US legislators celebrate Filipino American History Month
Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus recognize the Fil-Am communities' cultural and historical contributions
WASHINGTON — Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) are celebrating Filipino American History Month, which recognizes the cultural and historical contributions made by Filipino American communities nationwide throughout the month of October.
This month commemorates the first recorded arrival of Filipinos in the continental United States on October 18, 1587, at what is now Morro Bay, California.
As early as 1763, Filipino sailors known as “Manilamen” established the first Asian American settlement called Saint Malo in present-day Louisiana.
Rep. Bobby Scott, the only currently serving member of Congress with Filipino ancestry and co-chair of the U.S.-Philippines Friendship Caucus, said he was proud to celebrate Filipino American History Month.
“This is a time to recognize Filipino Americans’ contributions as our veterans, our healthcare workers, our educators and so much more,” Scott said in a statement.
“I also have the privilege of representing a rich and vibrant Filipino American community in Hampton Roads. I am proud to celebrate this month with my Congressional Asian Pacific American colleagues and Filipino Americans across the nation.”
CAPAC Chair Rep. Judy Chu said Filipino Americans are one of the largest and most diverse populations in the United States, representing over 175 ethnolinguistic groups, and “have been a part of the fabric
2025 PH national elections to go fully online for overseas Filipinos, says Consul General Mangalile
by MoMar G. ViSaya AJPress
NEW YORK — Consul General Senen Mangalile announced significant developments regarding the May 2025 Philippine National Elections during the ConGen Hour with the media last week, highlighting the Philippine government's efforts to modernize the voting process for Overseas Filipinos.
Mangalile revealed that, for the first time, internet voting would be the sole mode of participation for overseas voters. “There’s going to be one mode of voting for overseas voters—online,” he emphasized. This shift is expected to streamline the voting experience and improve turnout for Filipinos living abroad.
Registered voters will need to pre-enroll 45 days prior to the election to receive their credentials, ensuring that all eligible participants are accounted for and can access the system. Voters will be able to cast their ballots using laptops, tablets, or mobile phones, doing away with the need for paper ballots. This development represents a significant shift in how Overseas Filipinos will participate in their country’s democratic process, marking the first time that voting
Marcos calls for increased disaster risk reduction investments
by Zacarian Sarao Inquirer.net
MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, October 15 emphasized the pressing need to “significantly increase” investments in disaster risk reduction to benefit countries most vulnerable to calamities.
Marcos also highlighted the importance of a “sustained and predictable data and financing” to improve how countries address
disaster risks.
“We must significantly increase our investments and develop financing mechanisms in disaster risk reduction,” said Marcos in his speech at the 2024 Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).
“This entails ensuring that developing countries, particularly the least-developed countries, landlocked countries, and small
u PAGE 2
Philippines, US hold anti-submarine, coastal defense drills
by Michael Punongbayan Philstar.com
MANILA — It was a show of force and test of interoperability by the militaries of the Philippines, the United States and other major allies, which kicked off their joint maneuvers in different parts of the country both at sea and on land on Monday, Oct. 14.
In the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine
Airlines brace for 2024 holiday travel rush
by TYRONE JASPER C. PIAD Inquirer.net
AIRLINES are bracing for busier operations this holiday season as passengers book their flights to visit their friends and family and go on a vacation here and abroad.
AirAsia Philippines, in a statement on Tuesday, October 15, said that it had sold over 50,000 seats just for passengers traveling this Oct. 30 to Nov. 3, anticipating more bookings in the coming week.
Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
YEARLONG CHRISTMAS. A 20-foot lantern greets visitors at the Giant Lantern Tourist and Information Center in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga, photographed on Tuesday, Oct. 15. It is a product of the collaboration of the province’s lantern makers and the City Tourism Office while inside the center are an exhibit space, museum, souvenir shop, library and archives division. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc
F rom the F ront P age
PH remains world’s largest rice importer
by JORDEENE B. LAGARE Inquirer.net
THE Philippines is expected to import more rice this year and next, remaining as the world’s top importer of this staple food as the El Niño, La Niña and recent typhoons have curbed local production.
In its latest Grain: World Markets and Trade report, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service estimated that the country’s rice imports would reach 4.7 million metric tons (MT) this year, up by 2.2 percent from its previous estimate of 4.6 million MT, citing “strong buying of Vietnam rice.”
Philippine rice imports are expected to further increase to 4.9 million MT in 2025 because of “smaller crop” delivered by local farms.
The latest USDA projection
aligns with a higher forecast for global rice imports this year, attributed to increases in demand from Malaysia and Nepal, despite estimates of higher worldwide production.
Global output up
The report sees a surge in global imports next year, underpinned by higher
demand from several African and Asian markets even as India’s trade policy changes are expected to boost global supply and lower prices.
India recently lifted the export ban on non-basmati white rice that had been imposed 14 months ago.
“Global rice production
Marcos calls for increased disaster risk...
island developing states, are provided greater access to these resources to advance their policies and build disaster resilience,” he added.
PH as ‘climate champion’ Marcos said this commitment and advocacy align with the Philippines’ role as a “climate champion” and its position as host of the Loss and Damage Fund Board.
“This reinforces our commitment to improving the Board’s operations and to contribute to the success of its institutional architecture,” said Marcos.
“We are hopeful for a Fund that will benefit climate vulnerable countries, many of whom are in our region,” he added.
During the conference, Marcos stressed how nations
2025 PH national elections to go fully online...
will be exclusively digital for this group.
across the Asia-Pacific region “grapple” with similar challenges when it comes to disasters, all while ensuring economic growth.
The APMCDRR is currently being held at the Philippine International Convention Center or PICC, in Pasay City and will run until Oct. 18
More than 4,000 delegates from 69 countries are participating in the event. n
Airlines brace for 2024 holiday...
Most of the booked flights were to Boracay, Cebu, Bohol, Tacloban, Puerto Princesa and Iloilo for local destinations. For overseas, the top destinations were Taipei, Incheon, Narita and Bangkok.
“While the season is traditionally observed to commemorate departed loved ones, we’ve seen that some guests visit early, allowing them to use the All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day holidays for leisure travel,” AirAsia Philippines communications and public affairs head Steve Dailisan said.
Dailisan added that “beach destinations remain a favorite for domestic travelers, while countries that offer a mix of shopping, food, and cultural experiences continue to excite our international guests.”
For Christmas and New Year bookings, over half a million seats were already purchased. Bulk or 70 percent were for local destinations such as Boracay, Bohol, Tacloban, Puerto Princesa and Roxas. The remaining were tickets for flights to Taipei, Narita, Incheon, Osaka and Bangkok.
Meanwhile, Cebu Pacific has estimated nearly 1 million passengers to fly via their services during All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day.
Popular destinations for the upcoming holidays are Cebu, Iloilo, Davao, Boracay and Hong Kong, according to the Gokongwei-led airline’s bookings.
“At the same time, Cebu Pacific sees improved performance for this year’s Christmas and New Year holidays, supported by increased capacity from the recently added routes,” it added.
The low-cost airline will launch this month the Manila-Chiang Mai route—the only direct flight to the popular northern Thai city from the country. It also recently started flights from Manila to Don Mueang in Bangkok and routes from Cebu to Don Mueang, Osaka, Masbate and San Vicente.
