon, 2nd District) also said the sentiments expressed by lawmakers at the press conference on monday are also shared by other house members because it is a government official’s job to show up.
“this is not about her, this is about the office of the Vice President, the second highest position of the land. And you have to show respect and due courtesy to that office and to simply show up and do your work. I think it’s the least that she can do for the office of the Vice President,” suarez added.
Setting a ‘bad precedent’
While Duterte provided a letter dated september 11 to Adiong, rep. ramon Gutierrez (1-rider Party) said the letter did not specify that she would be absent, the reason for it or indicate that there would be an official representing the oVP at the plenary.
“It will set a bad precedent because other departments or government agencies might follow suit, thinking, ‘It’s okay not to attend plenary debates. We can just send a representative or any high-ranking official from the agency,’” Bongalon said in filipino.
Why agencies need to be present
Lawmakers emphasized that the budget sponsor is not the one who will be spending the agency’s budget, which is why a representative from the agency should be present to help explain its expenditure program. t he congressman defends the budget, but we are not the disbursing officer. We are not the ones spending the budget. We justify the budget, we defend the budget, but we are not the ones spending it,” rep. Jefferson Khonghun (Zambales, 1st District) said. When the agency is present at the plenary, Bongalon said the budget sponsor has the opportunity to consult with the agency head to ensure that they accurately convey its perspective when answering questions from other lawmakers. since the house budget proceedings are scheduled to end on Wednesday, september 24, Gutierrez said the lower chamber “will be extending maximum leniency” to the oVP. the house will only determine how to handle the agency’s 2025 budget once the oVP has exhausted all its opportunities to attend, Khonghun said. What will happen if OVP doesn’t show up?
During the press conference, reporters asked lawmakers whether a reenacted budget for 2025 would be possible if the h ouse fails to pass the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) on time due to further potential
delays caused by the oVP. According to section 25 (7), Article VI of the 1987 Constitution, a reenacted budget refers to the budget of the previous fiscal year that remains in effect until Congress passes a new General Appropriations Act (GAA). this occurs only when the GAA for the following year has not been approved before the current year ends. for Khonghun, a reenacted budget will not happen because lawmakers will not allow the vice president to sabotage the house of representatives’ schedule in passing the GAB for 2025. suarez added the oVP is the only agency that “has not fully complied with the requirements of the law,” noting that all other agencies and departments have been fulfilling their duty in the process of having their respective budgets approved. Bongalon also said that a reenacted budget would harm other departments and agencies as they might not receive the necessary budget increase to fund their programs. the oVP’s proposed 2025 budget was rescheduled for tuesday, september 24, but may be postponed to Wednesday, september 25, if no authorized representative appears at the session hall for its plenary debate.
t he o VP has requested a P2.026 billion budget for 2025, but this was slashed to P733 million by the house appropriations committee on september 11 due to issues surrounding the agency’s alleged misuse of funds. n
photo by Mike Alquinto
City of Manila displays
disaster risk reduction system assets near the Kartilya ng Katipunan on Tuesday, Sept.
their best practices in various governance areas, including disaster preparedness, for the Department of
Interior and Local Government’s Seal of Good Local Governance
Gets namin ang aming customer mga
Pilipino
May magagandang rate, guaranteed delivery, at walang hidden fee, samahan ang milyon-milyong nagtitiwala sa Remitly kapag nagse-send ng pera sa mga kaibigan at pamilya.
How to fight rising imposter...
all, according to ftC and Better Business Bureau estimates.
this is just the tip of the iceberg,” said emma fletcher, senior data researcher at the ftC at a friday, september 20 ethnic media services briefing about imposter scams. “Behind those numbers are people who’ve lost tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars. We’re really concerned about the volume of reports we’re getting on scams that take it all. People have emptied their bank accounts, even their retirement accounts.” over the past few years, reported losses to business and government impersonation scams have skyrocketed nearly fourfold. $175 million was lost to government impersonators in 2020 compared to $618 million in 2023, and $195 million was lost to business impersonators in 2020 compared to $751 million in 2023. scam tactics and stories this tremendous increase in reports from people who’ve lost enormous sums of money is tied to very concerning changes in the tactics these scammers are using,” said fletcher. these scams often involve bank transfer methods like Zelle, or cryptocurrency payment methods like Bitcoin Atms, which are referred to by many scammers as “federal safety lockers.”
o ne reporter attending the briefing, sunita sohrabji, shared a personal example.
my daughter tried to sell her bike via facebook marketplace,” sohrabji said. “It was her first time selling anything, and someone messaged her saying they wanted to buy the bike, and that they’d pay through Zelle, but that she first had to establish a Zelle business account and put $400 in an account they’d sent her, which would be refunded once the transaction was made. of course, that never happened.”
“With the endless daily time-sensitive messages, emails, deliveries, due dates and service invoices we already get, especially in the media, there are so many you have to resist and double-check nowadays,” added elena Kuznetsova, a reporter for slavic sacramento.”
there have been congressional hearings about Zelle and the role of financial institutions when fraud occurs,” said Kati Daffan, assistant director of the ftC Division of marketing Practices. “It’s an open question right now. We encourage people to report it to us and their bank. If they’re unhappy
with how their bank handles it, they can also file a report with the Consumer financial Protection Bureau.”
Per a new ftC Impersonation rule in effect since April, pretending to represent or be endorsed by a government or business is explicitly a violation, enabling the ftC file federal court cases seeking to return money to victims and enact civil penalties against scammers.
“In our first case using the new rule, somebody pretending to be affiliated with the U.s. Department of education would tell people: ‘this is a time sensitive notice, and you can get tax-free loan forgiveness,’ to entice consumers to call them,” said Daffan.
“then the telemarketers, claiming to be affiliated with the government, would convince people to sign up for a debt relief program and collect hundreds of dollars in illegal upfront fees,” she continued. “our case is ongoing.”
Daffan added that telltale signs of a scammer include urging the victim to act immediately; asking them to lie to someone, like a bank teller or broker; threatening them with arrest or deportation; and telling them not to hang up before money is withdrawn or transferred.
Also trending are “tag-team” scams blurring the line between business and government impersonation.
“these scams typically start out impersonating a business; say, your bank saying there’s suspicious charges on your account,” said f letcher. “But when you respond, the situation escalates rapidly. Your accounts are at risk, so they connect you with a government agency. the aim is to create a sense of heightened alarm, to make it difficult to think clearly, recognize the scam, and hang up the phone.”
f urthermore, many scams now involve victims who believe they’re protecting their money from entities who want it.
“If you believe you’re paying someone, you’re going to be cautious about giving all you have. But if you believe you’re protecting your money, you’re more likely to empty your account, and these scammers will position themselves as someone informing you of this problem and helping you resolve it,” fletcher continued. “they’re not necessarily posing as the aggressor anymore.” there are many misconceptions about who’s impacted by scams,” she added. “they’re not, say, less
intelligent or greedy. It’s really important to put those ideas to rest, because they’re barriers to people being receptive to messages about how to avoid scams … It’s people of all ages, people you know in your community.”
the ftC found in 2021 that adults aged 18 to 59 were 34% more likely to report losing money to fraud than older adults, with a median loss of $500.
however, older adults reported much higher median losses: $800 for those in their 70s, and $1,500 for those 80 and over.
“I’m always telling my audience: please be aware. Don’t do this. I’m 69 with 43 years of experience in journalism, and I fell in their hands completely,” said Celina rodríguez, a journalist who got a call two years ago from scammers impersonating Bank of America.
