2025 PH national elections to go fully online for overseas Filipinos
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
Malacañang backs plan to probe killings
reinvestigate the high-profile killings related to the war on illegal drugs during the administration of former President rodrigo Duterte.
In a statement, executive secretary Lucas Bersamin said the possible reopening of the investigation showed that the marcos administration "places the highest importance" on justice and rule of law. of course," Bersamin said when asked if malacañang supports the PNP's move. the reopening of the investigations of the... killings related to the war on drugs should indicate that the
of law in the country," he added.
PNP spokesman Jean fajardo earlier said they would look into the drug-war related killings, particularly the elected officials and other wellknown personalities who were killed at the height of
mANILA — If the senate decides to launch its own investigation on extrajudicial killings during the previous administration as proposed by sen. ronald “Bato” dela rosa, it should do so as a committee of the whole to make it easier for witnesses and survivor-victims to testify, sen. risa hontiveros said on thursday, october 18. “I proposed to the senate leadership to convene a senate committee of the whole, so that the whole senate can investigate the previous administration’s war on drugs,” hontiveros said in an interview wth dzXL. “It is important to find out the truth about the bloody war on drugs, for the families of the victims of extrajudicial killings.” the quad committee, comprising four panels of the house of representatives, has been investigating for months extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, and their possible connection to Philippine offshore gaming operator (PoGo) hubs.
During one of the quad comm hearings, retired police colonel royina Garma said Dela rosa as national police chief facilitated the release of reward money to police officers for every drug suspect killed. Dela rosa denied the allegation and offered to
more than half of the 410 hospitals in California have at least one building that likely wouldn’t be able to operate after a major earthquake hit their region, and with many institutions claiming they don’t have the money to meet a 2030 legal deadline for earthquake retrofits, the state is now granting relief to some while ramping up pressure on others to get the work done.
Gov. Gavin Newsom in september vetoed legislation championed by the California hospital Association that would have allowed all hospitals to apply for an extension of the deadline for up to five years. Instead, the Democratic governor signed a more narrowly tailored bill that allows small, rural, or “distressed” hospitals to get an extension of up to three years.
“It’s an expensive thing and a complicated thing for hospitals — independent hospitals in particular,” said elizabeth mahler, an associate chief medical officer for Alameda health system, which serves Northern California’s east Bay and is undertaking a $25 million
mANILA — Vice President sara Duterte on friday, october 18 scoffed at the feelings of President ferdinand marcos Jr. over their soured friendship, saying it should be the last item on his plate as the country’s top leader.
In a press conference, Duterte revealed that she initially did not intend to respond to marcos’ remarks that he felt “deceived” after she denied ever being friends with him. she said her first reaction was of wonder – why the issue even mattered to marcos in the first place.
“Because, for the love of God. You are
already president. Are your feelings still important?” Duterte said in mixed filipino and english.
“When you’re a president, your tiredness, your tears, your fatigue, your stress are no longer important,” she added.
Duterte said that marcos should instead be thinking about the more pressing matters, particularly, hunger, and the increasing prices of petroleum products and commodities, especially with the upcoming holiday season.
“Do you really have time to think ‘ugh, this girl?” she said. (inquirer.net)
PresIDeNt ferdinand
marcos Jr. on friday, october 18 said he was "happy" with what he described as his "political reconciliation" with former Vice President Leni robredo.
In his speech during the signing of the Academic recovery and Accessible Learning Act in malacañang, marcos thanked senate President francis escudero for setting up his short meeting with robredo in sorsogon on thursday, october 17. escudero had invited robredo to welcome marcos at the inauguration of the sorsogon
sports Arena. the Bicol region is the bailiwick of robredo, who is running for mayor in Naga City, Camarines sur, in next year's elections.
on the sidelines of the event, marcos and robredo shook hands and smiled at each other.
he also shook hands with former senator Paulo Benigno Aquino IV, one of the leaders of the opposition party.
robredo could not attend thursday's sorsogon program as she had prior commitments in Naga.
escudero described the short meeting between marcos and robredo, presidential rivals in
CArsoN — the filipino American community in Carson recently kicked off its filipino American history month (fAhm) celebration with a three-component event acknowledging filAm contributions in the arts, culture andinnovation. the city has always been proud to be one of the first cities to commemorate this momentous occasion, being home to a sizable population of filipinos, Carson councilmember Arleen rojas told the Asian Journal “filipino American history month is special in the city of Carson because we have one of the largest filipino American communities in the city of Carson,” said rojas, who hails from Iloilo and Bacolod in the Philippines. rojas is a proud part of filAm history in the United states, being an active veteran police
Malacañang backs plan to probe...
the anti-drug campaign.
retired police colonel royina Garma told the quad panel on october 11 that Duterte and other high-ranking officials from his administration sanctioned covert operations replicating the Davao City model on a national scale to provide rewards to police officers who killed drug suspects. In her affidavit, Garma said that Duterte contacted her about the creation of a national task force, and among the key figures in implementing the scheme was Col. edilberto Leonardo.
Garma said Leonardo purportedly collaborated with Duterte and his aide, now sen.
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Bong Go, to establish a task force comprising "liquidators" nationwide. Go has denied the existence of a reward system for drug killings and said as Duterte's aide, he had no role in police operations.
Garma said Leonardo conducted briefings for all Philippine Drug enforcement Agency officials and even chiefs of the PNP. he also had the final authority on who would be on the watchlist.
But salvador Panelo, Duterte's former spokesman and presidential legal counsel, dismissed Garma's testimony as "pure imagination or fertile speculation."
Panelo also questioned Garma's knowledge of the operations, saying her information only came from "hearsay" and "conveyed or relayed to her by sources."
she might have "succumbed to threat or intimidation under pain of incarceration if she did not make the allegations contained in her affidavit," he said.
Money trail meanwhile, two co-chairmen of the house Quad Committee said they are seeking the help of the Anti-money Laundering Council (AmLC) in tracking the money trail that was allegedly used to reward police officers in Duterte's war on drugs.
Garma had told the committee that the cash rewards for carrying out the so-called extrajudicial killings were funneled through the banking system.
human rights Committee
chairman and manila rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. said those who profited from the killings "must be held accountable, and the AmLC is key to tracking down these illicit transactions that led to the deaths of innocent civilians."
Public order and safety chairman and Laguna rep. Danilo fernandez said that the use of "financial institutions for illegal activities is a serious crime."
"We will follow every lead to ensure that those responsible face justice," he said. the quad panel plans to formally request the assistance of the AmLC within the week to shed light on the full extent
of the money trail behind the previous administration's antidrug campaign.
the two members of the panel also called on police officers who received cash rewards to come forward.
"Your testimony could be critical to uncovering the truth. this is the time to speak up," Abante said.
"We are giving those involved a chance to help clear the air and ensure justice is served," fernandez added.
At a press briefing on Wednesday, Abante questioned the ability of sen. ronald Dela rosa to conduct a fair senate investigation into the war on drugs, which he led as chief PNP during the Duterte administration.
Abante said he believed that Dela rosa's close ties to the former president could compromise the integrity of the upcoming probe.
"I would think that he (Dela rosa) would be more biased than actually balanced in that hearing," Abante said.
Despite his concerns, he welcomed the announced senate investigation as a complement to the house probe, adding that it would be up to the former president to appear before either the senate or the house quad committee.
"It's up to him actually ... hopefully, he will come and say what he would like to say," Abante said, adding that they will monitor closely what he would say if he chooses to appear before the senate.
Dela rosa said that he believed the former president would attend a senate hearing on the war on drugs if he invited him.
But he said he has not spoken to the former president yet.
Dela rosa, who is also the target of an International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation, said he was not concerned about the house quad committee investigation because his conscience is clear, and there is no strong evidence against him.
"I have no fear. I am not directly involved in any way, except maybe in my official capacity as the chief PNP (CPNP). however, I can't monitor all my police
Entire Senate eyed to probe drug...
lead a parallel senate probe as chairman of the committee on public order and dangerous drugs. sen. Bong Go also vowed to file a resolution calling for a senate parallel investigation.
“through the committee of the whole, I am more hopeful that the ‘victim survivors’ of the war on drugs would testify. We should hear from them to get to the whole truth,” hontiveros said.
senate President francis escudero said a parallel senate investigation should not be led by Dela rosa’s committee.
“I have spoken to senator Bato and have indicated that it might be self-serving and might not sit well with some members and the public for him to lead the investigation,” escudero said.
“I will consult the members of the senate and explore all available options. I am due to meet with senators Bato and Go over the weekend to discuss these options given that we are all out of town at the moment,” he added. for her part, sen. Imee marcos nixed a senate parallel
probe, saying the allegations made against the previous administration should be better threshed out in the courts. marcos is allied with the former president’s daughter Vice President sara Duterte.
“this has dragged on for too long. Prosecution is in order, so that we can put this behind us. they should be punished as quickly as possible. We have to put an end to this finger pointing,” marcos said at the Kapihan sa senado forum on thursday.
senate President Pro tempore Jinggoy estrada said he is in favor of inviting Duterte to the senate hearing to give him a chance to clear his name. there have been precedents where former presidents were invited to shed light on pressing issues, so it will not be the first time for former President Duterte,” estrada said.
“And in these proceedings, the senate has demonstrated a high level of respect towards former presidents, including my father, while pursuing crucial information,” the senator added, referring to his father, deposed president Joseph estrada who
was pardoned of his plunder conviction. the senate, he stressed, would accord the former president respect if he accepts an invitation to attend a hearing. the testimony of the former president on the issue is crucial in uncovering the truth and ensuring that justice is served for all affected parties,” the senator said.
Conflict of interest
Quad comm officials have chided Dela rosa for pushing for a senate parallel probe on eJKs.
he (Bato) should have some form of delicadeza, he should refrain from doing so. for me, it is highly inappropriate for him, the chief enforcer of the drug war, to lead a probe into the very operations he designed and implemented,” rep. Dan fernandez of sta. rosa in Laguna said.