Last week, Cebu Pacific announced that it had acquired Zobel family’s boutique airline AirSwift Transport Inc. for P1.75 billion. This will enable the low-cost carrier to operate direct flights to El Nido, Palawan following the integration of their operations. n
Consul General Mangalile said he attended a series of key training sessions and information drives last month organized by the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, led by Consul General Neil Frank R. Ferrer. The September event was part of ongoing efforts by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and the Department of Foreign Affairs Overseas Voting Secretariat (DFA-OVS) to prepare for the 2025 elections. The training aimed to equip Foreign Service Posts (FSPs) with the necessary skills and knowledge to facilitate internet voting effectively. In parallel, Filipino community leaders were educated on the new process to help spread awareness within their communities.
Consul General Ferrer emphasized the significance of these efforts, noting that continuous learning and adaptability are essential in public service. “Activities like this one enable us to adapt to changing circumstances, develop innovative solutions, and remain grounded in the principles of good governance,” Ferrer remarked during the event. The information drive also saw participation from COMELEC Commissioners Socorro B. Inting, Ernesto P. Maceda, Jr., and Marlon S. Casquejo, who encouraged Filipino leaders to embrace the new voting technology.
In previous elections, participation among Overseas Filipinos has been a challenge. Only 35.5% of the 1.69 million registered Overseas Filipino voters participated in the 2022 national and local elections. Mangalile pointed out that a significant number of ballots were returned to the consulates due to various issues, including incorrect addresses and outdated voter information. With the introduction of online voting, the hope is that such logistical barriers will be eliminated, leading to higher voter turnout.
“The hope is that we get a high turnout this time,” Mangalile said, expressing optimism about the potential of internet voting to engage more Filipinos abroad. He further stated that there would be a concerted effort to inform the public through a “massive information campaign and training” to ensure voters are wellprepared to use the new system.
Special provisions will also be made for elderly voters, people with disabilities, and those with special needs, ensuring that all registered voters, regardless of their situation, can fully participate. Mangalile mentioned that there would be machines available to assist these individuals, and consulate staff will be on hand to provide support for those needing help with the pre-enrollment process or the actual voting.
The September 30 registration deadline closed with 10,646 voters officially registered, adding to the 1.69 million registered voters from previous years. However, the number of voters who will actually take part remains a focus for COMELEC, which aims to improve the historically low turnout among overseas voters. The internet voting system, they hope, will help address previous obstacles and increase participation.
Consul General Ferrer also called on the Filipino community leaders to take an active role in promoting voter participation. “You are here because we believe you are our ambassadors and partners in empowering the Filipino American community,” Ferrer said. He encouraged them to share the new information with their respective organizations and networks, urging them to participate in nation-building by exercising their right to vote. n
AJPress Photo by Momar G. Visaya
Inquirer.net/ File photo
FRESH AND SWEET. Lanzones, mangoosteens and pineapples from Mindanao are among the featured products at the Department of Agrarian Reform’s Agraryo Trade Fair 2024 in Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City, a nationwide event that opened simultaneously on Tuesday, October 15. The fair showcases a wide array of food and non-food products, furniture, handicrafts and organic goods produced by women agrarian reform beneficiaries.
PNA photo by Joan Bondoc
US legislators celebrate Filipino American...
of our nation for centuries – before America was even America.
CAPAC First Vice-Chair Rep. Grace Meng highlighted the contributions of the 250,000 Filipino veterans who served in World War II, the frontline health care workers, civil rights leaders
and the “Filipino American voices that continue to make an impact today.”
“I am always proud to uplift the Filipino American community in Queens (New York) and throughout the United States,” she said.
Rep. Nanette Barragán recognized the contributions, culture and legacy of
community involvement of Filipino Americans across the U.S.
“The Filipino community is resilient, creative, hardworking, and committed to making our communities better for everyone.
Maraming salamat,” she said in a statement. (INQUIRER. net)
Philippines, US hold anti-submarine...
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Navy and the U.S. Navy conducted antisubmarine and night patrol exercises as part of their Sama-Sama (together) military drills. Japan, Australia, Canada and France will later join the exercise.
The naval maneuver took place against the backdrop of the increasing number of Chinese vessels – including warships – in the West Philippine Sea.
Based on monitoring by the Philippine Navy, Chinese vessels in Philippine waters totaled 34 from Oct. 7 to 13, up from 28 the previous week.
In Pili, Camarines Norte and in other parts of the Bicol Region, Filipino and Australian soldiers held war drills as part of the second leg of this year’s Exercise Kasangga 2024.
The joint exercise, involving 216 Philippine Army personnel and 50
Australian soldiers, will run until Nov. 8.
The Western Mindanao Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), meanwhile, is spearheading a two-week capability enhancement drill dubbed as Joint, Combined and Inter-Agency Maritime Security Training Exercise.
AFP public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said the launch on Monday of the Sama-Sama advanced maritime drills in the West Philippine Sea was a success.
Participating in the naval exercise were the Philippine Navy’s guided missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal and U.S. Navy destroyer USS Howard.
“Focusing on anti-submarine warfare and joint patrol operations, the exercise highlights both nations’ commitment to enhancing interoperability and collective defense capabilities in maritime security,”
Trinidad said.
Monday’s activities, he said, included the Combined Anti-Submarine Exercise (CASEX) involving Torpedo Exercises using the Expandable Mobile Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Target.
He noted that both navies were able to hone their anti-submarine warfare techniques in a realistic and controlled environment.
In addition to CASEX, both navies also conducted Joint and Combined Patrol (Night Steaming in Company), simulating real-world scenarios of patrolling contested waters.
“This drill aimed to enhance coordination between participating units in a nighttime operational setting, improving response capabilities in crisis situations,” he explained.
Trinidad said Philippine and U.S. naval forces also executed Search and Rescue Exercises and Shipboard Casualty Care drills, “further demonstrating their readiness to respond to both traditional and non-traditional maritime security challenges.”
Trinidad said the ongoing Sea Phase of Sama-Sama 2024 highlighted the shared objective of both the Philippines and the U.S. to address maritime security challenges through cooperation and joint operations.
“These activities not only focused on combat readiness but also on humanitarian assistance and disaster response, integral aspects of modern naval operations,” he added.
He emphasized that the participation later of the Royal Canadian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and other allied navies would be another demonstration of commitment of the Philippines and its allies to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Trinidad said Sama-Sama 2024, now on its seventh iteration, “represents the continuing evolution of bilateral maritime exercises, fostering stronger relationships among participating forces and enhancing overall regional security capabilities.”
Land drills
In Camarines Norte, Army spokesman Col. Louie Dema-ala said soldiers of the 9th Infantry Division based in Camp Elias Angeles made up the Philippine contingent in the Exercise Kasangga 2024 with Australian troops.
Dema-ala said the combined exercise covers critical areas of military operations such as urban operations, close combat techniques, combat shooting and tactical casualty care.
Soldiers will also undergo training in explosive assault breaching, cybersecurity operations, mortar gunnery with forward observers and Civil-Military Operations exchanges, he said.
Earlier, from May to June, the first leg of the joint training exercises was held in Gamu, Isabela involving at least 100 Filipino soldiers from the 86th Infantry Battalion of the 5th Infantry Division and 50 troops from the Australian Army.
The first leg of the exercises covered reconnaissance, mortar, drone operations, logistics, signal operations, jungle and urban warfare, tactical combat casualty care and breaching operations.
In Zamboanga City, Westmincom chief Lt. Gen. William Gonzalez said JCIMSTX seeks to enhance and synergize maritime security and operation readiness through collaboration among the difference military security units of the AFP, their foreign counterparts and relevant law enforcement agencies within the operation area of his command.