“they said I bought an iPhone, and was it really me? It was so embarrassing having to explain ‘No,’” she said. “I was in a rush, I had to do a radio program, and I was panicking. I let them into my computer and sent money to them fortunately, Bank of America helped me shut my computer down, had I t come turn it on in a safe way and I changed my passwords.” the way they get you involved is amazing,” rodriguez added. “We’re so vulnerable now. even though we’re on top of things every day, we are human beings and any of us can become psychological targets.” those experiencing fraud can report it and find next steps at reportfraud.ftc.gov. (Selen ozturk/ Ethnic Media Services)
Expanded healthcare brings hope, healing for women exiting prison or jail
Recently expanded Medi-Cal services are helping women access a wider range of support as they work to regain their footing post-incarceration.
by Peter SchurMann Ethnic Media Services
sAN frANCIsCo — eighteen
months ago, m argeret Wilson walked out of jail. A mother of five and legally blind, she faced the unimaginable challenge of rebuilding her life and that of her family post-incarceration.
recently expanded medi-Cal services mean women like Wilson can now access a wider range of support as they work to regain their footing.
“In 2021 I was arrested,” says Wilson. “After I got out on bail, I came into this program,” she continues, referring to Cameo house, a residential program for reentry women and their children located in a non-descript apartment building in san francisco’s mission District.
“ t his place shows that not every person who is incarcerated is just a piece of paper or just someone who has no worth,” she adds.
Currently enrolled at Chabot Community College in oakland, Wilson is now working toward her bachelor’s degree in sociology. she’s also employed as a transitional housing ambassador with the non-profit five Keys, which operates shelters and homeless navigation centers in san francisco and Alameda counties.
Wilson, who has resided at Cameo house with her youngest son since her release, joined a gathering here Wednesday of representatives from community-based organizations, ethnic media journalists, as well as other formerly incarcerated women who shared their personal stories of trauma and pain but also of hope and healing.
the event, organized by ethnic m edia s ervices in partnership with the Department of healthcare s ervices, highlighted the range of newly available health services under medi-Cal for reentry women, children and families.
Nearly one million women in the United states are currently under the criminal justice system, around 10% of them behind bars with the rest either on parole or probation. A majority are women of color.
In California, there are some 3,900 women currently serving time, according to the latest figures. It is less clear how many women are currently out on probation or parole. statewide, some 458,000 individuals are either behind bars or otherwise under the criminal legal system.
health data on women caught in the justice system paint an alarming picture: a majority have at least one child and are survi-
vors of childhood abuse or trauma themselves. many also face the ongoing threat of domestic partner violence. Women in jail also report higher rates of mental health and substance use disorder than their male counterparts.
“I am working on my recovery,” says s hannen Curlin, a single mom and current resident at Cameo house. “I am a couple of weeks shy of two years. I’m just trying to get my priorities in order, go to school, get my record lifted and just trying to straighten up and fly right.”
Curlin lives with her 10-yearold son.
“they took me in and allowed my son to come here with me. they supported me with graduating high school and starting college. they helped me clear my DUI and my record. t hey pressed me to make sure I go to my groups and that I am participating in my mental health and in my recovery.”
s tarting in 2023, California became the first state in the nation to offer federally subsidized healthcare services to incarcerated youth and adults up to 90 days prior to their release. the Justice-Involved Initiative, aimed at easing the reentry process, is part of a broader expansion in medi-Cal services built on a “vision of healthcare that is not stuck in hospitals but goes to the communities to close the gap,” says ems Director sandy Close. “especially for people who have never had access to healthcare.”
for the women at Wednesday’s event, housing was the number one issue, one not typically linked to public health. And yet medi-Cal enrollees can now receive housing navigation services covered as a benefit under the program.
“my doctor referred me to a case manager,” explains Wilson. “And they help with housing. so,
I met the gentleman… and he let me know that my medi-Cal was inactive, and that I had to get this taken care of because it’s what pays for all the services.” Wilson shared that she’s since continued to meet with her case manager as she prepares to transition out of Cameo house. tina Curiel runs communications for the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice, which operates Cameo house. “It is one of san francisco’s only alternative sentencing housing programs that women and children can live in and for that long. It is unique in that way.” residents –around 15 women and their children currently – can remain for up to 18 months. to hear statistics of women and children, there’s like a few thousand per each bed available in san francisco,” notes Curiel. so, it’s ridiculously underfunded, these types of programs.” o ther speakers included Janelle Buccat, program manager with the occupational therapy training Program in s an francisco, and michelle Alvarez, program director with Instituto familiar de la raza.
Alvarez described how her organization uses medi-Cal dollars to fund “wellness activities” for low-income families, including kayaking trips on the san francisco Bay and visits to nearby m uir Woods. for families and kids “struggling with anxiety, depression, or worrying about how to pay rent,” she adds, such activities are a balm for their mental well-being.
Charity harris is program director with Cameo house. “this is a second family for me,” she told the gathering. “this work gave me purpose at a time in my life when I lost purpose.” s he continued, “ s eeing the impact of the criminal justice system on these families inspired me to come forward.” n
“that smile, his charisma and movie star good looks landed him in the department’s brochures and videos, helping our City to fill the ranks of our police department with some of san Diego’s finest,” he said. Gloria said machitar came from a family of public servants who were passionate about helping others, citing his grandfather, who was a member of the U.s. Navy, and his father, retired san Diego Deputy sheriff Chris machitar. Addressing Chris m achitar, sDPD Chief of Police scott Wahl said, “You raised one heck of a young man and an exemplary police officer. he was such a good kid and had unlimited potential.” the memorial service opened with a prelude by pianist michael s anchez, and a welcome and opening prayer by san Diego Police Department Chaplain Chuck Price, who described machitar as “funny, humble, charismatic, generous, genuine, dependable, respected and respectful.” special tributes were also paid by sgt. Andrew schidecker, sen. s teve Padilla, cousins Julian
Chanfreau and mcKenzie holt and sister Asia machitar.
“You were meant to make a difference and you did just that. It’s amazing seeing how much of a positive impact you left on everyone, you’re so missed. thank you for always checking in, thank you for the encouragement, thank you for the laughs, thank you for the friendship, and thank you for the memories. We have the watch from here Austin, rest easy, you’re so loved,” s an Diego s heriff’s office Deputy Crystal Corona said.
t he service concluded after nearly three hours with a flag folding and presentation by the sDPD honor Guard, and a 21gun salute. o n Aug. 26 at 11:30 p.m., officer machitar was killed in a vehicle crash at the intersection of Doliva Drive and Clairemont mesa Boulevard.
machitar and his partner, officer Zachary martinez, 27, were responding to the area of the fleeing suspect when the fleeing car broadsided officer machitar’s patrol vehicle at 90 mph, causing the police cruiser to be engulfed in flames.
o fficer m achitar was pronounced dead at the scene. officer martinez was taken to sharp m emorial h ospital in critical condition, but survived the crash and was present and also honored at machitar’s service. officer martinez was released from hospital care on sept. 3. the driver of the
Fallen Fil-Am police officer Austin Machitar was honored at a memorial service. Screencap from Shadow Mountain Community Church video
Nomx Olisi Ndzumo (at right), originally from South Africa, came to San Francisco after meeting a man who she says later abused her. After a brief time in jail she entered Cameo House. She joined other women to share her story. Ethnic Media Services photo by Peter Schurmann
OPiniOn FeAtures
The 44th inmate
As of the close of regular office hours in government late Monday afternoon, September 23, Alice Guo remained in a cell with 43 other inmates at the Pasig City Jail. The dismissed mayor of Bamban, Tarlac was transferred to the city jail female dormitory from the Custodial Center of the Philippine National Police at Camp Crame on orders of the Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 167, where Guo faces trial for qualified human trafficking, a non-bailable offense.
Guo’s camp, claiming threats to her life, wants her to stay at the PNP Custodial Center. her transfer to the Pasig jail, which is under the Bureau of Jail management and Penology, was briefly stalled when she was tested for suspected tuberculosis infection in her left lung. When the test result came out negative, she was moved to the BJmP facility.