“senator Dela rosa cannot lead this senate investigation because there is an obvious conflict of interest. he was the chief enforcer of the bloody campaign against drugs. he was at the helm of this war, so u PAGE A4
FUNDING ISSUeS. Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman (right) joins a panel discussion on
While STEM jobs grow, access barriers remain for US students
by selen ozturk Ethnic Media Services
ALthoUGh the U.s. is a stem world leader, classroom engagement barriers remain for girls, low-income students and those of color. stem engagement is closely connected to career and economic mobility, as U.s workers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics earn over $100,000 a year, compared to the overall wage average of $46,000.
“this is not only an economic issue but a civil rights issue for the low-income students, those of color and girls who don’t have access to stem courses and support programs, and so are underrepresented in stem careers,” said Dr. Louis freedberg, interim Ceo of edsource.
stem (science, technology, engineering and math) careers include physical, life and earth sciences; engineering and architecture; computing and math; and health-related jobs, including health providers and technicians.
While these jobs are projected to grow nearly twice as fast as other U.s. jobs in the next decade, roughly 43% of U.s stem workers come from abroad. the sector’s workforce is closely tied to higher education. stem workers are twice
as likely as others to have a bachelor’s degree or higher — 67% compared to 34%. furthermore, about three quarters of U.s. workers with a higher degree hold one in a stem field.
“early interest in math and science is a key indicator of whether students pursue stem,” continued freedberg. “By high school, there’s disproportionate enrollment in advanced or even basic stem classes. We have to start addressing these gaps early … We have to show students that what they’re learning in the classroom is relevant to their careers, that it’s not just abstract.”
A success story in Compton Compton Unified school District (CUsD), in southern Los Angeles County, has pioneered a breakthrough model in having students excel in stem the portion of its heavily lowincome, over 98% Black and Latino student body choosing stem careers has more than doubled from 24% to 52% over the last decade, while the district graduation rate has soared over 90% — above the national average of 87%.
Black and Latino or hispanic workers are particularly underrepresented in stem careers.
Among employed adults aged 25 and older, Black workers represent 9% of all stem jobs against 11% of all jobs, while
hispanic workers represent 8%
of stem jobs against 17% of all jobs, according to 2021 Pew data.
In comparison, Asian workers represent 13% of stem jobs against 6% of all jobs, and White workers represent 67% of stem jobs against 63% of all jobs.
“A decade ago, we decided there should not be any reason why students coming out of Compton should not have the opportunities that students have in wealthier districts,” said Dr. Darin Brawley, CUsD superintendent since 2012. so we joined the Digital Promise League of Innovative schools and implemented stem opportunities that exceed any public school district around.”
these opportunities include preschool and grade school Lego robotics; middle and high school coding, math and video game design projects; courses in 3D printing, drone aviation, e-sports, circuitry design, podcasting, engineering, Vr and AI; stem teacher training; and vocational training and early certification for students through partnerships with companies including IBm, Verizon, Boeing, rtX and Apple.
“We’re laying to rest the old adage from businesses that schools are not preparing their students for the jobs out there, for the global economy,” said Brawley.
Malacañang backs plan to probe...
PAGE A2
24/7 and what they do. Perhaps
I have command responsibility as a CPNP. But if you say I have a direct hand in what is being done or what happened, I don't think they will link me," Dela rosa said. he denied that they had a reward system when he was PNP chief.
"I don't know that. If that happened, maybe they do it in a secretive manner that the
people don't know about. But, honestly, I was not involved if there was anything like that. But ask me if that exists. I can't even say it exists because it's not to my knowledge," the senator said. he also denied reward money was given for every drug lord or drug addict killed.
Mass deportations will tear apart families and shrink
While Mike Garcia’s party supports this, George Whitesides is
Dela rosa added that he knows of no fund that was dedicated to that kind of reward system, even in former President Duterte's intelligence funds.
senate President Pro tempore Jinggoy estrada said it was crucial to include Duterte in the senate's investigation. n
"I can't implement that, and I'm not impressed with that kind of system. I don't have the money to pay for that kind of reward system that does not have the mandate of the PNP chief," he said.
2025 PH national elections to go fully online...
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 will be exclusively digital for this group.
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 well-prepared 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. (Momar G. Visaya/AJPress)
New york Consul General Senen Mangalile AJPress Photo by Momar G. Visaya
Although the U.S. is a STeM world leader, classroom engagement barriers remain for girls, low-income students and those of color. Pexels.com photo by yan Krukau
Entire Senate eyed to probe drug...
he cannot objectively lead the probe,” he said.
he said it would be “conflict of interest” if Dela rosa would lead such an investigation.
“As the architect of the war on drugs, sen. Bato would be practically investigating himself. this undermines the integrity and objectivity of any findings that may result from this investigation,” fernandez stressed.
Quad comm co-chairman
manila rep. Benny Abante said Dela rosa taking the lead in such probe would be “more biased than actually balanced.” Abante chairs the house committee on human rights.
surigao del sur rep. robert
Ace Barbers, another quad comm chair, said Dela rosa has a lot of explaining to do regarding his alleged payment of “allowances” to some individuals as part of the drug war.
“If ever it is true that allowances are being given away, then senator Bato should explain why, to whom are these given and from where is this specific funding being sourced,” Barbers, chairman of the committee on dangerous drugs, stressed.
he said Dela rosa’s acknowledgment of these payments should be scrutinized further.
“If indeed this is given in the form of an allowance, we have to know what is its main objective, and if ever the rules and regulations governing this allowance are used for legal
purposes. We have to remember that these are all taxpayers’ money,” Barbers said.
‘Duterte may face raps’ Philippine National PoliceCriminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG)
acting director Brig. Gen. Nicolas torre III said the former president may be among those to be charged criminally if a reinvestigation of cold cases would establish his direct links to the killings. “We’ll see where our investigation will take us. If we establish links, including with the former president, then so be it. We will include them in the charges if the evidence warrants,” torre told reporters. Charges that may be filed, torre said, may include murder but different cases may be filed against “enablers,” depending on their participation, such as by inducement, or indispensable cooperation.
the PNP will reopen its investigation on high-profile deaths tied to Duterte’s bloody war on drugs, a move that malacañang has promised to support.
high profile killings mentioned by Garma at quad comm hearings include those of three Chinese drug convicts in a Davao prison facility in 2016, tanauan, Batangas mayor Antonio halili in 2018, and Philippine Charity sweepstakes office board secretary Wesley Barayuga in 2020. torre said the PNP will jointly investigate the Barayuga case with the National Bureau of
Investigation as per instrucion from Justice secretary Jesus Crispin remulla.
PNP chief Gen. rommel marbil said a committee had been formed to look into the allegations of Garma. Garma herself and resigned Napolcom commissioner edilberto Leonardo are now being linked to the Barayuga killing.
for the militant Bagong Alyansang makabayan, the marcos administration should also reopen cases of killings of activists, and not just just of drug offenders.
“No police officer has been held accountable for the murders of so many activists who were subjected to redtagging and terrorist-labeling under the Duterte regime,” Bayan president renato reyes said in a statement.
he cited the killing of nine activists in Calabarzon in march 2021 as well as of nine members of the tumanduk, an alliance of indigenous peoples from Capiz and Iloilo, in December 2020.
“No police officer has been held accountable for the murders of so many activists who were subjected to redtagging and terrorist-labeling under the Duterte regime,” he said in a statement.
“It’s not just the killings of high profile politicians that must be probed. the murders of ordinary people, workers, farmers, indigenous peoples, are just as important,” reyes said. (With reports from Alexis romero, Daphne Galvez, Emmanuel Tupas)
City of Carson hosts large celebration for...
officer for the City of Los Angeles for more than three decades, and holding the title of the first filipina American police officer in the department. on November 2, 2021, rojas was elected to Carson's city council to represent District 4, becoming the city's second filipina councilmember since 1993.
the public official urged other fil-Am communities to come and visit Carson to witness the town’s dedication and commitment to preserving the filipino history, culture and heritage.
“We want you to come to
Carson and if you don’t live in Carson, you would want to live in Carson because we celebrate the filipino culture and history, the food, we celebrate that every day and we want to continue to celebrate that,” she said. the 2024 Carson fAhm celebration was done in partnership with Apl. de. Ap foundation International (ADAfI) with Apl.de.ap of the Black eyed Peas as the special guest of honor. rojas awarded Apl.de.ap with a Key to the City of Carson for his popular music and service and various contributions to the city. Apl.de.ap is also a founding member of the hip-hop group Black eyed Peas (BeP). Due to his frequent collaboration with BeP, he won six Grammy Awards.
“We are very grateful to Apl. de.ap for always accommodating the city’s request every time we have events like these. every time we ask, he performs and donates his time, and he loves the people of Carson. We are very proud to partner with him and that is why he deserves the Key to the City of Carson,” rojas said. for his part, Apl.de ap told the Asian Journal in a separate interview, that he is very pleased to see his fellow filipinos coming together to mark an amazing moment.
“this is a successful and amazing moment for the filipino culture, our kababayans coming together and this is just the beginning. I got the key to the city. We got to have (more) cultural events (like these) and represent our culture and I am very excited,” the awardwinning musician, who was born in Angeles City, Pampanga in the Philippines, said.
Apl.de ap has committed, through the ADAfI, to empowering and supporting youth in need. ADAfI was first established in the Philippines in 2011, and has since expanded internationally, providing resources and support to youth worldwide, nurturing young creatives, and building classrooms, computer labs, and music/recording studios from Los Angeles to Angeles City, Pampanga, in the Philippines.
ADAfI’s current projects are focused on providing the next generation of BIPoC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) youth with greater opportunity and access to the latest in education, arts, and innovation, in order to build a more inclusive, creative and sustainable world.