Also on Monday, Oct. 14 the Philippine Navy denounced the Chinese for their “continued illegal presence in the West Philippine Sea” that it said “blatantly disregards the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling and violates our sovereignty and sovereign rights.”
“This also highlights the need to continue modernizing the defense and security capabilities of the AFP. We in the AFP remain committed to upholding international law and defending the integrity of our national territory,” the Navy said in a statement. (Sheila Crisostomo)
A multi-role AW159 helicopter prepares for takeoff from the BRP Jose Rizal frigate, with the USS Howard destroyer trailing, during anti-submarine drills as part of the Sama-Sama military exercises in the West Philippine Sea on Oct. 14. AFP
Fom left: Rep. Bobby Scott, Rep. Judy Chu and Rep. Grace Meng.
FILE PHOTOS
PORT VISIT. The Indonesian Navy training vessel KRI Bima Suci 945 docks at Pier 15 of the Manila South Harbor on Wednesday, Oct. 16 for a four-day goodwill mission. The visit is part of a 90-day voyage to eight countries – Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, South Korea, Russia, and Japan – with the Philippines as the last stop before it returns to its homeport in Surabaya, East Java.
PNA photo by Yancy Lim
Features OpiniOn
The only problem was the lack of witnesses and material evidence that could elevate the stories beyond hearsay. While Duterte was in power, this seemed impossible. But now that he is no longer president, and more significantly, now that he and his relatives are at odds with the administration, persons are surfacing – some voluntarily, and others perhaps forced by necessity – and shedding light on suspected abuses in his so-called war on drugs.
Editorial
Among those who have decided to talk is Royina Garma, who had raised eyebrows when Duterte named her general manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office in 2019. Garma opted for early retirement from the Philippine National Police, where she was a colonel, to accept the PCSO post. She replaced retired Navy Maj. Gen. Alexander Balutan, who quit the PCSO amid corruption allegations.
Garma, who started her PNP career as a station commander in Davao City, has
Rewarding murder Technology: The future is here
parried speculation that a “special relationship” between her and Duterte led to her assignment to the PCSO. She and former PNP colonel Edilberto Leonardo have been tagged by a police officer as the brains behind the 2016 execution of three Chinese drug convicts at the Davao penal colony, and the 2020 murder of PCSO board member Wesley Barayuga, a retired PNP brigadier general who was allegedly about to divulge corruption in the agency. Summoned before the House of Representatives quad committee, Garma denied these accusations. Last Friday, October 11, however, she had her own story to tell. In an affidavit that she read before the quad comm, she provided a detailed account of the alleged reward system in Duterte’s drug war, with Leonardo picked to head a task force that would apply the so-called “Davao model” nationwide. Leonardo identified the persons who would be on the narco list, Garma testified, adding that a tiered system of financial rewards
was coursed through Christopher “Bong” Go, at the time Duterte’s special assistant and now senator.
Go has vehemently denied Garma’s story, describing it as a diversion from the serious accusations against her. But the quad comm has summoned his aide Irmina Espino, also known as Muking.
Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, Duterte’s first PNP
chief, has also denied the reward system, even as he has admitted that he designed Oplan Tokhang , the first phase of the bloody war on drugs. Leonardo has resigned as commissioner of the National Police Commission. Regardless of the motivations behind the congressional probes and witnesses’ testimonies, the nation hopes the truth may finally come out. (Philstar.com)
I WAS in San Francisco for a couple of days where I was invited to deliver remarks and take part in a forum for the Fleet Week Senior Leaders Seminar onboard the USS Tripoli, an America-class amphibious
assault ship. With us were U.S. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro as well as representatives of the Pacific Partnership (an annual deployment of forces from the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet) and the Koa Moana 24 mission from the U.S. Marine Corps’ I Marine Expeditionary Force. Participants to the by invitation-only program
include leaders from government, the military, and the private sector.
The San Francisco Fleet Week is the biggest civic event of the West Coast, attracting over 1.2 million visitors to the Bay Area annually. The week-long celebration was started in 1981 by the late Senator Dianne Feinstein – a good friend of the Philippines –
when she was mayor of San Francisco, and the event has since become the most significant of its kind in the U.S.
San Francisco is known as the innovation hub of the world and is home to Silicon Valley where some of the biggest tech and software companies are located such as Google, Meta and Apple. The city continues
to be the top choice of startups, with Hayes Valley getting nicknamed “Cerebral Valley” because of the growing community of artificial intelligence techies and founders in the area.
I am simply amazed to see driverless taxis on the streets of San Francisco –proof of the AI boom that’s happening – with many
women saying they prefer “robotaxis” because they feel safer. We will need this type of transportation in the Philippines to get rid of reckless and lawless drivers.
In New York, plans are on the way to launch commercial electric air taxis or electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for short distance air travel,
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Dateline philippines
Remittances from OFWs up anew in August
by anna leah gonzales Inquirer.net
MANILA – Personal remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) rose by 3.3 percent in August, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said.
Data released by the BSP on Tuesday, Oct. 15 showed that personal remittances during the month amounted to USD3.2 billion, up from the USD3.1 billion recorded
in August last year.
“The expansion in personal remittances in August 2024 was due to higher remittances from land-based workers with work contracts of one year or more, and sea- and land-based workers with work contracts of less than one year,” the central bank said.
Personal remittances cover cash sent through banks and informal channels and also remittances in kind.
Of the total personal remittances, cash remittances coursed through banks reached USD2.89 billion, higher by 3.2 percent than the USD2.80 billion in August 2023.
The BSP said the higher cash remittances in August 2024 were due to the growth in receipts from land- and sea-based workers.
From January to August,
PAOCC: Filipinos taking over scamming rings
by GILLIAN VILLANUEVA, MELVIN GASCON Inquirer.net
MANILA — The government crackdown on illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) across the country has found out that some Filipinos have learned about the scamming schemes and taken over the activities left by their foreign operators, an official of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said on Tuesday, Oct. 15.
For the remaining Chinese operators, the National Bureau of Investigation confirmed that they had broken up into smaller groups to avoid being detected by authorities.
“There are Filipinos who have been taking over some scamming operations, we are already seeing some of these, albeit a few small groups,” PAOCC spokesperson Winston John Casio said in an interview on state-run television.
“That was something we have feared all along—that the time will come that Filipinos would become so adept with these Pogo activities that they will learn to take over the scamming operations from the Chinese,” Casio noted.
He made the statement just as the interagency task force on Pogo raided another suspected scamming hub in the city of Biñan in Laguna province on Tuesday.
Operatives, however, found dismantled computers at the New Wave Technologies facility said to be owned by POGO “big boss” Lin Xunhan.
“Sadly, when we inspected the areas, all of the possible pieces of evidence had missing hard drives. This could mean that [records] of all their illegal activities have been disposed of,” he said.
Under the radar
The task force is racing against time to wipe out all POGO activities in the country by the end of the year, in compliance with the ban announced by President Marcos during his State of the Nation Address in July.
“The biggest challenge for us now is that a large number of POGO firms have gone underground. So, there are a good number of them and we’re having difficulty catching up,” Casio said.
He said that while the number of internet gaming licensees (IGLs)—the rebranded name of POGOs—was now down to 38 and were confirmed to have been winding down their operations, the task force continues to grapple with stopping the activities of “illegal” firms.
“We do not have a problem with the legal IGLs because they are complying with the
PBBM AT APMCDRR. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. delivers his speech during the opening ceremony of the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on Tuesday, October 15. Marcos touted the Philippines as a climate champion as he expressed readiness to host the Loss and Damage Fund Board, the global finance mechanism to assist vulnerable states dealing with the effects of climate change.