Editorial
BJmP officials have given assurance that inmates are safe in the local jails and Guo need not fear for her safety in the Pasig female dormitory. Both the BJmP and PNP are under the Department of the Interior and Local Government. their detention facilities should be sufficiently secure to prevent escapes, while allowing for the humane treatment of inmates.
there’s no guarantee that Guo would be safer or more secure at Camp Crame, headquarters of the PNP, even if its chief and the DILG secretary posed for a selfie with her in Indonesia. highrisk detainees including kidnappers and drug traffickers have broken out of Camp Crame
detention in the past years. In 2012 following a string of jailbreaks from police detention facilities around the country, a memorandum from the PNP chief at the time, Nicanor Bartolome, had noted that the Custodial Center at Camp Crame was already congested due to a rising number of high-risk inmates committed there. t he memorandum pointed out that the Custodial Center is used only as “a temporary lock-up facility for persons under custodial investigation…”
In being cleared of tB, Guo lost an excuse to seek detention in her own cell, or better yet, “hospital arrest” – a favorite tack of VIP inmates who want to avoid incarceration in a crowded regular jail. she might yet complain of pain in her other lung. And she still has a long string of body parts that can be tested for illness requiring long hospital confinement. to foil attempts at special jailbird treatment, the PNP and BJmP must ensure that their regular jails are sufficiently equipped to keep all inmates secure. (Philstar.com)
BaBe Romualdez
there is that old saying “curiosity can kill a cat” – and in our country, too much politics could ultimately kill all of us. As the may 2025 midterm election draws near with the filing of certificates of candidacy just around the corner, we can expect shifts in the political landscape with new party coalitions or alliances, realignments and even defections to happen.
While s enate and congressional hearings continue to take centerstage with filipinos riveted to the tV or the screens of their smart gadgets waiting for the latest episode of the Alice Po-Guo story, let’s not lose sight of the fact that we are faced with so many serious challenges that can potentially impact the future of our country and people.
In the 2024 World r isk r eport published two weeks ago by the Germany-based Bündnis entwicklung hilft and the ruhr University Bochum-Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict, the Philippines
Commonsense
PUBLIC confessions dished out right in the halls of Congress as testimonies made under oath – even from self-proclaimed whistleblowers brought out of their jail cells – have been hogging the headlines. Adding to these scandalous revelations was information culled from unfiltered sources in media interviews. these whistleblowers suddenly found themselves no longer fearful or timid to come out with what they believe was the truth. or did they have an epiphany when they suddenly realized what they failed to understand in the past and have become conscious of only now, or something that they finally realized is the right thing to do. or it is just an afterthought to tell all?
While these sworn testimonies at the congressional hearings were not exactly the gospel truth, it is more difficult to discern the “he said, she said” stories being peddled openly. for us in media, it becomes doubly hard work to do fact checking. It is not just for the sake of fairness and balance
Politics could ultimately kill the cat
topped the list of countries that are most at-risk to extreme natural events and negative climate change, followed by Indonesia, India, Colombia, mexico, myanmar, mozambique, russia and Bangladesh with Pakistan at number 10. this is the third time in a row that the Philippines has topped the report’s “World risk Index” that breaks down the disaster risks of 193 United Nations member-states based on their “exposure to natural hazards, the vulnerability of the population and the coping and adaptive capacities of societies.”
According to the report, climate change is “increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme natural events, leaving less and less time for regeneration. As soon as one disaster is overcome, the next threat is already looming.”
With the Philippines getting hit by an average of 20 typhoons every year that also result in massive flooding in many parts of the country, the impact has been devastating, with the displacement of hundreds of thousands of families, damage to infrastructure and agriculture worth billions of pesos that could
but for accuracy and the truth to prevail. Via zoom interview last week over dzrh radio, a former member of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KoJC) echoed accusations against KoJC leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy. A certain Arlene stone, who claimed to be speaking in behalf of other former KoJC members now residing in the United states, volunteered the “information” that Quiboloy allegedly had “gifted women” to former President rodrigo Duterte and other officials.
“Based on my information, (some members of the pastoral) were being offered to (persons) very close to Quiboloy, like for example President Duterte. If he (Duterte) likes one of the members of the pastoral, Quiboloy would grant it,” stone declared. As a matter of fact, she further claimed, one of those purportedly offered to mr. Duterte is still at the KoJC compound in Davao City, from where it took two weeks for our police authorities to flush out Quiboloy from hiding.
Quiboloy has been charged with sexual assault and human trafficking cases here in our country and in the U.s. as well,
ultimately affect the economy.
A recent example was super typhoon enteng (international name Yagi) that cut a swathe of destruction in its wake, causing massive flooding and landslides, cancellation of classes and disruption of power supply and telecommunication services.
According to the National Disaster risk reduction and management Council, damage to infrastructure across six regions in the country is estimated at P700 million, with agricultural losses estimated at over P650 million.
seeing the devastation caused by typhoon enteng and the bare forests in many areas, the President said government must have stricter implementation of laws against illegal logging because this has become a matter of “life and death.”
Another cause for concern is a recent study made by the University of the Philippines resilience Institute titled “Ground subsidence in major Philippine metropolitan cities from 2014 to 2020” that highlights the threat of “gradual sinking or sudden collapse” faced by m etro m anila and other urban areas due to “excessive groundwater ex-
not to mention the string of other criminal charges filed against him. moreover, there are ongoing parallel congressional “inquiries in aid of legislation” that involve ex-president Duterte, Quiboloy, et.al.
“A fake witness. ms. stone is a certified ‘Marites,’ a pathological liar to the bone,” mark tolentino, one of legal counsels of Quiboloy, countered in a text message to The STAr Naturally, loyal defenders of mr. Duterte were likewise irritated over the latest narratives about women “gifted” by the former president’s spiritual adviser. “Nakakatawa mga storetelling a lie nila,” former executive secretary salvador medialdea quipped with disgust. mr. Duterte, on the other hand, has publicly admitted to being a womanizer. he still lives with his partner, honeylet Avanceña, with whom he has a grown daughter. his wife, elizabeth Zimmerman, is the mother of Vice President sara Duterte, Davao City rep. Paolo “Polong” Duterte and mayor sebastian “Baste” Duterte.
Another “Marites” was outed by former Cebu City mayor tomas osmeña, who revealed in a tV interview last friday,
traction, rapid urbanization and natural sediment compaction, exacerbated by climate change through rising sea levels.”
A major result of the study reveals the significant ground subsidence in Iloilo with rates reaching as high as nine millimeters per year – no doubt exacerbated by groundwater extraction.
In a business column over a decade ago, I remember writing about the excessive extraction of groundwater that is causing cities to sink slowly, with overpopulated areas like metro manila at high risk due to the overwhelming demand for water for drinking, bathing and other needs. t he situation was also aggravated by the construction of deep wells by private subdivision owners and businesses whose operations require large amounts of water. As early as then, several areas aside from m etro m anila were identified as water critical; among them are Baguio, Davao, metro Cebu, Cagayan de oro, Bacolod, Angeles in Pampanga and Iloilo.
Aside from climate change and natural disasters, one other problem that impacts future generations is quality educa -
september 20 that he was bluntly told: “Don’t touch the president’s women.” Without disclosing his source of information, osmeña claimed he received the off-limits warning from an unnamed official to whom he complained in 2018 about then police colonel royina Garma being assigned as Cebu city police chief. methinks, the 79-year-old exPresident Duterte is tickled pink over talks on his much touted machismo and virility for women thrown his way. his closest friend and ally, who requested confidentiality, described his “Boss” as a man who wants to be “challenged” when it comes to trying to woo women he takes a liking to. he abhors being offered a partner. that I have known from the beginning,” the loyal Duterte ally intimated, adding: “Yung bang liligawan niya ang gusto hanggang sa nababasted para may rason siyang kumanta ng romantic songs.” our Davao City-based correspondent edith regalado laughed and could not agree more. edith knows mr. Duterte inside out. After all, she has been covering him for the past four decades already, since he
tion. this was highlighted in a U-report survey conducted by the UNICef that showed climate change, natural disasters and education being the top concerns among the 3,000 survey respondents. the very low ranking of the Philippines (bottom four among 64 countries) in the Program for International s tudent Assessment (PI s A) that tested the creative thinking abilities of students underscores the need to improve the country’s educational system, with f ilipino students ranked as among the world’s weakest in math, science and reading which are considered basic or fundamental competencies.