During the fAhm event, ADAfI co-sponsored the firstever Carson Auto show. the car show is a celebration of fil-Am heritage through the lens of automotive excellence—a field where filipino Americans have made significant contributions. the car show featured an impressive array of vehicles, from classic and vintage to modern marvels, each telling a story of creativity, passion, and innovation that echoes our community’s spirit. one of the event’s highlights was the public debut of Apl. de.Ap’s 1967 ford f100—a classic race truck reimagined as a 600 hP electric powerhouse. this vehicle is more than a testament to engineering prowess; it’s a symbol of our foundation’s commitment to sustainability and innovation. special awards such as Apl.de.ap Choice, People’s Choice and Best of show were also given out during the car show. this year’s fAhm celebration also held the first-of-its-kind “Battle for the Best” Chicken Adobo cook-off, showcasing the finest cooks in Carson who will compete live in “kitchen stadium."
Among the judges of the Adobo cooking contest were: Apl.de.Ap, comedian rex Navarrete, Councilmember Arleen rojas, Chef tomecko Jackson and Cultural officer edel Valencia from the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles. the cook-off winners were Chef Noria Valiente (1st place), Chef Johnny Itliong (2nd place), and Chef Lawrence filton (3rd place).
In addition, there was also live entertainment, featuring the dynamic singer, Leo mercedez and the captivating Broadway actress/singer Debralee Daco. Up-and-coming singers Jey Bersales, hazel Velasco, and toni Gica also made their fAhm debuts. Janice Javier, a finalist on “the Voice: Philippines," also brought her unique powerhouse vocals and comedian rex Navarrete headlined the afternoon’s entertainment.
Candidates from the 2024 mr. Philippines UsA competition served as this year’s hosts. there were also booths showcasing filipino-themed merchandise and goods and food trucks that served authentic filipino cuisine.
City of Carson Councilmember Arleen Rojas and Apl.de.ap at this year’s Fil-Am History Month celebration on Saturday, October 12. AJPress photos by Donnabelle Gatudula-Arevalo
Comedian Rex Navarette
California hospitals scramble on earthquake...
retrofit of its hospital in Alameda, on an island beside oakland.
the debate over how seismically safe California hospitals should be dates to the 1971 sylmar quake near Los Angeles, which prompted a law requiring new hospitals to be built to withstand an earthquake and continue operating. In 1994, after the magnitude 6.7 Northridge quake killed at least 57 people, lawmakers required existing facilities to be upgraded. the two laws have left California hospitals with two sets of standards to meet. the first — which originally had a deadline of 2008 but was pushed to 2020 — required hospital buildings to stay standing after an earthquake. About 20 facilities have yet to meet that requirement for at least one of their buildings, although some have received extensions from the state.
many more — 674 buildings, spread across 251 licensed hospitals — do not meet the second set of standards, which require hospital facilities to remain functional in the event of a major earthquake. that work is supposed to be done by 2030. the importance of it is hard to argue with,” said Jonathan stewart, a professor at UCLA’s samueli school of engineering, citing a 2023 earthquake in turkey that damaged or destroyed multiple hospitals. “there were a number of hospitals that were intact but not usable. that’s better than a collapsed structure. But still not what you need at a time of emergency like that.”
the influential hospital industry has unsuccessfully lobbied lawmakers for years to extend the 2030 deadline, though the state has granted various extensions to specific facilities. Newsom’s signature on one of the three bills addressing the issue this year represents a partial victory for the industry.
hospital administrators have long complained about the steep cost of seismic retrofits.
“While hospitals are working to meet these requirements, many will simply not make the 2030 deadline and be forced by state law to close,” wrote Carmela Coyle, president and Ceo of the California hospital Association, in a letter to Newsom before he vetoed the ChA bill. A 2019 rand Corp. study paid for by the ChA pinned the price of meeting the 2030 standards at between $34 billion and $143 billion statewide.
Labor unions representing nurses and other medical workers, however, say the hospitals have had plenty of time to get their buildings into compliance, and that most have the money to do so.
“they’ve had 30 years to do this,” Cathy Kennedy, a nurse in roseville and one of the presidents of the California Nurses Association, said in an interview prior to the governor’s action. “We are kicking the can down the road year after year, and unfortunately, lives are going to be lost.”
In his veto message on the ChA bill, Newsom wrote that a blanket five-year extension wasn’t justified, and that any extension “should be limited in scope, granted only on a case-by-case basis to hospitals with demonstrated need and a clear path to compliance, and in combination with strong accountability and enforcement mechanisms.”
he also vetoed a bill directed specifically at helping several hospitals operated by Providence, a Catholic hospital chain.
But he signed a third bill, which allows small, rural, and “critical access” hospitals, and some others, to apply for a three-year extension, and directs the Department of health Care Access and Information to offer them “technical assistance” in meeting the deadline.
the state designates 37 hospitals as providing “critical access,” while 56 are considered “small,” meaning they have fewer than 50 beds, 59 are considered “rural,” and 32 are “district” hospitals, meaning they are funded by special government entities called “health care districts.” they can seek a threeyear extension as long as they submit a seismic compliance plan and identify milestones for implementing it.
Debi stebbins, executive director of the Alameda health Care District, which owns the Alameda hospital buildings, said small hospitals face a big challenge. even though Alameda is very close to san francisco and oakland, the tunnels, bridges, and ferries that connect it to the mainland could easily be shut in an emergency, making the island’s hospital a lifeline.
“It’s an unfunded mandate,” stebbins said of the state’s 2030 deadline. the rand study estimated the average cost of a retrofit at more
than $92 million per building, but the amount could vary greatly depending on whether it’s a building that houses hospital beds.
small and rural hospitals can get some aid from the state via grants financed by the California electronic Cigarette excise tax, but hCAI spokesperson Andrew DiLuccia said it would yield just $2-3 million total annually. he added that the small and rural hospital relief Program has also received a one-time infusion of $50 million from a tax on health insurers to help with the seismic work.
Labor unions and critics of the extensions often point to the large profits that some hospitals reap: A California health Care foundation report published in August found that California’s hospitals made $3.2 billion in profit during the first quarter of 2024. the study notes that there “continues to be wide variation in financial performance among hospitals, with the bottom quartile showing a net income margin of -5%, compared to +13% for the top quartile.”
stebbins has had to help her district figure out a plan.
After Newsom vetoed a bill in 2022 that would have granted an extension on the seismic retrofit deadline specifically for Alameda hospital, the hospital system and its partner health care district used parcel tax money to help back a loan. the cost to retrofit will be about $25 million, and the system is also investing millions more into other projects, such as a new skilled nursing facility. the construction work is set to be completed in 2027.
“No one wants things crashing in an earthquake or anything else, but at the same time, it’s a burden,” mahler, the Alameda health system associate chief medical officer, said. “how do we make sure that they get what they need to stay open?”
This article was produced by KFF Health News, which publishes california Healthline, an editorially independent service of the california Health care Foundation.
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces indepth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. (Annie Sciacca/KFF Health News)
While STEM jobs grow, access barriers...
“Can this be replicated? Yes,” he continued. “It’s crucial that students are interested in multiple areas, like coding, drones and e-sports … Also, 98% of our parents want their students to have stem access. It’s crucial that the parents love what’s happening.”
“Growing up, everybody in my family would steer me towards another career than stem … I didn’t really think I would have been able to make it here, but here I am, doing what I want to do, as the first in my generation to go to college,” said Isis Cadena Nuñez, a graduate of Compton early College high school (CeChs) and a UC santa Cruz freshman double majoring in marine biology and environmental science.
she added that CeChs prepared her for her current path in environmental conservation through programs like dualenrollment associate’s degree courses; leadership boot camps like Change Agents and science Cafe; and networking, career fair and job interview prep events with women stem workers and those of color from major universities.
“What surprised me was how many people within free events outside of school were White,” said Nuñez. “I wondered, ‘Why am I the only one like me here?’ I knew 10 other people that would love these programs, but the access is so closed off. A lot of what Compton offered was the support that came from teachers to push the students beyond, regardless of where they came from.”
Overcoming barriers
“You can’t be what you can’t see,” added Daniel Voloch, chief program officer of Girls Who Code. “early role models and early access works for underserved students. We’re proof.”
Although women represent 50% of stem workers, slightly higher than their 47% share in the workforce overall, this representation varies dramatically across fields.
While women represent 74% of health practitioners and technicians, for instance, they represent 15% of engineers and architects and 25% of computer workers.
Latina women represent only 5% of computer workers. since 2012, Girls Who Code has helped over half a million
girls — over half being lowincome or of color — through free coding and tech mentorship programs, from third grade beyond high school.
As a result, the international nonprofit’s students have earned computer science and related degrees at seven times the national average — nine times for those low-income or of color — “and we’re on track to achieve gender parity in entry-level computing jobs by 2030,” said Voloch. the future of technology depends on those who are developing it … and we still see so many of our students saying that they are the only, or one of the only, women of color in their computer science classrooms,” he added.
“Noone is immune from implicit bias, and girls and students of color are constantly receiving messages that certain gender or racial groups possess higher mathematical ability than them,” said Dr. Yasemin CopurGencturk, associate professor of teacher education at the University of southern California (UsC).
With a team of UsC colleagues, Copur-Gencturk studied whether real differences in student math performance — particularly along racial lines — owes to actual student differences or implicit teacher bias.
“We addressed performance differences by creating experimental situations with no such differences among students, then gathering data from students asked to solve math problems,” she explained.
“We then randomly assigned gender- and race-specific names or images to this identical work,” she added. “teachers didn’t know that they were evaluating the same responses under different names, so any variation in evaluations could be explained by implicit bias.”
Consistently, no bias was found in teachers’ evaluations of student work; students received similar grades regardless of gender or race.
however, teachers perceived that students with male or whitesounding names as having higher mathematical ability than students with female-, Black- or Latino- sounding names, with the most bias directed towards girls of color.
“this suggests that even when teachers acknowledge no difference in student
performance, they still perceive differences in potential,” said Copur-Gencturk. “We also found that math teachers who believed that gender equity had already been achieved tended to contribute more to gender bias.” to combat barriers against stem students of color and girls, we need to address the underlying inequities that uphold these barriers,” she added. “often, it starts with disbelief that these students face inequity at all.” n
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10/19/24
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Features OpiniOn
Broken promises
It was a memorable vow, repeated throughout the previous administration: those tasked to carry out the bloody crackdown on illegal drugs need not concern themselves with the niceties of the law and human rights. In case of legal problems related to his war on drugs, Rodrigo Duterte vowed, only he would go to jail.
today, under a new administration with a markedly different approach to the drug problem, aides of public officials should take note of developments in the ongoing congressional probes, and the planned reopening of investigations by law enforcement and prosecution agencies into the anti-drug operations in the previous administration.