PNA photo by Avito Dalan
OFW REMITTANCES. Cash remittances from overseas Filipinos reached USD22.22 billion from January to August this year, compared to USD21.58 billion last year. Data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on Oct. 15, 2024 showed the amount was higher by 2.9 percent year on year. PNA file photo
PH improving in sciences, innovation – Speaker Romualdez
by gabriel Pabico lalu Inquirer.net
MANILA — The Philippines has been steadily improving in sciences and innovation, Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez announced at the 149th InterParliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.
Romualdez, in his speech delivered on Tuesday, Oct. 15 (Manila time), said that the Philippines’ Global Innovation Index has been increasing over time—noting that science, technology, and innovation are seen as the country’s “guiding lights of hope.”
To ensure the continuous progress of the country, Romualdez said the Philippine Congress has pushed for laws and bills that would promote these fields.
“With all these legislation, policies and programs, in terms of innovation governance, the Philippines’ Global Innovation Index has been increasing over the last decade. In fact, the Philippines is recognized as one of the middle-income economies with the fastest innovation catch-up,” Romualdez said.
“The complementary, interdependent nature of these three different concepts means that they must be considered as one: together. Science, technology and innovation serve as our guiding lights of hope,” he added. “They are our tools
in addressing some of the most pressing issues we have today. They support us in achieving our sustainable development goals and in shaping future peace. They hold vast potentials to form and drive global solutions to the world’s problems.”
Measures to improve innovation
Romualdez, who was head of the Philippine delegation to the IPU Assembly, informed his lawmakers and parliamentarians from other countries that the Philippine Congress fully supports PAGE 10
PAOCC: Filipinos taking over scamming...
PAGE 7
requirement of the [Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.] and the President to really stop all of their operations by the end of the year,” he said.
Casio noted that the illegal ones were their main concern, or “those from the get-go have already been staging illicit, underground operations.”
The PAOCC estimated that about “50 to more than 100” illegal POGO firms continue to operate in different locations in Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao, Casio said.
“What used to be the bigger POGO hubs, with hundreds and thousands of employees, have disintegrated and were formed into smaller groups, which is why they multiplied in number,” he lamented.
Smaller units
NBI chief Jaime Santiago on Tuesday confirmed that POGOs were now operating in smaller groups to avoid detection.
He made the statement following the arrest of foreigners involved in a suspected Pogo activity in Makati City last week where 15 Chinese, a Malaysian, and a Taiwanese were caught red-handed engaging in online scamming activities.
Santiago said the 17 were likely part of a bigger POGO operation but left to continue their scamming activities in a smaller group to avoid detection.
“Based on our observation, larger Pogos have [broken up] into smaller groups and are occupying residential units, apartments, in order to escape our notice,” he noted.
NBI Cybercrime Division chief Jeremy Lotoc
said the group’s usual modus involved love scams victimizing mostly foreigners.
He explained that the suspects would hook victims through their love scams, before offering investment proposals such as crypto to get them to send money.
“In our initial investigation, those who were arrested were part of the communications group. They are the ones who entice and chat with victims,” NBI agent Terence Lomas-e said. “There is another group, which is remotely located, who receives the money.”
Having different departments for finance, communications, as well as for administrative tasks, is one of the strategies POGOs employs to continue their operations so that even when one department gets busted, the rest can continue to operate, said Lotoc.
Citizens’ help
Casio said the problem of POGOs could be solved only with the help of the community.
“The community is the eyes and ears of the government and our nation, so whenever our citizens see some of these illegal activities, we need their help to be able to report it to their LGUs (local government units) and to law enforcement agencies,” he noted.
“Whenever you see these types of suspicious activities which involve many foreign nationals who are not tourists, please report them immediately to your LGUs, the PAOCC, the [Philippine National Police] and the NBI,” he said.
He also warned owners of houses, apartments, condominium units, and other commercial facilities to practice “due
Speaker Martin Romualdez Screengrab from RTVM/live
PAOCC: Filipinos taking...
diligence” in making sure that they are not renting out their property to scamming rings.
DOJ: Decision to rejoin ICC up to Marcos
by Jane bautista Inquirer.net
MANILA — The decision on whether the country will rejoin the International Criminal Court (ICC) rests with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Tuesday, October 15 after the House quad committee hearings turned out damning allegations against former President Rodrigo Duterte in relation to his campaign against drugs.
In a statement, Assistant Justice Secretary Mico Clavano said the DOJ recognized calls to submit the congressional report on drug war killings to the ICC, as well as appeals to rejoin the court.
“According to our latest data, there are about 12,000 who have filed for voluntary downgrading. The count will stop [on Wednesday] but hopefully, this number submitting themselves for visa downgrading would still increase,” BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said. n
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said it would start looking for more than 12,000 alien POGO workers, or around half of the total number of employed foreigners whose working visas expired on Oct. 15, who did not voluntarily downgrade their visas.
Remittances from OFWs up...
7
personal remittances grew by 3 percent to USD24.74 billion from USD24.01 billion in the same period last year.
Of the total, cash remittances amounted to USD22.22 billion, up by 2.9 percent from the USD21.58 billion in January to August 2023.
The BSP said the growth in cash remittances from the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Singapore contributed mainly to the increase in remittances.
The U.S. remained the biggest source of remittances during the period, followed by Singapore and Saudi Arabia. n
PH remains world’s largest...
2
is forecast up based on a substantial increase for India, more than offsetting a reduction for the Philippines,” the report estimated for next year.
The USDA estimated that the country’s milled rice production would amount to 12.7 million MT this 2024 and decline to 12.3 million MT next year.
A previous report by the foreign agency slashed its rice production forecast for the Philippines due to crop damage from successive typhoons and a reduction in area harvested due to land conversion.
The volume of rice imports entering the archipelago totaled 3.29 million MT as of Oct. 3, based on the data from the Bureau of Plant Industry. Vietnam remains as the top rice supplier (2.61 million MT) during the reference
period, followed by Thailand (416,185.19 MT) and Pakistan (157,564.48 MT).
India shipped 76,971 MT of grains.
The latest figure on rice imports already amounted to 91.3 percent of the country’s purchases last year.
Government data showed that rice import volume in the country had risen consistently from 2019 to 2022 before declining in 2023.
The country produced 8.53 MT of palay (unhusked rice) in the first half of this year, down 5.5 percent from last year, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.
The Department of Agriculture previously said domestic palay output would be flat in 2024 due to the substantial impact of El Niño and La Niña phenomena on farmers’ harvest. n
But he emphasized that the President remained the chief architect of the country’s foreign policy.
“As such, the department will fully abide by and adhere to the President’s foreign policy direction on this matter,” Clavano said.
Malacañang on Monday, Oct. 14, firmly dismissed calls for the Marcos administration to consider the testimonies of key witnesses in the House hearings and submit the findings to the ICC to aid its investigation of the extrajudicial killings that happened under the previous administration.
No change in stance
“The Philippines will not return to the ICC,” Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said in a statement. “Based on this, the President is not expected to change his mind and now refer the quad [committee] matter to the ICC.”
Bersamin made the remark in reaction to a statement from the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers for Mr. Marcos to submit the
quad committee materials to the international court.
Human Rights Watch senior researcher Carlos Conde also said it would be more preferable for the government to cooperate with the ICC by granting investigators access to witnesses and testimonies, given the revelations made by retired Police Col. Royina Garma regarding Duterte’s drug war.
Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra, for his part, stated it would be “better” for the House quad committee to hand over the evidence gathered during its hearings either to the DOJ, National Bureau of Investigation or the Office of the Ombudsman, for case build-up or further investigation.
The Office of the Solicitor General’s (OSG) role, he noted, would come in “much later.”
“For now, the quad committee may refer its initial findings to the DOJ/NBI or to the Ombudsman, as these are the agencies that have the mandate to build on the findings of the congressional committees with respect to criminal matters,” Guevarra said.
While testifying before the House committee on Oct. 11, retired Police Col. Royina Garma, whom Duterte appointed to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, claimed that he offered cash rewards for each drug suspect killed during his administration’s antinarcotics campaign which left thousands dead. n
PH improving in sciences, innovation...
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the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and has enacted measures to improve innovation governance.
Among the laws mentioned by Romualdez are:
• Republic Act No. 11293 or the Philippine Innovation Act
• Republic Act No. 11927, or the Philippine Digital Workforce Competitiveness Act
• Republic Act No. 10055, or the Technology Transfer Act of 2009
Romualdez said the initiatives taken by President Marcos and measures enacted by Congress have “borne dividends” for the Philippines, noting that in the 2024 Global Innovation
Index of the World Property Organization, the Philippines rose in the ranking from 59th in 2023 to 56th place this year.
In the same report, Romualdez noted that the Philippines was recognized as one of the decade’s top innovation performers, achieving its highest rank at 50th place in 2020 even amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Romualdez also highlighted that the 2023-2028 Philippine Development Plan shows the importance of innovation in achieving socioeconomic transformation, like in the case of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) PAGTANAW 2050 project, which is focused on having a Philippine-focused Science Technology
Innovation Foresight and Strategic Plan.
Key drivers
“(They are also) key drivers that enable and accelerate the global transformation towards prosperous, inclusive and environmentally sustainable economies in developing and developed countries alike. They are the pillars of sustainable development,” Romualdez said.
“They have the strong potential to contribute to the achievement of almost all the sustainable development goals. They are the heart of international cooperation and global partnerships for development,” he added.
According to the House Speaker, however, global cooperation is still needed
to attain goals shared by countries.
“As we continue to work for our respective nations’ sustainable development ambitions, we need as well to work hand in hand to achieve our common global goals. Let me then urge each one of us to foster collaboration, equity and responsibility. It is through this collaboration that we can harness the technological tools to be able to build a future not only more sustainable but more peaceful,” he said.
“Let us ensure that innovations and technological advancements are accessible to all. Let us unite together and continue to cooperate for the betterment of the world we live in,” he added. n
ONLINE FRAUD. National Bureau of Investigation Director Jaime Santiago on Tuesday talks to a group of 17 foreigners arrested during an operation conducted by the NBI Cybercrime Division in Makati City last week. The foreigners, 15 of them Chinese, are allegedly involved in online fraud and other scams. Photo by Niño Jesus Orbeta
Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra
CITIZEN Pinoy brings you
the second installment of “Your Tanong, My Sagot” episodes filmed at Valerio’s Tropical Bakeshop in Chicago, IL.
In this episode, Liza Valerio, a member of the Valerio family and one of the store’s co-owners, joins leading U.S. Immigration
Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel.
“Tita Liza” gives Atty. Gurfinkel a tour of the kitchen where the daily production of their popular baked goods begins as early as 5 a.m.
Tita Liza was able to ask Atty. Gurfinkel if she could
COMMUNITY JOURNAL
petition a family member from the Philippines to work as a nanny for her two-month-old granddaughter.
Other customers and an employee of the branch were also able to ask their questions.
Jim has had his green card for almost five (5) years now. He wants to know if it is okay for him to file for his naturalization early.
Leah and her husband are green card holders. They used to live in Qatar. However, Leah’s husband still chooses to work in PAGE 15
CITIZEN PINOY CONTINUES ‘YOUR TANONG MY SAGOT’ SERIES AT VALERIO'S TROPICAL BAKESHOP.
This episode features Liza Valerio (top left), co-owner and member of the Valerio family, giving Atty Michael J. Gurfinkel (bottom left) a tour of the kitchen where their popular baked goods are made. Liza also asks how she could petition a family member from the Philippines to work as a nanny for her 2-month-old granddaughter. The episode includes questions from Valerio's customers, such as Jim (top center) asking about early naturalization, Lyn (top right) inquiring about expediting her son's petition, Leah (bottom right) concerned about her husband's work in Qatar affecting their green card status, and Elvira (bottom left photo) questioning the delay in her brother's petition. Be sure to tune in for the answers to these questions and more from Kapamilya in Chicago on Part 1 of
“Your Tanong, My Sagot” on an encore episode of Citizen Pinoy on Sunday, October 20 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/ Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. (Advertising Supplement)
Health@Heart Gardasil 9 and HPV
PhiliP S. Chua, md, FaCS, FPCS
COMPARED to most head and neck malignancies, the rate of throat cancer in the United States and around the globe has not declined. The statistics are also true, when extrapolated, for other countries, like the Philippines, since most Filipinos are westernized in their lifestyle, habits, and behaviors, etc.
The most logical explanation why cancer of the throat has not diminished has been attributed to the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), a bug that causes a sexually transmitted disease. HPV is popularly (70 percent) known to cause genital warts and most cancers of the cervix (mouth of the womb). Scientists have discovered and identified HPV transmission through oral sex as an etiology of throat cancer.
The American Cancer Society reports that the greatest risk factors in head and neck cancers are smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages, 90% of them either smokers or tobacco-chewers and about 80% of them also imbibed a lot of alcohol.
The good news is that a trend analysis in head and neck cancers in the United
States shows a decline the past twenty years, trailing a decrease in smoking prevalence, which started in the 1970s, by 10 to 15 years.
The bad news is that oropharyngeal cancers (which include the tonsils, base of the tongue and soft palate, and side and back of the throat) have been up in some population in the United States, and probably also among people in other parts of the world who practice oral sex, where HPV takes its toll.
“The findings underscore the importance of research aimed at determining if the newly available HPV vaccine is effective in males,” stated researcher Erich Sturgis, MD, MPH, to WebMD, as reported by Salynn Boyles.
Sample of the vaccine referred to is Gardasil, which is genetically engineered, and Gardasil 9 blocks infection caused by nine of the more than 100 types of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), strains 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58. These sexually transmitted viruses are responsible for about 70% of cervical cancers. HPV, in one form or the other, afflicts about 20 million Americans. The other strains of the virus cause painful genital warts, and sometimes, cervical cancers too.
How prevalent is cervical cancer?
In the Philippines, there
which are also being developed in San Francisco. Imagine flying in the sky from point to point without traffic – a scene straight out of The Jetsons, an old, animated show about a family living in the futuristic Orbit City.
So much has changed in San Francisco since I lived in the Bay Area many years ago, but it sure felt like a homecoming because of the warm welcome we received from the Filipino-American community. I was fortunate to join them for the 20th Filipino American History Month celebration with Mayor London Breed at the San Francisco city hall, along with our Philippine Consul General Neil Ferrer.
As I said during my remarks, I was pleased to see the thriving Filipino community – a testament to the enduring relationship between the U.S. and the Philippines. The Filipino American History Month celebrated in
are almost 8,000 new cases of cervical cancer each year, with a death rate of about 4052. Annually, more than 13,000 cervical cancer cases are diagnosed in the USA and around 4,250 of them die. Around the world, there are 660,000 cases each year, and 350,000 died in 2022 alone.