A lot of hope is riding on the shoulders of e ducation s ecretary s onny Angara who, I’m glad, is on the right track, starting with an increase in the salary of teachers, with plans to incorporate coding in the curriculum and utilize technology that would allow teachers to concentrate on the job of teaching instead of being burdened by administrative work.
“We are working to incorporate coding into our curriculum and are utilizing educational
technology, such as analytics, to assess learners in real-time. this will allow teachers to focus more on teaching and less on administrative tasks, ultimately improving the quality of education,” secretary Angara said during the most recent Philippines- s ingapore Business and Investment summit. externally, the Philippines is facing the most serious challenge to our sovereignty and existence as a free country – not because of climate change or rising sea levels – but by force coming from a foreign country claiming large portions of our territory.
Climate change, defense and security, low quality of education – these are just a few of the issues that our political leaders must seriously tackle as these could impact the future of our country – because undoubtedly, too much politics could ultimately “kill the cat.” (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.
* * * babeseyeview@gmail.com
was a struggling prosecutor to his being mayor of Davao City for several terms. she would not be persuaded though to name all the girls mr. Duterte loved before.
As of this writing, the usually foul-mouthed mr. Duterte has kept quiet at his retirement residence in Davao City. At the PDP-Laban convention held in his home city last friday night, mr. Duterte did not mention anything about his supposed peccadilloes even while he was still in public office. or is he trying to appear as a gentleman not to dignify talks that involve women’s honor?
But mr. Duterte could be as repugnant to the point of being called “misogynist” at the height of his quarrel with former senator Leila de Lima, who was chairman then of the Commission on human rights. she haled him to court first for human rights violations in the alleged Davao Death squad killings when he was still mayor. During her term as senator, De Lima led the senate investigations into the reported extrajudicial killings (eJKs) of suspected drug addicts and druglords. she got detained for more than six years, beyond the
term of mr. Duterte, for illegal drugs cases filed against her. All cases were subsequently dismissed by the courts, one after the other. the eJK cases, however, hang in the balance at the International Criminal Court (ICC). mr. Duterte, VP sara, et. al. are accused of crimes against humanity and are awaiting formal investigation by the ICC. then here comes former Iloilo mayor Jed Patrick mabilog, who was among those in mr. Duterte’s “narco” list. Arriving after seven years of self-exile in the U.s mabilog announced his readiness to testify against mr. Duterte before the ICC at the hague. since his daughter VP sara broke away from the present administration, mr. Duterte has ostensibly stopped his public rants at President ferdinand “Bongbong” marcos Jr. Amid the “Marites” about all the president’s women, he seems to be just relishing it. (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
maRichu VillanueVa
DAteline PhiliPPines
Jinggoy denies link to ‘coup plot’ vs Escudero
by Javier Joe isMael ManilaTimes.net
mANILA — senate President pro-tempore Jinggoy estrada on monday, september 23 admitted hearing "rumors" of a coup plot against senate President francis escudero but said he was not involved. estrada denied being the mastermind of the coup plot and refuted reports that he would replace escudero. the senator said that nobody approached him to sign a manifesto to oust escudero, and none of his fellow senators were advocating for it. e strada emphasized that he continues to support escudero. escudero denied that the senators were plotting to oust him. some senators questioned the supposed coup against escudero, with senator ronald "Bato" dela rosa saying that the issue only disturbed their "quiet life." he said no one is circulating a resolution for the senators to sign to expel escudero from the senate leadership.
Duterte-Robredo
senator Cynthia Villar clarified that she was not "involved" in the coup plot, while senator Loren Legarda insisted that she had no idea about it. n
meeting ‘personal,’ says former vice president’s spokesman
was "excited to experience her first ever Peñafrancia festival," upon the invitation of an unnamed Bicolano "friend."
"political."
mANILA — the office of the Vice President has confirmed a report that Vice President sara Duterte met with her predecessor, maria Leonor robredo, during the Peñafrancia festival in Naga City on friday, september 20 but a spokesman for robredo described the meeting as "personal." the report by an online news website claimed that Duterte met with robredo to seek her support amid challenges in her office.
In a statement issued on friday night, the oVP said that Duterte
t he friend, the o VP said, was the one who arranged the meeting with robredo, which was described as "casual."
In a post on X (formerly twitter) on s aturday, s eptember 21, Gutierrez said Duterte's visit to robredo's home in Naga City was "sudden."
It also said that Duterte met with prominent Bicol personalities and heard mass with regular Bicolanos. she neither looked desperate nor distressed," the oVP said to belie reports about how Duterte looked during the visit.
robredo's spokesman, Ibarra Gutierrez, confirmed the meeting between the two on friday, but described it as "personal" and not
"she [Duterte] suddenly went to her [robredo's] home all of a sudden. she was politely accepted. they talked, but not about politics. It was just a simple conversation and not a meeting. then she left. end of conversation," Gutierrez said in filipino.
he said while he disagreed with the politics of Duterte, he thought it was right that her predecessor welcomed her politely. hindi tayo bastos," (We are not rude.) Gutierrez added. n
Michael Yang’s brother admits faking Filipino identity for business
m ANILA — t he brother of
michael Yang, Yang Jianxin, on tuesday, september 24, admitted being born in China and assuming a f ilipino identity to operate businesses in the Philippines.
Despite being in the Philippines for around 26 years, Jianxin spoke little to no english and filipino, needing an interpreter for the senate hearing.
Jianxin said he was born in fujian, China, and it was his maternal grandfather who arranged his move to the Philippines.
t he initial intention of my grandfather is for me to start a business here, that’s why I use english names so that I can also apply for business permits for other documentations that will be needed
for the business,” Jianxin said in Chinese, translated into english by interpreter Carolyn Batay. sen. risa hontiveros presented Jianxin’s Philippine birth certificate. Like in the case of former Bamban mayor Alice Guo, Jianxin’s birth was registered late at the Philippine statistics Authority. Despite being born in 1970, Jianxin’s birth certificate was only issued in 2004. he would have been 34 years old by the time he got a Philippine birth certificate. the name on Jianxin’s birth certificate is Antonio Lim, and his place of birth was listed in misamis oriental.
Documents from hontiveros’ office, however, showed that the place of birth listed in Jianxin’s
other IDs are different.
the birthplace listed on Jianxin’s tIN is Cagayan de oro.
“You have profited from changing your name and nationality here,” hontiveros said.
Jianxin was detained at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport by the Bureau of Immigration on september 19.
he is the owner of steel company Phil sanjia Corporation, which faces complaints from its employees for its failure to pay their government benefits.
Jianxin is the brother of michael, the former economic advisor of former president rodrigo Duterte. Yang has also been tagged in the Phramally scandal of the previous adminsitration. n
mANILA — the government is “doubling down” on its duty to protect f ilipino journalists and uphold press freedom in the country, President ferdinand marcos Jr. said on friday, september 20.
In his speech at the 50th anniversary of the Publishers Association of the Philippines Inc., marcos acknowledged the role of the organization as “vigilant” vanguards of communities and “tireless” defenders of press freedom.
“We celebrate not just the pages that you have printed, but the values you upheld with every word, every story and every truth you fought hard to tell,” the president said.
“After all, the true measure of journalism is not just about telling stories and writing headlines, it is about standing firm even when the ground beneath you begins to shake,” he said.
m arcos also paid tribute to f ilipino journalists who were killed in the last two years, including Percival “Percy Lapid” mabasa, Juan “DJ Johnny Walk-
er” Jumalon and Cresenciano Bundoquin.