Editorial
All of the Philippine National Police chiefs under Duterte, along with several other ranking PNP officers both active and retired, face investigation for offenses that could put them behind bars for life. their families are included in their disgrace. Among them is a woman believed to be part of Duterte’s inner circle, having allegedly participated in operations that the International Criminal Court believes can warrant indictments for murder as a crime against humanity.
Duterte himself remains beyond the reach of probers whether in Congress or in the agencies of criminal justice. he is prepping for another run as mayor of his turf Davao City. Despite his family’s falling-out with the current ruling clan, it’s uncertain if the marcos administration will hand him over to the ICC in case the court issues
an arrest warrant and courses it through the Interpol. even if the government decides to do so, Duterte can evade arrest and be accorded asylum in a country whose leadership is sympathetic to him. In the meantime, his former aides and the police officers who carried out his orders – allegedly incentivized by hefty cash rewards and career advancement – will be put through the wringer, like retired police colonel royina Garma, who became the general manager of the Philippine Charity sweepstakes office. Accused of permanently silencing a PCso official who planned to blow the whistle on corruption under her watch, Garma has since started talking about the alleged reward system for killing drug suspects. the minions who waged the war on drugs are likely to end up behind bars. When the manure hits the fan, those in the lower rungs are on their own. this should serve as a lesson for those in government when their bosses tell them that it’s oK to ignore the law. those who wantonly break the law will have no compunction about breaking their word. (Philstar.com)
BaBe Romualdez
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 U ss tripoli, an Americaclass amphibious assault ship. With us were U. s s ecretary 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 s an f rancisco is known as the innovation hub of the world and is home to s ilicon 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, which are also being developed in san francisco. Imagine flying in the sky from point to point without
Technology: The future is here
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 filipinoAmerican 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 h istory m onth celebrated in 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.
t he 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 s elf- r eliant 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 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 f ilipino 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 C eo m artin 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)
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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.
* * * babeseyeview@gmail.com
WIth the explosive revelations coming out of the house of representatives’ quad committee hearings, who can be charged and for what crimes, so far? there were seven murders that have been either confessed or mentioned in the investigation. these are the murder of Philippine Charity sweepstakes office (PCso) board secretary Wesley Barayuga in 2020, the brutal killings of the three drug lords inside a Davao prison in 2016, and the assassination of Batangas mayor Antonio halili in 2018. there are also the undated killing of a Davao prison officer only identified as “Guinto,” and the killing of Leyte mayor rolando espinosa sr. in 2016. those who can be charged for the Barayuga murder are: (1) Police Lt. Col. santie mendoza; (2) former cop Nelson mariano; (3) assassin (unnamed so far) (4) former PCso manager royina Garma, and; (5) retired Police Col. edilberto Leonardo. mendoza and mariano can apply to become state witnesses, because
there is “absolute necessity for [their] testimon[ies]” to convict Garma and Leonardo. mendoza and mariano still need to testify in court, and their testimonies subjected to cross examination, in order to convict Garma and Leonardo. those who can be charged for the murder of the three drug lords are: (1) Garma; (2) Leonardo; (3) Police executive master sergeant Arthur Narsolis; (4) prison officer Gerardo Padilla, and (5) former President rodrigo Duterte. the two inmates who confessed to executing the killings have been convicted. Padilla testified that the killings were cleared by Duterte as relayed by Narsolis, and that Duterte personally called to congratulate him after the killings. Padilla could potentially qualify as state witness, freed from criminal liability, in exchange for his testimony against Narsolis, Garma, Leonardo, and Duterte. Can either Narsolis, Garma, or Leonardo also apply as state witnesses? It will depend on whether there’s “absolute necessity” for any of their testimonies, and if they provide indispensable evidence against the “most guilty.”
In her surprise affidavit last friday, october 11, Garma
disclosed that halili was assassinated by a team that included police officers. Garma said that she personally heard a certain major Albotra boasting that he was part of the team that assassinated the mayor who was in Duterte’s drug war list. the sole testimony of Garma is not enough to obtain a conviction, but it may lead to further witnesses who will come out with more evidence.
Garma also disclosed that Padilla mentioned to her that certain prison officials in Davao were involved in the drug trade, one of whom was an officer named “Guinto” who was subsequently killed. No other details have been volunteered on this killing. on the other hand, Kerwin espinosa concluded that former President Duterte was responsible for the killing of his father, mayor espinosa sr., but he provided no evidence to back up his claim. It remains to be seen if more witnesses will also come out to identify the masterminds of these two killings, and to provide evidence for a new trial against police officers acquitted for the espinosa killing. espinosa has also accused sen. ronaldo “Bato” dela rosa of having committed multiple counts of grave coercion. With
the threat that he or any of his family will be killed if he refused, espinosa testified that Dela rosa compelled him to: (1) admit to his being a drug lord; (2) point to former senator Leila de Lima as having links to the illegal drugs trade, and; (3) point to businessman Peter Lim as also involved in the drug trade. De Lima and Lim can separately charge Dela rosa for the crime of incriminatory machinations for imputing to them the commission of crimes.
In her affidavit, Garma neither confirmed nor denied her involvement in the murders of Barayuga and the three drug lords. Garma, however, confessed to the following: Duterte asked her help in identifying a person capable of “replicating the ‘Davao model’” on a national scale as mode of carrying out his drug war; Garma recommended Leonardo and the latter was subsequently appointed to implement the nationwide drug war, whereby police officers were rewarded for killings and only reimbursed for expenses for arrests, and; reports of deaths and requests for funds were regularly made through his aide and now sen. Bong Go. Garma presented herself as having had no involvement in the
to be seen if her denial will trigger other witnesses to come out to volunteer contradictory or confirmatory testimonies.
Garma did not implicate Leonardo, Go, and Duterte to any specific killing. What she provided, however, was sworn testimony (and crucial leads) revealing that the three were involved in the thousands of drug war killings nationwide. Garma disclosed that the three orchestrated a nationwide killing of drug personalities as a governmental solution to the illegal drugs problem. Add to
* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian
and staff.
* * * Comments to fleamarketofideas@gmail. com
Babe’s Eye View
In her surprise affidavit last Friday, October 11, former PCSO manager Royina Garma disclosed some assassinations by a team that included police officers. Inquirer.net file photo drug war operations. It remains
this espinosa’s revelation on Dela rosa, and the picture is getting complete on the identity of the individuals who “bear the greatest responsibility” for crime against humanity, the crime of the century committed against our godforsaken people. (Inquirer.net)
Dateline philippines
PNP charges Quiboloy supporters with sedition for blocking arrest
by Francis Mangosing, Jane bautista Inquirer.net
mANILA — the Philippine National Police (PNP) has filed criminal complaints for sedition and inciting to sedition against individuals who allegedly helped Apollo Quiboloy evade arrest while spreading antigovernment sentiments during last month’s police manhunt in Davao City. the PNP said the suspects misled authorities by denying knowledge of Quiboloy’s location, used violence and barricades to delay the search, and urged the public to “attack” malacañang to stop the serving of his arrest warrant.
Among those named in the complaint filed at the Department of Justice on thursday, october 17 were Israelito torreon, lawyer of the Quiboloy-founded sect Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC); and political commentator and former anticommunist task force spokesperson Lorraine BadoyPartosa.
Also named respondents were Jeffrey Celis, who claimed to be a former high-ranking official of the New People’s Army; KJC executive secretary eleanor Cardona; Carlo Catil; Kathleen Kaye Laurente; trinidad Arafol; Lord Byron Cristobal; Joey espina sun; esteban Lava; Jose Lim III; marie Dinah tolentino-fuentes, as well as several “John Does” and “Jane Does.”
Badoy and Celis are media personalities facing other civil suits for alleged red-tagging in their program on sonshine media Network International (smNI), which is owned by KJC.
the PNP complaint cited the respondents for alleged violation of Article 139 of the revised Penal Code (sedition) and Article 142 (inciting to sedition) in relation to section 6 of republic Act No. 10175, also known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
Classified as a “crime against public order,” the charge of sedition is bailable and carries a penalty of imprisonment ranging from six years to 12 years for leaders, with a fine of up to P2
million.
Obstruction attempt the complaint was in connection with the 16-day police operation at the KJC compound in Davao City to locate and serve the arrest warrants on Quiboloy and four of his five coaccused in the sexual abuse and human trafficking cases they face in the Quezon City and Pasig courts, a PNP spokesperson said at a press briefing. there was a deliberate attempt on their part to really hide the whereabouts of Quiboloy and others. We were able to prove that when it turned out that Quiboloy and others were really hiding in [KJC]. there was an intention to really deny their location. We have documented all their actions against our policemen,” said Brig. Gen. Jean fajardo.
“Initially, what we alleged were their actions, such as calling on the people to rise against the government, preventing the police from serving the warrant of arrest, and many others,” said Police Brig. Gen. Nicolas torre III, director of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, a former Davao region police director who led the operations against Quiboloy.
According to the complaint, torreon and the other respondents barricaded the KJC compound when police attempted to serve the arrest warrant on Quiboloy on Aug. 24. specifically, torreon, Cardona, Catil, Badoy-Partosa, Celis, Laurente, and Arafol, “along with other supporters and members of [KJC], barricaded the gate and manifested their opposition to the operation at the [KJC],” the complaint said. torreon, Cardona, and Catil, along with their supporters and members, misled the complainant by asserting that the warrant of arrest should not be executed in Davao City, as it was only issued against sylvia Cemanes, a resident of Pasig City,” it added. Call to ‘attack’ Palace the complaint outlined how KJC members and supporters committed violent acts against police personnel when they staged rallies on Aug. 25 and
Aug. 26, based on the affidavits from the officers involved in the search.
these actions included blocking the highway with vehicles, throwing chairs and stones, spraying fire extinguishers, setting tires ablaze, and mocking the civil disturbance management contingents.
the complaint also cited a nine-minute video posted on the facebook page of smNI that was uploaded around 12:19 a.m. on Aug. 24. the video, titled “Call to rise Up,” had a caption that read: “We Are WIthDrAWING oUr sUPPort from thIs eVIL, CorrUPt, LAWLess reGIme of BoNGBoNG mArCos — KoJC.”
the entire clip showed Cardona calling on the “8 million members and supporters” of the KJC to prepare.