However, more alarming than that is the fact that there are between 10,000 to 25,000 women in the United States walking around (not seen by physician) who have undiagnosed pre-invasive lesions in their cervix. If diagnosed early, these women could be saved. For every four survivors of breasts cancer, there are less than 3 women who survive cervical cancer, which shows how virulent cervical cancer is.
What causes cervical cancer?
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV, also known as genital herpes virus) accounts for most cervical cancers. At least 50% of sexually active men and women around the world are infected with genital HPV, especially those with multiple partners. There are about 20 million American men and women infected with HPV, many linked with abnormal pap tests, genital warts and cervical cancer. Between half a million to a million Americans and around 5 million (4.87 percent)
Filipinos have genital warts, transmitted thru sexual contacts.
Is the cure for cervical cancer?
Better than the cure; it’s preventive! A vaccine (Gardasil 9) that prevents cervical cancer, vulvar, and vaginal cancer that was approved by the U.S.-FDA in 2006 was found to be “effective almost 100%, in the short term, at blocking the cancer and lesions likely to turn to cancer” (like the pre-invasive lesions), according to Gardasil manufacturer, Merck & Co. The UK’s version of the vaccine is known as Cervarix.
How early should the vaccine be given?
Students in grammar school, middle school and high school should be vaccinated before they become sexually active, because once they catch HPV infection, there is no cure; herpes is for life. As a joke goes: “Unlike love, herpes is forever.” Prophylaxis Gardasil 9 vaccination comprehensively eliminates 9 HPV strains associated non-invasive and invasive cervical cancer. The vaccine also cuts down infection with HPV 6 and 11, the causes of 90% of genital warts, and 7 other strains. How about throat cancers?
Of the 45,000 head and neck cancers in the US
each year, about 10,000 of them are oro-pharyngeal cancers, and tongue cancers among young adults have also increased. The evident conclusion is that the cause is the HP virus. “Over the last five years, 35% of the throat cancer patients treated at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center had no history of smoking, and that close to 90% of patients who had never smoked showed evidence of oral infection with HPV,” says Dr. Sturgis on Web MD.
The researchers felt that “vaccinating only females against HPV, which is currently the policy in the United States (starting at 9- to 12-year-old girls and boys, and for women up to age 26 who have not received it), could result in a missed opportunity to prevent throat cancers.”
Studies on the vaccine among males are underway, aimed at an over-all protection of both populations. The use of kitchen cling plastic wrap placed over the woman’s private area has been advocated by some as a practical option to prevent HPV transmission via orolingual infection.
Unprotected oral sex is dangerous! Oro-pharyngeal malignancies are a miserable cancer and could be fatal. *
The opinions, beliefs and view-
Technology: The future is here...
October is very significant as we will also commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Leyte Gulf that lasted from Oct. 23 to 26 in 1944 – a shared history with the United States. People also remember the historic landing of General Douglas MacArthur on the shores of Palo, Leyte on Oct. 20, 1944, which has been immortalized in history books and that many Filipinos consider as a sign of the U.S. commitment to the alliance.
The relationship between the Philippines and the United States has never been stronger, benefiting from the continuing positive momentum in various aspects of cooperation such as defense and security, economic and other areas of mutual interest.
But as I have said on several occasions, we must boost efforts to modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines and enhance our defense capability to become a
mutually reliable partner that can also significantly contribute to the alliance, especially at this time when we face so many challenges.
That is why the signing of the Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP) Revitalization Act is very timely because it aims to develop our local defense industry and lessen our dependence on foreign suppliers down the line.
“We are anchoring our defense strategy firmly in the strength of our own resources and capabilities” President Marcos said, explaining that the new law seeks to “create a framework that makes us less dependent, more resilient, better prepared” for challenges ahead.
Priority will be given to research and technology, with the president emphasizing the need for collaboration among the best minds in defense, science and technology and business – to fulfill the vision of “a defense posture
points expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
*
* *
The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people to live a healthier lifestyle, to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation, or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable to or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health.
Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He was a recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995, presented by then Indiana Governor, U.S. senator, and later a presidential candidate, Evan Bayh. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry S. Truman, President George HW Bush, Muhammad Ali, Astronaut Gus Grissom, scientists, and educators. (Wikipedia). Websites: FUN8888.com, Today. SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua. com; Amazon.com (“Where is My America?”); Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com.
that is independent, dynamic, and geared to the future.”
Armscor Global Defense, the Philippines’ biggest defense manufacturer and a longtime advocate of SRDP, is very much aligned with the vision of the president and already started the ball rolling by working with science and technology experts and former members of the military to develop new products responsive to the unique needs and requirements of Filipino military and law enforcement personnel.
Armscor utilizes robotics and new technologies in manufacturing world-class products, and its Marikina plant alone produces over 650 million rounds of ammunition and 350,000 firearms annually.
According to Armscor CEO Martin Tuason, they already have the base to grow and the technology to start with. But in
terms of research and development for products that are not yet available in the Philippines, he believes the fastest way to develop is via technology transfer from foreign partners to start building the foundation. Being a treaty ally, the Philippines can ask the U.S. for technology transfer which they would probably give “in a heartbeat,” Martin says. With the new law, the Philippines is taking a big step that will help it acquire the technological knowledge to upgrade and strengthen its defense capabilities through innovations that would enable it to safeguard its future. ( 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
The Rise of Abi Marquez: From Culinary Content Creator to Filipino Food Ambassador
“Lumpia was always something we made together as a family. It wasn’t special at first, but it became something really meaningful to me,” Abi told the Asian Journal in an interview.
IN a playful interview with Asian Journal at Alice’s Tea Cup on the Upper West Side, known for its tea and scones, Abi Marquez, dubbed as the “Lumpia Queen,” spilled the tea— literally and figuratively.
The conversation, held in the cozy, whimsical setting of the café, traced her unplanned and unexpected rise to internet fame.
As she laughed and dug into scones, she confessed that she had no idea what most of her awards really meant. “Honestly, I don’t know what half of these awards are, but I’m so thankful! What matters most to me is that Filipino food is finally being recognized,” she said with a mischievous grin. While the interview was lighthearted, with jokes and playful detours, one thing was clear: Abi’s mission is serious, and her heart is fully in championing Filipino cuisine at every opportunity.
Abi’s rise to prominence as a digital content creator
and food influencer didn’t happen overnight. With over a billion views on TikTok and a global following of four million across platforms, she has become a key figure in bringing Filipino food to the forefront of the culinary world. Her journey began at home in the Philippines, where she grew up making lumpia with her family—a simple act that later became the foundation of her brand.
"I never thought lumpia would be my thing," Abi reflected during the interview, "but the more I posted, the more people loved it." She started creating content while studying Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management at the University of the Philippines, viewing it as a hobby and a way to document her culinary experiments.
Little did she know that these humble beginnings would lead her to fame and, eventually, to being featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 for
her culinary influence. By her senior year, Abi was not only juggling her studies but also building a burgeoning online brand. She successfully pitched content creation as her practicum, proving to her professors that the digital space could be a legitimate and profitable career path.
Balancing school and content creation wasn’t easy. "I had to convince my school that content creation was a legitimate career path. It wasn’t just about making videos; it was about strategy, marketing, and storytelling," she says. Abi's commitment paid off when she graduated magna cum laude in 2022, all while securing her first million pesos in earnings through brand deals and endorsements.