“they are not just names in a report; they are faces with families, colleagues and communities that grieve their loss,” marcos said.
“All our efforts to bring them justice are a testament to the belief that no story, however dangerous, is too small or too insignificant to be told,” he said.
t he Philippines slipped two places on the World Press freedom Index for 2024 by Paris-based organization reporters Without Borders, ranking 134th out of 180 countries and territories.
marcos also emphasized the crucial role played by journalists in the fight against “a different kind of enemy.”
m isinformation, cyber libel threats, the relentless pressures of the digital age have added layers of complexity in ensuring press freedom. every post, every share, every careless click – these are the new battlegrounds,” the president said.
“ f rom the anonymous troll farms to the deliberate spread of conspiracy theories, this fight has evolved far beyond
the newsroom, it is now in the palm of every hand that scrolls through social media,” he said. marcos said journalists have the duty to protect the sanctity of facts even as he urged media workers not to waver in the face of challenges.
“Let us stand together for truth,” he said.
t he government, he said, has initiated the media and information literacy campaign to equip the public, especially the youth, with the skills to critically evaluate the information they consume to help fight misinformation and disinformation.
“ together, let us foster responsible journalism, for we know that more than a democratic ideal, it is a necessity for an informed and empowered citizenry to make the proper, intelligent, well-informed decisions about their leaders, about their situation, about their condition,” the chief executive said.
“As we mark this golden milestone, I urge you to keep pushing the boundaries of what it means to be a journalist. Innovate. Adapt. But never compromise your principles,” he said. n
by helen FloreS Philstar.com
‘He should be heralded first’: Lea Salonga says Dolphy deserves to be National Artist
by KatHleen lleMit Philstar.com
theAtre star Lea salonga emphatically said no when she was asked about her being named as a National Artist.
salonga, who recently had her own madame tussauds wax figure in singapore, would instead like to champion Dolphy as one of the country's National Artists.
"No, no, no. No, there are folks who are far more deserving and whose National Artist Awards are long overdue," she said during the ambush interview with the press including Philstar.com after the award ceremony of the Gawad CCP Para sa sining 2024 held on friday, september 20 in samsung theater in Circuit makati.
salonga was feted for her body of work and accomplishments in theater. the Broadway star is a tony- and Laurence olivier awardee, as well as a nominee of the Grammy Awards. Beyond theater, salonga was named a Disney legend in 2011 for work in some of Disney's well-loved titles, including mulan" and "Aladdin."
"I would love to see somebody like Dolphy, for example, it is because we have to judge him as an artist for his body of work," the Broadway legend said.
"And he has contributed so much, even the movies where he's crossdressing, it lends so much tolerance and so much acceptance for the LGBt community," she added.
the late Dolphy started his career as early as the Bodabil (vaudeville) days during the Japanese occupation in the country in the 1940s. he also dabbled into radio and transitioned to making films and tV shows.
Dolphy was known as the "King of Comedy," starring in the movie "facifica falayfay" and tV shows and their spin-offs of the same name, "home Along Da riles" and "John en marsha."
Comedy was Dolphy's strength, but he was also a serious actor that tackled relevant and social issues in films like "markova: Comfort Gay," which was among the entries to the 2000 metro manila film festival. Dolphy died on July 10, 2012 at the age of 83. "even if that was not his intention at the time, that was an effect, an after effect that I don't think he could have foreseen, but that's just an example of why I think he should be heralded first," Lea said. so, hopefully I'll be given the opportunity to champion him," she concluded.
Alexa Ilacad reflects on motherhood in upcoming Unitel
PoPULAr "Pinoy Big Brother" host and actress Alexa Ilacad could not escape taking a closer look at what motherhood is all about while shooting the family drama "mujigae," which opens in cinemas on october 9.
A cross-cultural narrative, Ilacad plays sunny in the film, a woman tasked with caring for her half-Korean niece named mujigae after the child's mother passes away. t he 24-year-old celebrity admitted at a media conference that she could relate to her role's hesitation to look after a kid, confessing that she was not particularly fond of children in real life for the longest time.
"that was until I had my own nieces. honestly, they changed my life," Ilacad said in filipino. Working closely with child actress r yrie s ophia further helped her get comfortable with little ones.
"After working with r yrie, I realized that children are actually cute and fun to be around. I especially like ryrie; I find her so fun to be with. she's so mature and were like friends on set," she added. reflecting on her experience filming the movie, Ilacad said she realized the many challenges of motherhood.
film ‘Mujigae’
my main takeaway is that it's really hard to be a mother. It takes so much selflessness. It made me ask myself, 'Could I ever do this?'" she pondered. however, Ilacad emphasized that becoming a mother has yet to be part of her immediate plans. "It's not something I'm thinking about right now. I want to focus on my career. I have big dreams, like saving more money and achieving stability. But maybe one day, if I'm stable enough and have the right partner, I will consider having a family," she noted.
Joining Ilacad in the cast of m ujigae is Korean actor Kim
Ji soo, who plays Ji seong, the father of five-year-old mujigae. Kim, who is signed with GmA Network's sparkle Artists Center, adds a cross-cultural dimension to the film with his portrayal of a struggling single father in Korea. It also stars comedian rufa mae Quinto in a special role. m ujigae is directed by randolph Longjas and produced by Unitel s traight s hooters, the same makers of the awardwinning 2003 s haron Cunetastarrer, "Crying Ladies." t he film will be released exclusively in sm Cinemas on o ctober 9. (ManilaTimes.net)
Ria Atayde gives birth to first child with Zanjoe Marudo
by HannaH Mallorca Inquirer.net
rIA Atayde is officially a mom with the birth of her first child six months after tying the knot with husband Zanjoe marudo in march. m arudo announced on facebook that Atayde gave birth to their first child on monday, sept. 23. he didn’t disclose any more details about his wife’s birth, save for a video clip of a baby in a carriage being pushed by a nurse at an undisclosed hospital. the video also contained the text, “09.23.24,” referring to the birth date of their child.
“eto na! officially Zaddy ka na Z (Here you go! You’re officially a Zaddy, Z),” he wrote. the actor also shared the same video on his Instagram s tory. Atayde reposted her husband’s short video on her Instagram story as well. While details on the couple’s first child are yet to be disclosed to the public, an ABs-CBN News report said the actress gave birth early morning of sept. 23.
Atayde and marudo said “I do” in a civil ceremony witnessed
Pia Wurtzbach walks the runway in Paris Fashion Week 2024 show
by HannaH Mallorca Inquirer.net
PIA Wurtzbach is among the celebrities and models who set the “Walk Your Worth” show at Paris fashion Week on fire, as she became the first filipina to prance on the runway held by a french cosmetics brand.
Wurtzbach sizzled the runway in a body-hugging black off-shoulder midi dress with pink detachable sleeves in L’oreal’s “Le Défilé ‘Walk Your Worth” show, which was held at the Place de l’opéra in Paris, f rance, on s ept. 23 (early morning of sept. 24 in the Philippines).
the cosmetic brand’s serum, liquid foundation, newly launched mascara, and liquid lipstick completed her look.
t he m iss Universe 2015 titleholder graced the catwalk with her signature smize before finishing with a radiant smile.
Also part of the show were Kendall Jenner, e va Longoria, Viola Davis, Jane fonda, Cara Delevingne, “Bridgerton” star simone Ashley, miss World 1994 Aishwarya rai, and miss Universe 2016 Iris m ittenaere, among others.
h ours before the fashion show, the former beauty queen also shared behind-the-scenes glimpses of her experience on Instagram.
“Just a few more hours before it’s showtime…but first, an obligatory balcony shot! sharing a few snaps at the suite and me signing some polaroids. It’s the calm before the storm. But I’m ready,” she wrote. Wurtzbach, who’s now a fashion Week regular, was announced as part of the fashion show as the ambassador of the cosmetics brand’s local branch. she was also the face of its’ “Sayang? No,
#ImWorthIt” campaign in march 2024. t he beauty queen-turnedfashion personality’s recent
heels of her appearance in
shows at the recent
Week in Italy.