“I’m calling all members, all supporters, all kingdom leaders. Get ready because this is going full steam ahead. We are going to malacañang. We won’t wait to be attacked; we will be the ones to attack,” she said in filipino.
the PNP earlier filed a complaint for obstruction of justice and direct assault complaints against the KJC members.
Quiboloy surrendered to authorities on sept. 9 after being given an ultimatum by the police. he has since been detained at the Pasig City Jail. n
Mass deportations will tear apart families and shrink the workforce, driving up prices and hurting the economy. While David Valadao's party supports this, Rudy Salas is fighting to protect our communities, strengthen the economy, and keep American families together.
Marcos Jr. thanks Israel for helping Filipino amid regional conflict
by Helen Flores Philstar.com
mANILA — President marcos thanked the Israeli government for extending immediate support to filipinos amid the ongoing fighting between Israeli forces and Iranian-backed militants.
“I wish to express our gratitude to Israel for the care and support extended to filipinos working and living in your country,” marcos told Israeli President Isaac herzog during a phone conversation on Wednesday, october 16.
marcos also expressed hopes for a swift end to conflict in the region.
Israel remains one of the Philippines’ trusted bilateral partners in the middle east, according to the chief executive.
Last week, marcos ordered concerned government agencies to mobilize all available assets to ensure the safety and timely repatriation of affected filipinos in the middle east.
speaking at the 19th east Asia summit in Laos last week, marcos joined other regional leaders in voicing concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and rising tensions in the middle east.
DSWD to aid OFWs
the Department of social Welfare and Development assured the 47 repatriated overseas filipino workers (ofWs) who were expected to arrive on Wednesday from Lebanon that they will get financial assistance from the agency.
DsWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said they are coordinating with other national government agencies to assist with the ongoing repatriation of ofWs from Lebanon amid the rising tensions in the region.
According to her, the aid that will be given to the migrant workers will come from the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis situations program.
meanwhile, the Philippine embassy in Beirut, Lebanon is coordinating with Lebanese authorities to expedite the release of exit clearances for undocumented filipinos to join the chartered flight departing the country in the next few days. the embassy advised filipinos to prepare their passports and their residency permits or iqamas for the repatriation flight. the filipinos are also strongly urged to avail themselves of the voluntary repatriation program considering the worsening
LUNGSOD NG CERRITOS, PAUNAWA NG HALALAN SA PAMAMAGITAN NITO IBINIBIGAY ANG PAUNAWA na magdaraos ng Pangkalahatang Munisipal na Halalan sa Lungsod ng Cerritos sa Martes, Marso 4, 2025, para sa mga sumusunod na Opisyal at Panukala: Para sa tatlong (3) Miyembro ng Konseho ng Lungsod – Buong terminong apat (4) na taon. Panukala J: Kinakailangan ang Pag-apruba ng Botante para sa Pagbabago ng Petsa ng Halalan at Mga Kaugnay at Umaayon na Pag-amyenda
Maaamyendahan ba ang Charter ng Lungsod ng Cerritos para hilingin na ang pag-apruba ng botante ay dapat makuha para sa anumang pagbabago sa hinaharap sa petsa ng pangkalahatang pangmunisipyong halalan ng Lungsod, na kasalukuyang itinatag bilang unang Martes pagkatapos ng unang Lunes ng Marso ng bawat taon na may odd na numero, at gumawa ng mga umaayon na pag-amyenda. hanggang sa petsa ng pagsisimula ng termino ng bawat miyembro ng Konseho ng Lunsod at petsa ng pagpili ng Alkalde, na nauugnay dito?
Panukala K: Komprehensibong Charter “Paglilinis (Clean Up)”
Maaamyendahan ba ang Charter ng Lungsod ng Cerritos para tanggalin o baguhin ang mga probisyon batay sa papalit at preemptive na batas ng Estado, pataasin ang kahusayan sa pagpapatakbo sa Buong Lungsod sa pamamagitan ng pag-aalis ng mga reference sa hindi napapanahong mga kasanayan sa negosyo, at tamang gramatikal, bantas, at mga pagkakamali sa pagbabaybay?
OO HINDI
OO HINDI
Ang yugto ng nominasyon para sa mga Tungkuling ito ay magsisimula sa Martes, Nobyembre 12, 2024 sa ganap na 8:00 a.m. at magsasara sa Biyernes, Disyembre 6, 2024, sa ganap na 5 p.m., sa Tanggapan ng Clerk ng Lungsod/Opisyal ng Halalan ng Cerritos. Kung hindi maghahain ng mga papeles ng nominasyon para sa isang kwalipikadong opisyal ng Lungsod ng Cerritos na kasalukuyang nakaupo bago sumapit ang Biyernes, Disyembre 6, 2024, sa ganap na 5 p.m., (ang ika-88 araw bago ang halalan), magkakaroon ang mga botante ng hanggang ika-83 araw bago ang eleksyon, Miyerkules, Disyembre 11, 2024 sa ganap na 5 p.m., para mag-nominate ng mga kandidato maliban sa (mga) taong kasalukuyang nakaupo na kwalipikado sa ika-88 araw bago ang eleksyon, para sa inihahalal na tungkulin ng nanunungkulan na iyon. Hindi naaangkop ang pagpapalawig na ito kapag walang kasalukuyang nanunungkulan na kwalipikadong maihalal. Kung walang sinuman o walang iisang (1) taon na mano-nominate para sa isang inihahalal na tungkulin, ang pagtatalaga sa inihahalal na tungkulin ay isasagawa ayon sa itintatakda sa § 10229, Kodigo ng Eleksyon ng Estado ng California. Ang botohan ay magbubukas sa pagitan ng oras na 7:00 a.m. at 8:00 p.m. /s/Cynthia Nava, Gumaganap na Klerk ng Lungsod/Opisyal ng Halalan, LUNGSOD NG CERRITOS
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. talks to Israeli President Isaac Herzog through a phone call on October 16, 2024. PPA Pool photo by Revoli Cortez
Pastor Apollo Quiboloy File photo
security situation in the country.
(With reoprts from Delon Porcalla, Pia Lee-Brago)
House: VP Sara’s P1.3 billion budget cut in 2025 final
by Delon Porcalla Philstar.com
mANILA — Administration and opposition lawmakers in the house of representatives stood pat on their decision to keep the slashed P1.3-billion budget of the office of Vice President (oVP) sara Duterte for fiscal year 2025, pegging it at P733 million. the P1.3-billion budget cut will be “reallocated” and will be considered as augmentations to the budgetary allocation to the Departments of social Welfare and Development (DsWD) and health (Doh), according to Ako Bicol party-list rep. Zaldy Co, who chairs the house appropriations committee.
In a statement, Co said this was the consensus among the four members of his small committee, who include marikina 2nd District rep. stella Luz Quimbo, house majority Leader manuel Jose Dalipe and house minority Leader marcelino Libanan.
A total of P646.5 million
by Diana lHyD suelto Philstar.com
mANILA — If invited, former President rodrigo Duterte will attend the house of representatives quad committee hearings on extrajudicial killings.
“hindi ako aatras diyan. sasagutin ko silang lahat at marami akong sasabihin sa taong bayan (i will not step back, i will answer them and i have a lot to tell the nation),” Duterte told his former legal adviser salvador Panelo in the latter’s Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa program on thursday, october 17.
“there’s still no invitation, but I would be happy to attend. It’s an institution of government. they might want me to clarify, answer, or whatever... I am ready for that,” the former president said.
Key Duterte officials who had been summoned to the quad comm hearings include retired police colonel and fomer Philippine Charity sweepstakes office general manager royina Garma and police Lt. Col Jovie espenido, who testified that there was a scheme of payouts
will now bolster the DsWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis situations (AICs) program, while another P646.5 million will support the Doh’s medical Assistance for Indigent and financially Incapacitated Patients (mAIfIP) program.
After Duterte disrespected congressmen during the budget deliberations, the house appropriations committee and the entire house agreed to reduce the vice president’s 2025 budget from P2.037 billion to P733.198 million.
Lawmakers cited overlapping functions between the oVP and other agencies like the DsWD and the Doh, which contributed to redundant expenses.
Co said the realignment would result in significant savings, particularly concerning the oVP’s rental expenditures. In 2023, the oVP spent P53 million on leasing 10 satellite offices and two extension offices nationwide. this was a steep increase from the P4.1
to those who killed drug suspects.
Duterte challenged the quad comm to summon him as he is ready to answer queries. there are many persons called and about to be called... If it’s all about me, then they just have to call me and I will give them the answer they want to hear, and not what I want to hear,” Duterte said.
“I will ask them at the beginning of the proceedings.
‘What do you want to come out of my mouth?’ I will give it to them,” he said.
he, however, denied that there was a reward scheme for drug offenders killed.
“Why would they accept that kind of agreement when it would later on bring their downfall?” Duterte said. the former president explained that what he gave out was operational fund. “No reward. I didn’t give reward,” he said.
Duterte said if they accomplished a mission, he would just take them out to a restaurant and treat them to a meal and congratulate them. he also said that he never ordered drug suspects killed.
million annually spent on office rentals during the term of former Vice President Leni robredo from 2016 to 2022.
“these satellite offices are performing functions that should fall under existing government agencies, leading to unnecessary duplication and higher costs,” Co explained.
“By eliminating redundant roles, government can save as much as P1.3 billion, which constitutes a significant portion of the oVP’s proposed P2.037billion budget for 2025,” the lawmaker stressed.