Abi’s content is a mix of food experimentation, personal stories, and humor, and it’s this combination that has endeared her to millions of fans. Her videos, often filmed in her modest kitchen, show her preparing lumpia in various creative ways— ranging from traditional pork lumpia to more unconventional versions like "s’mores lumpia." "The messy kitchen, the playful experiments, that’s all real. People connect to that," Abi reflects. It’s this genuine approach that has seen her videos go viral time and time again, and it’s earned her accolades such as the People's Voice Award at the 28th Webby Awards and a 2024 James Beard Award nomination.
Beyond the numbers and the fame, what sets Abi apart is her deep commitment to her cultural roots. For Abi, content creation is more
by MoMar G. Visaya / AJPress
than just a way to earn a living; it’s a platform to showcase the richness and diversity of Filipino cuisine. "People think Filipino food is just adobo or lumpia, but there’s so much more," she emphasizes. Through her content, Abi is on a mission to introduce global audiences to lesser-known Filipino dishes and ingredients, from the tangy sinigang to the sweet purple yam, ube. Her videos often feature a mix of traditional and modern interpretations of Filipino food, aiming to make the cuisine more accessible to those unfamiliar with it.
Abi's presence has expanded significantly within the Filipino diaspora. During our conversation, she shared a few memorable moments of being recognized by
Let's spill some tea," she told us as we started the interview. And spill she did—Abi dove headfirst into recounting her unplanned journey to becoming the Lumpia Queen, laughing about how it all took off faster than she ever expected. From humble beginnings to viral stardom, our conversation with her was fun and light-hearted, sprinkled with playful tangents as she shared stories of her unexpected rise and deep connection with the Filipino diaspora.
fellow Filipinos. Once, while visiting Yosemite Park, she was greeted by kababayans, and during her current trip, she had a similar experience at Hudson Yards, where followers from Albany approached her to say hello. With that she continues to push the boundaries of what Filipino food can be in a globalized world. "We need to fill modern spaces with Filipino culture, from ube to kalamansi," Abi insists, referring to key Filipino ingredients that she believes deserve a place in mainstream cuisine.
Abi’s journey is far from over. She has plans to release a cookbook that will blend Filipino flavors with international influences, further cementing her place as a culinary innovator. She’s also exploring opportunities in traditional media, eyeing television as the next
platform to conquer. But no matter how far she goes, Abi remains grounded in her original mission: to share the joy of Filipino food with the world. "It’s about staying relevant, evolving, and continuing to make Filipino food relatable to everyone," she says.
For Abi Marquez, the road to success has been paved with lumpia—and a lot of hard work. Her story is one of resilience, creativity, and a deep connection to her heritage. In a digital landscape where trends change rapidly, Abi has managed to create something lasting: a cultural movement that’s not just about food, but about family, tradition, and the Filipino spirit. And as she continues to grow her brand and reach new audiences, one thing is clear: the "Lumpia Queen" is just getting started. n
Abi’s talent has earned her a James Beard nomination, a spot in Forbes 30 Under 30 Class of 2024, and TikTok’s Creator of the Year for Food. Her culinary creativity shines through in every recipe, blending flavors that honor her roots while pushing the boundaries of Filipino food
‘Abot-Kamay na Pangarap’ finale on Oct. 19; CITEM to hold Manila F.A.M.E. Oct. 17-19
My P.E.P. (People, Events,Places)
Rogelio ConStantino medina
AFTER over two years on air with several milestones achieved, GMA Network’s top-rating afternoon drama “ Abot-Kamay na Pangarap ” nears its finale on October 19. The record-breaking show is headlined by Carmina Villarroel as Lyneth, Richard Yap as Doc RJ, and Star of the New Gen Jillian Ward as Doc Analyn.
It is produced by the GMA Entertainment Group, headed by Senior Vice President Lilybeth G. Rasonable, Vice President for Drama
Cheryl Ching-Sy, Assistant Vice President for Drama
Ali Nokom-Dedicatoria, and Executive Producer Joy Lumboy-Pili. This heartwarming program is under the helm of esteemed director L.A. Madridejos.
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Bro. Eddie Villanueva’s
Jesus Is Lord (JIL) Church Worldwide’s 46th Anniversary is on October 12 at Luneta, Manila starting 3 p.m. with some musical performances. This year’s theme is “Christ is the answer,” based on Romans 7:25a (NLT Version):
“Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” Christ is the Answer:
“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” (Colossians 1:16-17 King James Version)
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Ayala Alabang Village’s Gilda Fernandez-Perez, 95, a retired Malacanang Chief Librarian, is still much active despite her old age. Her eldest child soprano Queenie Perez lives in New York. Though alone, Gilda spends fruitful time with her friends and family circles, attending activities that can increase one’s nerve cells.
Her younger sister Erly, 90, who lives in New Jersey, is still working at the same corporation she first got employed in the United States. She survived the
September 11, 2001 attack in New York.
Foremost Filipino glass artist Ramon Orlina and Original Pilipino Music iconic singer Jose Mari Chan met for the first time in the birthday of Stella Tansengco-Schapero during her twin exhibits at Artepintura Gallery in Ermita, Manila. The two famous celebrities sang a happy birthday song to her.
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Yogi Ruiz, former head of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and ex-Customs chief, had a recent presscon at a Quezon City restaurant, with basketball player-actor Bonel Balingit, a.k.a. Gentle Giant or Man-Mountain, who appears in some TV sitcoms and comedy films.
Bonel will run as councilor in Cebu City under the team of mayoralty aspirant Yogi Ruiz of Kilusang Bagong Lipunan and Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, a party headed by Pres. Bongbong Marcos.
“Our country needs leaders who are not afraid to take bold actions, leaders who put people first,” said Ruiz.
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The Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), headed by Leah Pulido Ocampo, is the export promotion authority of the Philippine government attached to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). For over 40 years, CITEM has been relentlessly helping shape the country’s image as a premier destination for quality export products and services. It continues to set the highest standards of creativity, excellence and innovation to achieve competitiveness in the home, fashion, lifestyle, food, creative, and sustainability sectors. From October 1719, 2024, CITEM’s Manila F.A.M.E., the Philippines’ premier trade show for quality home, fashion, and lifestyle products, welcomes international buyers, exhibitors, visitors, and guests with the theme “REIMAGINATION,” where the best of the Philippines’ local enterprises, craftsmen, and artisans translate the country’s abundant raw materials into functional and aesthetic pieces.
* * * Singer Lae ManegoFranzani, Filipino Queen of Rock and recipient of 2nd
Southeast Asian Premier Business and Achiever Award, has a soft spot for old people, especially the poor, abandoned ones – whether they are in the streets or in the institutions for the elderly. For the nth time, she extended her blessings to the GRACES Home for the Elderly (formerly the Golden Acres) in Quezon City, just at the back of SM North EDSA. GRACES is the Golden Reception and Action Center for the Elderly and Other Special Cases which is one of the longstanding institutions in the Philippines, offering care and shelter for the elderly who
are abandoned, neglected or homeless. Managed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development in the National Capital Region, GRACES provides comprehensive services to its residents, including medical, psychological and social support.
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Many thanks to the staff of the Office of Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc, JP Cerezo and Jan Ilar who attended to our team (Rocelle Anabeza, Mikayla Shaine Alonzo, Bence Lao and me) while
* * * President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza AranetaMarcos met with the Filipino community in Vientiane, Laos during the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summit (October 8-11, 2024).
* * * 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
in the province until we arrived at the bus station on our way to Manila.
Leah Pulido, executive director of CITEM
Stella Tansengco-Schapero (center) with (from left) Jose Mari Chan and Ramon Orlina
Gilda Fernandez-Perez and Rogelio Medina at the former’s home in Ayala Alabang Village.