‘Maple Leaf Dreams’ cast shares newfound respect for OFWs
by cHarMie Joy Pagulong Philstar.com
t he cast members of the film “maple Leaf Dreams” have expressed their admiration for overseas filipino Workers (ofWs) who are hailed as the “modern-day heroes.”
In the movie, lead actors Kira Balinger and LA santos portrayed molly and macky, a couple who move to toronto to seek better jobs. they made sacrifices to leave their homes to provide for their families. Along the way, they experience personal, professional and cultural setbacks that test their decision and their love.
t he tearjerker “ m aple Leaf Dreams,” helmed by Benedict mique (“Lolo and the Kid”), also includes the cast members Joey marquez, snooky serna, ricky Davao, m alou Crisologo, Jong Cuenco, Jeff Gaitan, hannah thalia Vito, Luke Alford, Kanishia santos, Benito mique, Wilson martinito and Bea rose santiago.
eighty percent of the film was shot on location in Canada. While filming, Kira and LA were able to meet with and immerse themselves in the ofW community in Canada, and the experience opened their eyes and hearts to the realities of how it was like living and working there.
“It is really a big deal for you to be present for your loved ones,” declared LA during the presscon after the red Carpet Premiere of the film at the Gateway Cinema. “All of us is going through something that’s why saying just a simple ‘I love you’ or ‘how are you?’ is already a big deal. I hope the moviegoers will have this as takeaway from the film, that they will tell their crush, ‘I love you’ (after watching).”
t he s tar m agic actor also showed his respect for ofWs. he said, “Bilib na bilib ako sa inyo. You really deserve the world because never kayong nabigyan ng justice, never kayong naintindihan ng mga tao. Tingin lang ng mga tao sa inyo pera ka they think you can do this and that and it’s easy but it’s not.”
“I just wanna say I really admire you guys. the people don’t see how you work hard just to buy a pair of shoes for your siblings or your children.” LA wished that the viewers would
like the film because he accepted the movie project and his role as macky to pay tribute to the filipinos and ofWs.
“this is not for me, (it’s) not (because) I wanted to be an actor. I did macky because I want to give voice to the ofWs and I want them to know that they are appreciated,” he asserted. Kira echoed, “I have so much respect for the ofWs. I have family members who are ofWs and my message to them, to all the ofWs who will watch our movie, keep going. Like I know it is so hard but you have those dreams, you have all those goals that you want to achieve.
“And you deserve to achieve those dreams so please keep on going. Because when you feel like you want to give up na, tapos ka na, ayaw mo na, that’s when the breakthrough is almost about to happen. the Lord is just testing you if you are going to pursue it, if you are strong enough for the dreams that you have. so keep going, keep your family in your heart always and pray also.”
Bea, who is now based in Canada, recalled that she also experienced waiting to get a permanent resident status in Canada.
“I also lost my lolo. It was painful and hard,” she added. “that’s my takeaway (from the film). to all who have family members who are ofWs, they are not money machines. they are also going through rocky times.”
Kanishia, for her part, shared that she empathized with the ofWs. relating to the film, she said, “I felt how they miss their families back home and losing their family members. I saw and felt the ofWs
(hardship and pain) and also their families.” h annah, on the other hand, lauded the acting performance of Kira and LA. “I was moved and even cried. somehow, the movie resonated with me because it’s not just about working abroad but also being independent in general — having to work, live by yourself without your family. People romanticized it a lot but it’s really a difficult process when it comes to having to be yourself.” t he life of of Ws is really tough,” Jong pointed out. “Plus, of course, based on my character in the movie, you could really see the difference in social standing. In the film, Joey’s character is my relative. But the way I treated him because only I was a bit more moneyed than him so you could really see the difference in society and then it forces someone to leave para lang ma-improve yung buhay nung tatay niya. hopefully we get that message across.” “ m aple Leaf Dreams” will be screened in local theaters nationwide starting today, sept. 25, and in major cities in Canada on sept. 27. the story is co-written by direk Benedict and hannah Cruz. It is produced by 7K entertainment, Lonewolf films and ABs-CBN’s star magic, and distributed by Quantum films in the Philippines and robe entertainment in Canada.
milestone comes fresh off the
multiple
milan fashion
‘Maple Leaf Dreams,’ lead actors Kira Balinger and LA Santos portray Molly and Macky, a Filipino couple who decided to move to Toronto for a better life. Philstar.com photo
Lea Salonga
Photo from leasalonga.com
Alexa Ilacad and child actress Ryrie Sophia Photo courtesy Of Unitel Straight Shooters
Zanjoe Marudo and Ria Atayde Photo from Happy Folks Studio Inc. via Instagram/@ria
‘Citizen Puti’ special: A family reunited through patience, love, and one White American being a big fan of Citizen Pinoy
for 19 years, the show has been known as “Citizen Pinoy,” but in this special episode, leading U.s. Immigration Attorney michael J. Gurfinkel is calling it “Citizen Puti” in honor of a remarkable American who is not only a dedicated fan of the show but also an integral part of a heartwarming family reunion.
Sky
River
ricky Lee, an American married to filipina martha, watches Citizen Pinoy religiously—so much so that he was able to correct a seattle attorney on immigration law thanks to what he learned from the show. this special episode features ricky, martha, and her son Aries, who was finally able to join his mother in the U.s. after an 11year wait. martha, who married ricky in 2009, petitioned for her son Aries as soon as she received her green card. Despite the long delay in processing, and even Aries’ initial hesitation to move, PAGE 10
Casino’s anniversary concert series delivers memorable performances
eLK GroVe – sky river
Social Security in plain language
by annie Walters Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Nevada
the terms and acronyms
sky river Casino’s Anniversary Concert series highlighted its commitment to bringing quality entertainment to its guests. the weekend offered a blend of nostalgia and contemporary music, creating moments that will be remembered by all who attended. for information about future events, visit www.skyriver.com.
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Casino’s Anniversary Concert series concluded recently with a lineup featuring filipino, Vietnamese, and Chinese performances. over the course of three days, audiences were treated to performances that highlighted the diverse musical traditions of these regions. on friday, september 20, odette Quesada opened the festival. the acclaimed filipino singer-songwriter performed her well-known songs like “till I met You” and “friend of mine.” her set, marked by a straightforward yet powerful delivery, drew on decades of original Pilipino music (oPm), allowing listeners to experience the essence of her career. the stage shifted to Vietnam on saturday, september 21, with performances from hong Ngoc, minh tuyet, Lam Nhat tien, and Khang Viet, accompanied by the Brothers Band. this event brought a mix of sentimental ballads and lively melodies. the audience responded enthusiastically, enjoying the smooth transitions between different styles, each artist bringing their distinct voice and presence to the night. sunday, september 22 saw the festival close with sylvia & sandra in Concert. Known for their contributions to 1970s Cantonese music, both artists took the audience on a journey through classic hits. the concert, which paid tribute to hong Kong’s beloved variety show “enjoy Yourself tonight,” had the crowd reminiscing, with sylvia Lai and sandra Lang delivering performances that honored their long-standing careers.
activities and those points can be redeemed for free Play or dining credits. Become a sky river rewards member now to receive $15 free Play. to activate your free Play, visit any slot machine and place a bet. sky river rewards enrollment can be done online using a computer, tablet, or phone with a camera.
sky river Casino was built by the Wilton rancheria in partnership with Boyd Gaming Corporation, which is building and managing the property for the tribe. the casino opened in August 2022 and includes 100,000 sq ft of gaming, 2,100 slot machines, 80+ table games, and 18 bars and restaurants. to learn more, visit www.skyriver. com.