While the oVP has reported having served over 1.5 million beneficiaries through its medical, burial and relief programs as of Aug. 31, Co noted that these services could be more efficiently managed by agencies with dedicated resources and expertise.
the Commission on Audit has recommended a thorough review of the oVP’s functions and expenditures to assess the necessity of maintaining these satellite offices, he said. n
find them, arrest them, give them to me. But if they fight back and if you see yourselves in danger, kill them. I don’t want to see my policemen getting killed. that’s really my order,” he said in filipino and english.
“Give them a chance to fight, if they fight, you would be justified in killing them,” Duterte added. the former president also said he is not surprised that those who used to work under him are now testifying against him.
“that is what life is all about – temporary alliances, friendships that are fragile, friendships that are founded on shaky grounds... there are so many kinds of friendships. it does not really surprise me, these things…,” he said. sen. risa hontiveros, meanwhile, said she is not looking forward to confronting Duterte if a senate investigation on eJKs pushes through.
“I am not excited at all,” hontiveros said at a virtual press briefing on friday, october 18. for me, Duterte is the epitome of extrajudicial killings, of the war on drugs.” n
Garma urged: Tell everything now
by gabriel Pabico lalu Inquirer.net
mANILA — officials of the house of representatives’ quad committee have urged retired police colonel royina Garma to tell everything now that she has revealed an alleged rewards system for police officers who killed drug suspects during the past administration.
In a statement on monday, october 14, house committee on human rights chairperson and manila rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. reminded Garma of her own remarks—that the truth shall set her free—which were uttered during the quad committee hearing last friday, october 11.
According to Abante, he believes Garma’s statements were just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what she knows about extrajudicial killings (eJKs) during the term of former President rodrigo Duterte.
retired Colonel Garma’s explosive testimony last friday linking former President Duterte and his close aide sen. Bong Go to extrajudicial killings during the previous administration could be just the tip of the iceberg. this is just the beginning of a deeper inquiry into a more alarming issue: the alleged participation of higher officials in eJKs. there is much more to uncover, and we are committed to getting to the bottom of these serious allegations,” Abante said.
“As she has declared, the truth will set her free. We welcome such a declaration, and we hope she will begin to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. she should not cover up the sins of her former superiors, the former president included,” he added.
Quad committee lead presiding officer and surigao Del Norte rep. robert Ace Barbers said that he is personally interested in knowing if the order to kill former Philippine Charity s weepstakes office (PCso) board secretary Wesley Barayuga came from Garma or Duterte.
Killing of Barayuga
Last september 27, Police Lt. Col. santie mendoza claimed that Garma and resigned National Police Commission official and former police colonel edilberto Leonardo masterminded the killing of Barayuga.
Barayuga was the PCso board secretary when Garma was the general manager of the office. Both Garma and Leonardo have denied knowledge and involvement in the killing.
“We want retired Col. Garma to comment on the detailed testimonies of Lt. Colonel mendoza and mr. mariano, and of course on other eJK cases,” Barbers said.
Barbers also urged Garma to reveal what she knows about the killing of the three Chinese nationals detained at the Davao Prison and Penal farm back in 2016.
In a previous quad committee hearing, self-confessed hitman Leopoldo tan said a certain sPo4 Arthur Narsolis—his high school classmate— supposedly relayed to him the orders to kill the Chinese nationals. tan said he heard Bureau of Corrections s/supt. Gerardo Padilla talking over the phone with former President rodrigo Duterte—who congratulated the prison officials for a job well done.
3 Chinese drug lords she should also tell us what she knows about the murder of three Chinese drug lords inside
the Davao prison in August
by at least three
pointed out Barbers. this is not the first time that a ranking lawmaker urged Garma to tell everything. As early as friday, vice chairperson and Antipolo rep. romeo Acop told Garma that she should already take a “full bath” since her feet are already wet from testifying against the drug war.
Nabasa na iyong paa mo, maligo ko na. ’Yan ang sabi ni Congressman Barbers. Ang ibig niyang sabihin, may alam na kami, nagsabi ka na ng konti, ibuhos mo na, maligo ka na ng todo, sabihin mo na ang buong katotohanan,” Acop noted.
Last friday, Garma confirmed that the past administration adopted a so-called “Davao template” in terms of the war against illegal drugs, where officers involved in the killing of drug suspects are rewarded.
Garma provided an affidavit wherein she said that there are three modes of payment or rewards—first, for every suspect killed; second for the planned operations; and third, the refund of operational expenses.
According to Garma, it was Duterte who contacted her about creating a national task force. Garma then admitted that she tapped Leonardo—her upperclassman in the Philippine National Police Academy.
“Leonardo conducted briefings for all PDeA, IG, regional Directors, and PNP Chiefs regarding operations. Additionally, if any individual died during police operations, Leonardo reported the incident to Bong Go for inclusion in his weekly report and requests for refunds of operational expenses,” Garma said.
“Leonardo had the final authority to determine who would be included on the list of drug personalities and to classify their threat levels, as well as the discretion to remove individuals from the list,” she added. ( With reports from Emmanuel John Abris)
Rain
Royina Garma House of Representatives photo
2016. she has been implicated
witnesses,”
LOS ANGELES
Celebrating 40 years of music and movies
by Christina alpad ManilaTimes.net
ONCE, when Raymond Lauchengco was in elementary school, he accidentally got on the wrong bus going home. He realized his mistake because he couldn’t find his sister, whom he usually rode home with, on board. However, as a shy and introverted young boy, he chose not to say a word.
“I rode the bus until it went back to school, so my parents had to pick me up there,” he recalled at a media roundtable in Paranaque City.
This childhood story may seem like a small moment, but it highlights a recurring theme in Lauchengco’s life — unexpected detours that led to remarkable destinations, many of which the public came to know well.
For indeed, how could that same kid go on to charm and win audiences in the quintessential coming-of-age film of the ‘80s, “Bagets,” and many other movies that followed. How too could he have found the courage to bring such hits like “Farewell,” “So It’s You,” “Saan Darating Ang Umaga” and “I Need You Back,” among many others to classic OPM status?
“I just got lucky,” Lauchengco said, still humble as ever, 40 successful years into his career. He has even chosen this sentiment as the title of his milestone anniversary concert, “Just Got Lucky,” at The Theater at Solaire on November 23.
“This concert is my way of saying thank you to people who have listened to me and continue to listen to me for 40 years,” the
singer-actor expressed. Lauchengco promises around 20 songs in his repertoire for the musical evening, some of which will he will share with special guest Bituin Escalante and other surprise performers.
“[In conceptualizing the show], I felt the thing that would suit my audience most is if I brought them back to where it all started — the ‘80s. So this will be an ‘80s concert. I’ll be singing the best of the decade, whether OPM or the Top 40, slow or fast. It’s gonna be lots of fun.”
Looking back at his storied showbiz career, Lauchengco recalled that his discovery was serendipitous.
“If you think about it, I was lucky. Sharon Cuneta
discovered me. I didn’t have to audition or anything. She just saw my picture one day in my dad’s office, who was one of her teachers. The next thing I knew, I was with Viva; then I was recording an album with all these hits by the best composers — George Canseco, Louie Ocampo, Odette Quesada, Willie Cruz and Cecil Azarcon.
“These were given to me on a silver platter, so I really feel like I got lucky. But the more appropriate term is I’ve been blessed. I’ll explain more about it during the concert,” Lauchengco told The Manila Times
The 58-year-old revealed there were indeed times when he would wonder why a shy kid
The world is a big stage for Niana Guerrero
by Boy aBunda Philstar.com
SOCIAL media superstar Niana Guerrero is one of the most followed Filipino content creators with a hundred million followers across her online accounts on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Niana said she started making videos with her brother only for fun. “We never expected that people would like them.”
Being a celebrity comes with a hefty price such as the loss of privacy. You relinquish your right to privacy the moment you become a public figure. A star is always on the radar of the prying public. People are captivated by Niana’s talents and beauty, and are curious to know more about her.
“With what I do, everything is out there. I vlog all the time but I always make sure that bina-balance ko po iyong work and my personal life,” she said.
Niana can still go to the malls with a companion. She accommodates people who would request her for photos or birthday greetings for their loved ones.
Financial gains also come with fame due to endorsements and personal appearances during events. Niana’s dad handles her money and work-related transactions with people.
“I manage my money but my parents are always there to guide me when it comes to spending stuff.”
The social media superstar, who has a hundred million followers across her online accounts, has met global music stars, including Billie Eilish. Niana is over the moon because her bias, BTS’ Jungkook, follows her on TikTok. The K-pop sensation would click “like” and post comments on Niana’s videos. Her dream collaboration is with Jungkook which is not impossible to happen.
The famous content creator finally met her idol, Billie Eilish, when she went to Los Angeles, California to watch the show of the American singer-songwriter for her latest album titled Hit Me Hard and Soft. Niana got lucky to hug and take photos with Billie backstage.
Marian Rivera’s ‘Balota’ sums up every angst vs politics, elections
by Jessica ann evangelista Inquirer.net
THE public screening of Marian Rivera’s movie “ Balota ” couldn’t have come at a better time, as those running for public office just filed their certificates of candidacy (COD) for the 2025 midterm elections and the electorate are again faced with the decision — make that bounden duty — to choose the people who shall govern them.
Cinemalaya’s 2024 blockbuster opened in cinemas on Wednesday, Oct. 16, but could it be a sneak peek at what could happen in next year’s elections?
“ Balota ” tells the story of Teacher Emmy (Rivera), who gets assigned as one of the board of election inspectors for her local precinct but is forced to fight tooth and nail to safeguard the rusting yellow ballot box containing the last copy of the election returns before all hell broke loose in a faraway town. As is wont in many places, the ballot box is handcuffed on her wrist for safekeeping, an unwanted burden.
Driven by an aim to deliver insights on election fraud, corruption, bribery, and outrageous killings, the viewers witness Emmy brave through the repulsive image of politics, mustering her courage to protect the sanctity of the vote, and ensure the integrity of the elections, no matter how damaged the system was.
In truth, there was really nothing novel about the message that “ Balota ” wants to impart, as time and again we have seen the subject of elections being tackled in TV soaps or even in some movies.