Rogelio Medina (left) and Yogi Ruiz
Photo shows (clockwise, from bottom left) Bence Lao, Jan Ilar, JP Cerezo, Rogelio Constantino, Mikayla Shaine Alonzo and Rocelle Anabeza.
The cast of the GMA Network soap opera “Abot-Kamay na Pangarap” headed by Carmina Villaroel, Richard Yap and Jillian Ward.
Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos (front, center) met recently with the Filipino community in Laos. Photos courtesy of Rogelio C. Medina
Bro. Eddie Villanueva in a promotional material for Light TV.
From left: Jaysar Datuon Lorayna, Lae Manego and Madonna Decena.
Citizen Pinoy presents part 2...
PAGE 11
Qatar, so she wants to know if such an arrangement will become a problem.
Elvira’s daughter petitioned her brother back in 2014. She is asking why it is taking so long.
Lyn, an employee of Valerio’s, wants to know how they can expedite the arrival of their son in the U.S. Her husband petitioned their son in 2018, and the son is now 37 years old.
Atty. Gurfinkel answers these questions and more in part 2 of “Your Tanong, My Sagot” at Valerio’s Chicago branch. Watch this encore episode of Citizen Pinoy on Sunday, October 20 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET
Carlo Aquino on working with ‘Shogun’
star in Fil-Japanese film ‘Crosspoint’
by Nathalie tomada Philstar.com
MANILA — Carlo Aquino plays a “has-been” actor in the Filipino-Japanese coproduction “Crosspoint,” which opened in cinemas on Wednesday, October 16. Directed by Donie Ordiales, the story is something that the former child star could very much relate to because at one point in his own career, he faced a similar situation that almost made him quit acting completely.
In an exclusive chat with The STAR, Carlo shared why he easily connected with his role as Manuel Hidalgo: “From being very popular, he became a washed-up actor, and then he was looking for work… It also happened to me, from my teenage years, tapos biglang nawala ( projects suddenly disappeared ). Although with Manuel, he’s older, it happened to me through the years. So, kumbaga parang pasok pa rin (it still felt fitting). Parang ako pa rin naman talaga si Manuel Hidalgo,” he said.
“Manuel flew to Japan to work for his family, to provide for them. And that’s also what I’m doing for my family. So, an actor na hindi na sikat (who’s no longer famous), I’ve gone through all of that, so it’s not that hard for me (to portray).”
Carlo recalled that there was a time in his life when he felt desperate enough to pack up and prepare to leave for the U.S. to pursue other work opportunities.
and ask my uncle, who has been living there for a long time, to adopt me. But good thing I didn’t push through with it because I was still doing another indie film at that time. After that, I came back here to (ABS-CBN) Star Magic, around 2012. Then from there, everything moved forward, nag-dire-diretso na,” he said.
“‘Yun ‘yung sinasabi ko na kahit feeling mo minsan lugmok na lugmok ka na, iikot eh (That’s what I always say that sometimes, even when you feel like you’re at your lowest, things will still turn around).
“Yun talaga rin ‘yung pinagpapasalamat ko nung time na ‘yun. Buti nagbigay pa ako ng kaunting oras and binigyan ko pa, naging patient pa ko ( That’s really what I’m grateful for during that time. I’m glad I gave it a little more time and stayed patient).”
Right now, for Carlo, he’s all in for the long haul.
“Yes. Because I love it. I really love acting. And in a way, it’s inspiring for people going through tough times to see the characters that we play. Nagbibigay ng hope, ‘ di ba ? ‘ Yun lang naman ‘yung gusto mo — to bring something positive to the world.”
hapag-kainan mo, kailangan mo pa ring mabuhay , kailangan mong mag-grind, kailangan mong mag-hustle. Not only for yourself pero para din sa mga taong mahal mo Hindi pwedeng tumigil ka kasi pagod ka na Pwede kang mapagod pero hindi ka pwedeng tumigil,” he said.
Meanwhile in the film, Carlo stars opposite “Shogun” actor Takehiro Hira, who plays a bankrupt businessman. They become unlikely partners in tracking down a serial killer in hopes of solving their respective financial woes with the reward money.
what happened to you? I just said, nobody wanted this to happen. I also wasn’t admitted to the hospital. Pinalabas din ako, they gave me medicine and some ointment. Tapos tuloy ‘yung shooting. I initially didn’t want to be brought to the hospital because I felt OK and I put it back in place. But the production insisted on it for my safety.”
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“I left ABS-CBN in ‘07, then I transferred. After a few years, medyo nawala ‘yung mga projects ko. Puro indie, ‘yung barely making it. I said, I would go to America
What Carlo took away from that chapter in his life somehow mirrored what he learned from his character in “Crosspoint.” And that is, to keep moving forward. Even when you face challenges and hardships, you still have to live, and keep on grinding and hustling — not just for yourself, but for the people you love.
“For me, ang buhay , patuloy ‘yan rorolyo Kahit na maraming dagok, ilalagay sa
“Working with Takehiro Hira was so easy and smooth. You can really tell he’s prepared. He’s ready for his character, for his role, and very professional,” he described his Emmy-winning Japanese co-star.
“Then I just asked him why he moved to America. He shared that he also struggled as an actor in Japan. Then I thought, I’ve gone through that also. It’s not always at the top, so we kind of went through the same experiences.”
According to the Star Magic artist, one of his favorite scenes from the film is the drunken episode where their characters meet for the first time.
Carlo’s other unforgettable scenes involved the fight sequences, one of which led to him sustaining a minor injury on set. What happened was his left thumb got dislocated after landing on the antagonist’s jacket pocket. “ Ibinalik ko , pero namaga, so they brought me to the hospital,” he said.
“Direk Lauren (Dyogi, Star Magic boss) came and asked,
Another unforgettable scene is a chase scene in Akihabara because during its filming, a mobile police car arrived to check if they had legal documents to shoot there. “So yung adrenaline ko, talagang sabi ko sobrang exciting nito , sh*t, makukulong ako sa ibang bansa, oh my God!” he recalled.
Of course, Carlo didn’t land in jail because he and the production had complete work permits and visas.
What else did he like about doing “Crosspoint”?
Aside from the Japan shoot, he said it’s the fact that it is a Philippine-Japanese co-production. “And the Philippine production, they’re relatively new when it comes to producing. And then Donie (the director), it’s his first full-length feature film. I want to get inspiration from new filmmakers; that’s where you can find new fuel, new fire.
“As for my character Manuel, since I haven’t done much action before, I thought, I’ll do this. So, it’s set in Japan and I have a fresh set of co-workers, who are newcomers to the industry. Then, with Manuel Hidalgo, I also went through his journey. There were a lot of checks that made me want to do this.”
In the Filipino-Japanese action-thriller ‘Crosspoint,’ Carlo Aquino stars as Manuel, a down-and-out actor who moves to Japan to find work. He meets a broke businessman, Shigeru, played by Japanese actor Takehiro Hira (‘Shogun,’ ‘Captain America: Brave New World’). Together, they track down a serial killer in hopes of claiming the cash reward and saving themselves from financial ruin.
Carlo says his character Manuel Hidalgo's struggles and journey in the film hit close to home. Photo courtesy of Fire and Ice Media
Atty. Michael Gurfinkel (extreme left) with Leah and her family
Valerio’s employee Lyn (right) with Atty. Michael Gurfinkel
Jim (right) with Atty. Michael Gurfinkel
From left: Atty. Michael Gurfinkel and Elvira
Liza Valerio (right) with Atty. Michael Gurfinkel