(Advertising Supplement)
Consul General Ferrer speaks at 80th anniversary of Battle of Leyte Gulf
sAN frANCIsCo – Consul
General Neil ferrer joined a distinguished panel of speakers during the 80th anniversary commemoration of the Battle of Leyte Gulf with the theme “forging an enduring Alliance” on september 17, 2024 at the marines’ Club and hotel. organized by the Bataan Legacy historical society and the san francisco fleet Week, the event brought together historians, military officers, diplomats, academics, and veterans and their families.
During the commemoration, Consul General Neil frank ferrer discussed the Philippines-U.s. alliance and recent up-
dates on relations, the country’s commitment to multilateralism and rules-based order, the importance of AseAN centrality to the Philippines, and the Philippine position on the West Philippine sea. the Philippines will continue to attach great importance to its relationship with the United states, our only treaty ally. this partnership is critical to ensuring our individual and collective ability to promote peace and stability in the region, including in addressing new and emerging security challenges,” Consul General ferrer said.
In a recorded message, Ambassador Jose manuel romualdez expressed, “Beyond
a clash of naval forces, the Battle of Leyte Gulf forged lasting bonds between the Philippines and the United states which has now evolved into a robust and comprehensive relationship.” other speakers included Prof. James holmes Armstead Jr. from Naval War College; Prof. surinder rana PhD, Associate Dean of Defense Language Institute; and Prof. (emeritus) Larry martinez, California state University Long Beach. the Battle of Leyte Gulf was the largest naval battle of World War II, and for some, the largest naval battle in history, with over 200,000 naval personnel involved. (PcGSF release)
people use when they talk about social security can be a little confusing. Knowing where to find easy-to-understand definitions can be very helpful. We’re here to provide resources to help you understand much of what you need to know about social security and our terminology. If there’s a technical term or acronym that you don’t know or understand, you can easily find the meaning in our online glossary at www.ssa.gov/agency/ glossary. We strive to explain our programs and benefits using plain language. In fact, the Plain Writing Act of 2010 requires federal agencies like the social security Administration to communicate in a way the public can understand. this can be challenging when talking about complicated programs like social security, supplemental security Income (ssI), and medicare. that’s why the glossary is helpful. If you’re nearing retirement, you may want to know the meaning of PIA (primary
insurance amount), frA (full retirement age), and DrCs (delayed retirement credits). these terms all relate to your benefit amount — based on when you decide to take your social security. If you start receiving your retirement benefit at frA, you’ll receive the full PIA (amount payable for a retired worker who starts benefits at full retirement age). so, frA is an age and PIA is an amount. What about DrCs? Delayed retirement credits are the incremental increases added to your PIA if you delay taking retirement benefits beyond your frA. If you wait to begin benefits beyond frA — say, at age 68 — your benefit increases for each month you delay up until you reach age 70. once you receive benefits, you typically get an annual CoLA (Cost-of-Living Adjustment) that increases your monthly benefit most years. Learning our terminology can deepen your understanding of how social security works for you and your family.
From left: Consul Rowena R. Pangilinan-Daquipil, Consul General Neil Ferrer, Vice
Toribio Adaci, Jr. and Naval Attaché Capt. James Francis Lugtu.
GMA Network’s ‘Firefly’ wins silver in Content Asia Awards ‘24
B ro ADCA st media giant GmA Network earned top honors for the Philippines at the Content Asia Awards 2024. s ecret s laves: t he Jessica soho special report on human trafficking” won the gold award in the Best Current Affairs Program made in Asia for regional Asia and/or International markets category. Produced by GmA Public Affairs, the documentary examined the global issue of human trafficking through survivor testimonies and investigative reporting. the program was presented by the Philippines’ most awarded broadcast journalist Jessica soho. the critically acclaimed film firefly” added another win to its growing list of accolades with a silver award in the Best Asian feature film/telemovie category. Produced by GmA Pictures and GmA Public Affairs, the film is about a young boy who searches for the mythical island of fireflies described in his mother’s bedtime stories. It stars euwenn mikaell and Alessandra de rossi and is directed by Zig Dulay. Winning the bronze award in the Best Variety Program category is “All-out sundays.” the musical variety show is known for its non-stop entertainment every sunday, giving Kapuso viewers dynamic musical performances and fun games led by various Kapuso talents.
* * * e xcerpt from a review by
r obert m anuguid s ilverio of “Juan Luna: i sang Sarsuela ”:
“No doubt about it, Vince tanada and Johnrey r ivas once again stole the show in their great performances... And a writer who watched gave them both a standing ovation.
“Vince gave a very sensitive and enduring performance as the ‘alter-ego’ of Juan Luna. his delivery of the character was multi-dimensional, offering a wide variety of scopes and interpretations which was very hard to do, and a writer who watched gave him a solid salute. his character’s own version of killing his wife Paz and his mother-in-law was the one that the audience
believed. t hus, he was more credible than the ‘real Luna’ himself in that certain scene of violence. But Johnrey rivas, who portrayed the real Luna, was so perplexing in many of his scenes, challenging the hearts and minds of the viewers, with his juicy angst, superb attacks and proper nuances. Johnrey was indeed a wonder.
m alena Leonard as Nellie Bousted, coming from G m A s parkle Artist Center, somehow convinced the followers of independent-minded people that mainstream artists, given a chance to perform in an independent performance setting, could also awe and impress. her singing prowess was exquisite, like a nightingale singing at Berkeley square.” soon, the Philippine stagers foundation will stage “san Vicente: isang Sarsuela,” written and directed by Atty. Vince m tanada and music by Pipo Cifra on s eptember 24, 25 and 26, 2024 at Adamson University theater.
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metropop, or the metro manila Popular music festival, was held every year from 1978 to 1985. It was the country’s pioneering songwriting competition which launched the careers of many filipino singers and songwriters, including freddie Aguilar, ryan Cayabyab, and odette Quesada, among others. Its main objective was the advancement of filipino music, and its main proponent was s en. Imee m arcos who steered the competition together with the late teodoro “Ka Doroy” Valencia.
m any of the songs featured during the metropop years are now considered filipino music classics. “It is said that music can evoke emotional responses to relax or stimulate people or help them heal. During difficult times, people take refuge in music that brings back happy memories and raises their spirits,” says senator marcos, who hosts “At the moment with Imee” every sunday at 5 p.m. over one Ph, Cignal tV Channel 1, satLite tV Channel 1 and Cignal Play App.
* * * At classy Villa Caemilla Beach Boutique h otel in Boracay’s station 3, some celebrities who have been there are r on Poe, tom taus, Antoinette taus, rita Avila and director fm reyes. I was fortunate to meet some of their kind staff (Christy reyes, Alden moralda, Benjie Doydora, Gio e mmen, r azel Penaroyo, Drigs oquendo, and supervisor Paul Panagsagan) who attended to my brief stay there. I will surely return to this place.
Guia Cruz Buenaventura, host of Coffee tea on mhe, represented the media house express, the first internet tV in the Philippines.
* * * Peoples television Network’s Audrey Gorriceta won as the best male host/anchor in the recent 2nd Philippines finest Business Awards and outstanding Achiever 2024, while Jamin Lim won as the best event photographer.
Graton Resort & Casino supports SF Autumn Moon Festival, celebrating cultural heritage and community spirit
reCeNtLY, Graton resort & Casino proudly served as the title sponsor of the 34th Annual Autumn moon festival, held in the heart of san francisco’s Chinatown. this sponsorship underscores the casino's ongoing commitment to community involvement and support for local traditions. By partnering with the san francisco Chinatown merchant Association, Graton resort & Casino is dedicated to honoring the cultural diversity that makes the Bay Area vibrant and unique. the beloved festival featured traditional lion dances, live music, and an array of delicious mooncakes. family-friendly activities emphasized the festival’s themes of reunion and gratitude while celebrating the rich cultural heritage and dynamic spirit of the community.