But what sets “ Balota ” apart was how it focused on one or two persons who will stand up against evil politicians, not because they are fearless; but it is because of that fear that drove them to fight back. The strength of “ Balota ” lies in its determination to encourage its viewers to take action and believe in the power of collective effort to scream against the massive injustice from the people in power who would rather silence the majority.
Unlike other political films that try to give an idealistic ending that the good or the lesser evil eventually prevails, “ Balota ” gives an honest depiction of the grim reality of the elections, and that no matter
how frustrating it is to witness the dirty politics triumph again and again, it will continue to happen and the people have to stomach it unless they will have the courage to summon their senses and elect only the deserving leaders. In this movie, Rivera shed her glamorous persona to play the role of a public school teacher — underpaid and overworked, frustrated that ruthless and power-hungry politicians would kill for a seat in power. At that point, Teacher Emmy’s sense of patriotism warred with self-preservation: Is it really worth it? Rivera gave a careerbest with her commanding
performance, deserving of her Cinemalaya Best Actress award, but the rest of the cast does a noteworthy job, too. The movie kept switching gears from comedy bits to tense drama, specifically since “ Balota ” introduces content creators Sassa Gurl and Esnyr Ranollo in their big screen debuts. Sassa Gurl and Ranollo both set the tone that internet personalities should use their platforms to promote competency among those seeking elective position. Directed and written by Kip Oebanda, the film also features Nico Antonio, Donna
Marian Rivera at the red carpet and premiere night for the theatrical release of “Balota” on Oct. 11. Inquirer.net photo by Jessica Ann Evangelista
Cariaga, Joel Saracho, Sue Prado, Mae Paner, Will Ashley, Raheel Bhyria, and Royce Cabrera.
Photo from Instagram/@gmapictures
Liza Valerio (right) with Atty. Michael Gurfinkel
Atty. Michael Gurfinkel (extreme left) with Leah and her family Jim (right) with Atty. Michael Gurfinkel
From left: Atty. Michael Gurfinkel and Elvira Valerio’s employee Lyn (right) with Atty. Michael Gurfinkel
Constantino Medina
THROUGH the efforts of First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, Bahay Pangulo (during Pres. Bongbong Marcos’ term), formerly named Bahay Pangarap (during Pres. Noynoy Aquino’s term) or Bahay ng Pagbabago (during Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s term), has been completely restored. It was open recently to selected media entitities for the first time.
In the past I used to visit this place when I worked as presidential message writer or information officer under Press Secretary Teddy Benigno. This is the same rest house where thenpresidential son Noynoy Aquino (I was called by him to go there) and I were together while watching his cousin actress Jackie Aquino on TV. During the terms of Presidents of Fidel V. Ramos and Joseph Ejercito Estrada, I was often invited to Bahay Pangarap. But it was only during the term of my fellow Kapampangan, former Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, I was able to visit the entire Malacanang Park alone reaching up to an apartment (I remember it cost only P500 a month) for families of soldiers.
But never did the late Pres. Noynoy Aquino and former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte (I first met him when he was a congressman at the house of Sonny Dominguez in Ayala Alabang Village on December 25, 1998) invite me to the Presidential Residence just across the Pasig River overlooking the Malacañan Palace.
I felt nostalgic seeing again some members of the Presidential Security Group, an elite force that is tasked to protect the president of the Republic of the Philippines at all cost, who are close to my heart. It is now only during the term of President Bongbong Marcos (I interviewed him years ago for the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s New Year’s issue) that I am able to see the new Presidential Residence near a golf course.
Bahay Pangarap was originally designed in the 1930s by architects Juan Arellano and Antonio Toledo as a rest house of the Malacañang Park for informal activities and social functions of the president. The Malacañang Park itself was converted from a rice field
A visit to the presidential residence of the First Family
south of the Malacañan Palace during the administration of Pres. Manuel L. Quezon. The resthouse underwent refurbishment in the early 1960s initiated by former FL Eva M. Macapagal, wife of former Pres. Diosdado “Cong Dadong” Macapagal (I had a chat with former FL Eva in Forbes Park after Cong Dadong was buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani and she told me to take good care of her daughter Gloria).
During the term of Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos, it was the residence of his mother, Doña Josefa Edralin Marcos. During the administration of Pres. Fidel V. Ramos, the house was repurposed as a clubhouse (known as Malago) for the Malacañang Golf Club (thanks to FVR for often accompanying him to the plane in visiting Mindanao). In 1996, it was made as an alternative venue for official government functions, in addition to social and recreational events.
As I made a reflection on its brief history, 3 women, Pariseducated Social Secretary Bianca Zobel, Deputy Social Secretary Dina Arroyo-Tantoco (daughter of my former boss in Congress, the late Cong. Iggy Arroyo whose birthday is on October 24), and fellow La Sallian Vivian Recio (member of the Board of Directors of PTV) explained to us about the private tour of Bahay Pangulo (Presidential Residence) at PSG Compound, Manila.
While we had a private tour of the Bahay Pangulo surroundings, I listened to the explanation of Architect Conrado Onglao, husband of singer-actress Zsa Zsa Padilla. It was Architect Onglao who did the renovation of the Presidential Residence upon the initiative of First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos (thanks to her consistent initiatives and tireless efforts for the Bahay Pangulo restoration).
I really liked the guest house, Pres. Bongbong’s gym (I stayed longer here), the paintings, the Pac-Man video game machine, the chess board, the black piano, the long table, and FL Liza AranetaMarcos’s office (I love it!).
After the private tour, we returned to Pangarap Golf Club for some refreshments.
* * * Carissa Cruz Evangelista represented her mom, Gina de
Venecia, during this year’s FAMAS Awards. Her mom received the Presidential Award from FAMAS President Francia Conrado at Manila Hotel. She had a photo with another Presidential awardee Pempe Rodrigo. She recently participated as an exhibitor at CITEM’s Manila F.A.M.E. at World Trade Center.
* * * When I met Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Joseph Marcos Manotoc in the provincial capitol in Laoag City, I knew he could be the Philippine leader in the future. I dreamed about him in 1990s and I mentioned in BulongPulungan at defunct Philippine Plaza Sofitel Hotel as an invited person with ESP. I dreamed he is tall, has a good body, belongs to Millennials/Generation Z, must be born in other country, is humble, respects the elderly, and serves as a unifying factor to unite the
Philippines.
* * * Atty. Vince M. Tanada’s “Juan Luna: Isang Sarsuela ” of the Philippine Stagers Foundation will be performed on October 26 and 27 at San Sebastian College in Manila.
Juan Luna, born in Badoc, Ilocos Norte, was a Filipino painter, sculptor and political activist of the Philippine Revolution during the late 19th century. His famous works were Spolarium (1884) and The Parisian Life (1892).
* * * FL Louise Araneta-Marcos was the guest of honor during the CITEM’s Katha Awards at the World Trade Center last October 17.
The Katha Awards is a hallmark of Philippine design excellence through the recognition of product design and innovation PAGE B6
Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Manotoc with news anchor-beauty titlist
Architect Conrad Onglao (with mic) explains the renovations done to the Presidential Residence to selected media entities.
Rogelio Medina inside First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos’ office at Bahay Pangulo.
Rogelio
Carissa Cruz Evangelista (left), representing her mom Gina de Venecia, a FAMAS 2024 Presidential Award recipient, with another awardee, Pempe Rodrigo.
(From left) Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, Trade Secretary Cristina Roque, and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos. Deputy Social Secretary Dina Arroyo-Tantoco (at the back) is partially seen. Photos courtesy of Rogelio Medina
Social Secretary Bianca Zobel explains the history of the Presidential Residence.
Five benefits of establishing a revocable living trust
THERE is never the perfect time to think about who you would like to inherit from your estate in case you pass away or at least who among your closest friends (BFFs) and family members are even deserving of inheriting from your estate. In doing so, you should also think about which vehicle you plan to use in implementing your estate plan. One of the best vehicle in implementing your estate plan is a revocable living trust. Five major benefits of establishing a revocable living trust are: 1. Your estate can avoid the time, cost, and hassle of going through the probate court process.
If you pass away without a will (intestate) in California, one of your close family would have to file a petition in probate court to probate your estate. Your estate will be divided and distributed according to the California probate code rules of intestate succession. Even if you have a will when you pass away, your family would still need to file a petition in probate court if your estate is worth over $184,500 and go through the probate process.
This can become a circus if certain beneficiaries contest the validity of the Will or the distribution of the estate. Your estate will pay for attorney’s fees, probate referee fees, appraisers and other experts, CPA fees, etc. If people contest the case, your estate would end up paying legal fees to defend the estate in litigation. The entire process can take anywhere from 9 months to years depending on the contentiousness of the probate case.
With a revocable living trust, your trustee or successor trustee if you were the initial trustee, would administer the trust and distribute the estate according to the trust document
without having to open a probate court case. If the trust is funded with all your assets, it is possible to administer and distribute the trust assets without any Court involvement at all. This process is a lot faster than going through probate.
2. Your estate is not public record.
When you file a probate case, the public has access to your probate case file. The public will know the assets of the estate including the values of those assets. If the Will is admitted into probate, the terms of the Will is open to public scrutiny.
Establishing a revocable living trust makes your estate affairs private. Strangers do not have access to the terms of your living trust. Only certain beneficiaries and possible heirs can request a copy of the revocable living trust after you pass away.
3. You can dictate who will inherit from your estate.
If you pass away without a Will, your estate will be divided and distributed in Probate Court following the rules of intestate succession in the California probate code. Certain relatives will be entitled to a share of your estate even if you feel they are not deserving. By establishing a revocable living trust, you can designate who you want to inherit from your estate. You can designate what and how much each one will received from your estate after you pass away. The assets distributed to each beneficiaries does not have to be equal. The people you designate as beneficiaries of your living trust does not even have to be close family members. You can designate anyone as a beneficiary, with certain exceptions, of your estate.
4. You can structure your estate to minimize estate taxes.
If your estate is valued above the estate tax exemption, establishing a trust can allow you to divide up your estate into smaller sub trusts to minimize the overall estate tax effect on your estate. It allows you to set up a vehicle for certain charitable giving which carries tax advantage and asset protection.