“We are honored to be part of such a meaningful celebration,” said robb stites, Public & Community relations manager of Graton resort & Casino. “our support of the Autumn moon festival reflects our commitment to preserving cultural heritage and fostering a strong sense of community.”
Located in sonoma County, Graton resort & Casino has a commanding presence among the rolling hills of Northern California's wine country. owned and operated by the federated Indians of Graton rancheria, Graton resort & Casino features table games, the latest slot machines, upscale and casual dining, plus entertainment options for visitors and locals alike. for more information, please visit www.gratonresortcasino.com. (Advertising Supplement)
* * * Awards Committee Chairman Nirro marcelo said that the recent sovereign seal of Business triumph & remarkable Achievers Award 2024 at luxurious Dusit thani hotel manila, was organized to recognize exceptional achievers and business leaders. Likewise, he also emphasized that the 2nd Philippines finest Business Awards and outstanding Achievers at the hexagon events Place in Quezon City was to celebrate the finest in the Philippine business community and acknowledge their exceptional contributions. on December 8 at the Winford resort and Casino in manila, the 2nd s outheast Asian Premier Business and Achiever Awards will be held to recognize the accomplishments and contributions to the business sector, which will honor deserving individuals as well as companies.
* * * 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
Paul Panagsagan (behind the counter) and Rogelio Medina.
This year’s FAMAS best child actress Elia Ilano of “Ghost Tales” and best child actor Euwenn Mikaeli of “Firefly.”
From left: Christy Reyes, Alden Moralda, Benjie Doydora, Rogelio Medina and Gio Emmen. Not in photo are Razel Penaroyo and Drigs Oquendo.
Sen. Imee R. Marcos (right) with son Matthew Joseph Marcos Manotoc.
Guia Cruz Buenaventura (left) of Coffee Tea on MHE and Rogelio Medina. Photos courtesy of Rogelio C. Medina
From left: Rogelio Medina, Jamin Lim and Audrey Gorriceta.
Nirro Marcelo (standing, 5th from right) with the production staff during the 2nd Philippine Finest Business Awards and Outstanding Achievers ceremony.
Vince M. Tañada’s “San Vicente, Isang Sarsuela” will be staged at Adamson University on Sept. 24-26.
Philippine real estate market poised for growth: A prime opportunity for overseas Filipinos
shaRon ann Bathan-san PedRo
DesPIte a slower-thanexpected recovery in the early part of the year, the Philippine real estate market is now showing promising signs of growth for 2024. for overseas filipinos looking to invest back home, this could mean better opportunities and returns in the coming months.
Demand drivers: What fuels growth? the resurgence in demand for office spaces, particularly within the metro manila area, is being driven by key sectors: (data source: inq7.net)
• Business Process Outsourcing
(BPo): this sector remains a strong player, contributing 38% of the demand for office spaces in the metro.
• Online gaming: Another significant player, online gaming companies account for 19% of office space demand.
• Other industries: The remaining 43% comes from various industries, showing diversity in growth. for investors, this trend highlights the importance of identifying properties near major business hubs, as demand for office spaces directly impacts nearby residential areas.
Township locations: The rise of areas outside Metro Manila
An interesting trend is the growing prominence of real estate developments outside of metro manila. In fact, 60% of township locations are now concentrated in provinces like Laguna, Cebu, Pampanga, and Cavite. these areas are rapidly urbanizing, offering potential investors a chance to tap into emerging markets with less competition than metro manila.
With the growth of township
developments and business centers in these regions, overseas investors should consider properties in key provinces. Not only do they offer competitive pricing, but they are also positioned for long-term value appreciation. Resilience amid global challenges even with global economic uncertainty, the Philippine real estate market remains resilient. Using the metrics set by the mcKinsey report, the country has achieved what is referred to as a “soft landing,” avoiding severe economic pitfalls that could have impacted growth. In 2024, the real estate sector is expected to maintain this upward trajectory, buoyed by favorable conditions such as controlled inflation and sustained economic expansion. for overseas filipinos looking to invest, this resilience is a key factor. the Philippine real estate market, especially in residential, township, and mixed-use developments, has proven to weather financial downturns better than many other regions.
The rise of residential prices and opportunities As noted in recent data, residential property prices, particularly for housing units and condominiums, have been on the rise. this is a positive indicator for potential investors, as rising property values often signal strong demand and a thriving market. for 2024, analysts expect further increases in housing prices due to limited supply in key urban areas like metro manila, Cebu, and Davao.
With this continued upward trend, now could be the ideal time for overseas filipinos to consider investing in the Philippine housing market. Whether it’s for personal use or rental purposes, properties bought today are expected to yield higher returns in the future. Better prospects for investors the Philippine government’s focus on improving infrastructure and developing smart cities further enhances the outlook for real
‘Citizen Puti’ special: A family...
martha’s persistence paid off. After overcoming additional CoVID-related delays and a rescheduled U.s embassy interview due to a medical issue, Aries and his daughter Arya were finally granted immigrant visas in April 2024. this emotional reunion, capped by ricky’s admiration for Citizen Pinoy, brings the story full circle as the family begins their new chapter together in the U.s Watch this success story on a brand-new episode of Citizen Pinoy on sunday, september 29 at 6:30 Pm Pt (9:30 Pm et) through select Cable/satellite providers, right after tV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWanttfC. Viewers may download the free app. (Advertising Supplement)
Peñafrancia
Fiesta takes place in San Leandro
estate. With better transportation, accessibility, and services, areas outside traditional city centers are expected to become more attractive for homebuyers and investors. for filipinos abroad, this represents a unique opportunity to secure properties at a time when prices are still on the rise, but before they reach their peak. Properties in emerging areas, such as Pampanga or Laguna, might provide the best balance between affordability and growth potential.
At sAB realty, we understand the challenges and opportunities of investing from abroad. Whether you’re looking to buy a family home, diversify your investment portfolio, or prepare for retirement, we provide expert guidance to help you make informed decisions. for more information and personalized assistance, contact sAB realty. We're here to help you navigate the evolving landscape of Philippine real estate with confidence.
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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.
* * * Sharon Ann Bathan-San Pedro, a licensed real estate broker in the Philippines for nine years, is also a member of NAR (National Association of Realtors in America). For inquiries, questions, or are interested in buying or selling a property, please feel free to reach out via email at sab. sanpedro@gmail.com or call PH 0917-8237796 (Whatsapp and Viber) USA (909) 4131480 (Viber).
It is a time-honored tradition now which Bicolanos have brought to wherever they are around the world – this cloying, “all out” devotion to Ina, the mother of Jesus. even here now in California, devotees are awakened by callow booms of pyrotechniques during the Pagsakay, the screams of boyadores of “Viva la Virgin, Ina kan kang Bicolandia” at the traslacion which takes place every Peñafrancia fiesta in Naga, and still pinch themselves whether they are home with “Ina” in Naga or just dreaming thousands of miles away in a different continent. here in Northern California, the schedule to celebrate the Peñafrancia fiesta is as follows:
• September 21 –Commemorative mass at our lady of Good Counsel Church (2500 Bermuda Avenue, san Leandro, CA 94577) with frs. ed Dura and mark reburiano as celebrants.
• October 4-11 – Nine-day novena sponsored by different associations. the traslacion takes place on october 5 at the our Lady of Good Counsel Church.
• October 12 – Peñafrancia fiesta proper, including rosary and mass, at the our Lady of Good Counsel Church.
11:30 a.m. – foot procession from oLGC church to marina Park, san Leandro 12 p.m. – fluvial procession
(Pagsakay) at the bay
12:30 p.m. – family picnic at marina Park starts 12-3 p.m. – Program & entertainment 3:30 p.m. – raffle and drawing of tickets 4 p.m. – Vigil mass for sunday. the 2024 Peñafrancia fiesta
From left: Ricky Lee, Aries, Arya, Martha and Atty. Michael Gurfinkel