5. You can choose who will administer your estate after your death. When you establish a revocable trust, you can appoint someone else as trustee or you can appoint a successor trustee if you are the initial trustee. The trustee will be administering (managing) the trust after you pass away without a need to open a probate court case. This allows for continuity in operating the trust and the efficient and cost effective distribution of estate assets. If you are concerned about whether you can trust any family members as your trustee, you can appoint an institution as a professional trustee to carry out the terms of the declaration of trust. These type of trustee services are often offered by banks, financial institutions, wealth management firms, and business management firms for a reasonable fee. This minimizes conflicts within the family and prevents negligence and wrong doing by inexperienced family members.
* * *
Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APC. This article is not a solicitation.
*
* * Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APC is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@ kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com (Advertising Supplement)
Pastor’s Notes
ReveRend Rodel G. BalaGtas
POPE Francis recently appointed twenty-one new Cardinals from various countries to reflect a more global and synodal Church, reaching out to its peripheries. In his letter to the cardinal elects, whom he refers to as “brothers,” he expressed and outlined their role as members of the Roman clergy:
“I urge you to make every effort as a Cardinal to embody the three attitudes that an Argentinian poet, Francisco Luis Bernárdez, once used to characterize Saint John of the Cross—attitudes that are equally applicable to us: ‘eyes raised, hands joined, feet bare.’
“Eyes raised, because your service will require you to extend your vision and open your heart, allowing you to see further and love more expansively and fervently. You are invited to sit with John of the Cross ‘at the school of his gaze’ (Benedict XVI), which gazes upon the pierced side of Christ.
Hands joined, because what the Church most needs—alongside the preaching of the Gospel—
On being humble servants
is your prayer, enabling you to shepherd the flock of Christ effectively. Prayer is the realm of discernment that guides us in seeking and discovering God’s will for our community and following it faithfully.
Feet bare, for they touch the harsh realities of the many areas in the world burdened by pain and suffering due to war, discrimination, persecution, hunger, and various forms of poverty; these realities will demand great compassion and mercy from you.
I thank you for your generosity and assure you of my prayers that the title of “servant” (deacon) will increasingly overshadow the title of ‘eminence.’”
The Holy Father’s letter beautifully reflects Jesus’ admonition to His disciples in this Sunday’s (October 20) Gospel in Mark 10:35-45: whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.
What is striking about his letter to the cardinal-elects is his desire that their title should express their
servanthood more strongly than the traditional prestige associated with “eminence.” He urges them to remain humble, broadening their hearts and empathizing with those suffering from war, discrimination, persecution, hunger, and all forms of poverty.
Pope Francis’ message to the new Cardinals is a message for us as well. We must stop viewing clerical titles and positions as glorious distinctions and instead recognize them as greater responsibilities to serve the Church and humankind. We must pray for all those entrusted with significant responsibilities within the Church to fulfill their duties with holiness, to preach the Gospel passionately and persistently, and to be courageous prophets who denounce all forms of oppression and injustice in the world.
With warm blessings, Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas * * * 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.
* * Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California.
The world is a big stage for Niana...
Niana has been doing entertaining videos like Gwiyomi, Teach Me How to Dougie, and Despacito since she was young. “Ever since my brother was really the mastermind of all the video content ideas and I would just ride on it because it was really fun. My brother and I have a strong bond. We have fun dancing. Iyon na po iyong naging siblings bonding namin,” Niana explained. The siblings used to create video content only by themselves but they now have a production team that helps them think of interesting ideas since trends are evolving quickly.
Niana admitted that she sometimes thinks about why she has become this big but ends up with no answer. “I feel like I just really have an insane love for dancing that I just did. Nagkataon people really like it. It just started from there.” She looked for a coach and started real training in dancing when she turned 13 years old.
She is a head-turner at 18. At 18, what does she know about romantic love? She replied, “Love is precious. I have so much love for my family, for music, for art.” Niana has more freedom but her parents are still there to guide her.
Many are asking if she is considering getting into showbiz. “I’m doing the whole social media thing. I’m enjoying it as of now. I’m not closing any doors.”
The world is a big stage for Niana. She is young, beautiful, and talented. The future looks bright for her. We are excited about Niana’s journey as the best is yet to come.
PAGE B2
The social media superstar, who has a hundred million followers across her online accounts, has met global music stars, including Sabrina Carpenter (left).
Pia Wurtzbach
Photo from Instagram/@piawurtzbach
Pia Wurtzbach reflects on struggles of navigating public scrutiny
by Jessica ann evangelista Inquirer.net
PIA Wurtzbach weighed in on the struggles of dealing with public scrutiny as a celebrity, emphasizing that a single social media comment can easily spark intense online discourse.
The Miss Universe 2015 titleholder took to Instagram to share an activity she recently engaged with that prompted the question, “What seems easy for others but is hard for you?”
“Being a public figure comes with benefits and challenges. I’m grateful for the opportunities and appreciate the support from my audience, but navigating public scrutiny can be tough,” she began her caption.
“A simple comment can lead to intense judgment and heated arguments online, making it overwhelming and hard to balance authenticity with expectations. A quick look at my comment section reveals the extent of that. Ultimately, staying true to yourself is what matters. Have you ever felt judged or misunderstood in a similar way?” she stated.
Wurtzbach became subject of public scrutiny following her rumored feud with Heart Evangelista, which stemmed from the beauty queen alleged “stealing” of the latter’s fashion week contacts.
The 35-year-old beauty queen was recently defended by Justin Louise Soriano, Evangelista’s former makeup artist, as he emphasized that Wurtzbach never stole “contacts and connections” from anyone, as she is already “well-connected” in the fashion industry.
Not long after, Evangelista dropped an intriguing remark about how she “did not lie,” which elicited a response from her former makeup artist and close friend Albert Kurniawan, who affirmed that Evangelista is indeed not a “liar.”
In 2023, Evangelista had a falling out with her former glam team, including Soriano, amid the allegations that they stole the former’s industry contacts, maxed out her credit cards, and utilized black propaganda against her fashion week content.
Evangelista’s ex-glam team is now working with Wurtzbach as she tries to break into the fashion week industry.
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.
“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 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.”
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 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.
“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, 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.”
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-andout 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
Celebrating 40 years...
like him was allowed to join the entertainment industry.
“Through the years, you realize it’s a gift. I thought I was going to be a doctor or an architect, but that wasn’t my gift,” he reflected.
Despite the ease with which his career took off, Lauchengco remains grounded in his love for music and the people he performs for.
“Along the way, when I would
sing for a live audience, that would give me the courage to reach out and create a special bond with people. That’s the power of music in my life, so that’s how I see it — as a gift. Singing allows me to come out of my shell.” He added, “For me, it’s not about the singing. It’s about the people I sing for. Singing is just a tool. I use it to connect, and that’s what matters more to me.”
Filipino films ‘Iti Mapukpukaw,’ ‘Sunshine’ nominated at 2024 Asia Pacific Screen Awards
TWO Filipino movies were nominated at this year's Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA), as well as two films that were joint efforts between Filipino producers and producers from neighboring countries.
Cinemalaya 2023 Best Film winner "Iti Mapukpukaw," starring Carlo Aquino and Dolly de Leon, is up for Best Animated Film, with director Carl Joseph Papa and producers Dan Villegas and Geoderic Lomuntad receiving the nods.
Villegas and Lomuntad are also producers of Antoinette Jadaone's "Sunshine," nominated for Best Youth Film, and all three received nods along with another producer Bianca Balbuena.
The director of photography of "Viet and Nam," Son Doan, is nominated for Best Cinematography. "Viet and Nam" is a joint effort of the Philippines, Singapore, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Vietnam, and the United States.
Finally the four directors of "XiXi," Venice de Castro Atienza, Fan Wu, Sona Jo, and Her Yon-soo, are up for Best Documentary Film. Similar to the previous film mentioned, "XiXi" is a film collaboration between the Philippines, Taiwan, and Korea.
"All We Imagine As Light" and "April" lead all APSA nominees with five nods each, both competing for Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay,
Best Cinematography, and Best Performance. "Desert of Namibia," "Happyend," and "To Kill a Mongolian Horse" complete the Best Film race. This marks the first time in APSA's history that the five top nominees are amateur or sophomore films, and just one of them is not directed by a female director.
All five nominees for Best Performance are women, a first for the ceremony since the acting category became ungendered.
The awarding will take place on November 30 in Gold Coast, Australia, right after the Asia Pacific Screen Forum.
After making history
at Cinemalaya 2023, "Iti Mapukpukaw" was selected as the Philippines' entry to the Oscars that year for Best International Feature Film but it didn't make the shortlist.
"Sunshine," starring Maris Racal, premiered at the recent Toronto International Film Festival, where all its three screenings sold out.
Jadaone told Philstar.com that the film will continue going around the film festival circuit before a commercial release in the Philippines.
The Philippines' last APSA was its joint film "Autobiography" with Indonesia, France, Singapore, Poland, Qatar, and
Germany, when it was awarded Best Screenplay in 2022.
Three Filipinas previously won Best Performance by an Actress, namely, Max Eigenmann for "Verdict," Hasmine Killip for Pamilya Ordinaryo," and National Artist Nora Aunor for Sinapupunan." "Halaw" director Sheron Dayoc and "Ang Babae sa Septic Tank" filmmaker Marlon Rivera were back-to-back winners of the the NETPAC Development Prize in 2011 and 2012, with Brillante Mendoza also winning an Achievement in Directing for Sinapupunan" during the latter year. (Kristofer Purnell/ Philstar. com)
Liza Soberano grateful to Careless for helping find her ‘voice as a woman’
by hannah mallorca Inquirer.net
THREE months after her departure from her former label Careless Music, Liza Soberano addressed her exit saying the agency was a big help in finding her voice as a woman in the entertainment industry.
Soberano left Careless on July 29 of this year although her departure was confirmed only two months later. James Reid, the agency’s CEO, said the actress decided to leave due to differing
career paths.
In a cover interview with Preview Magazine, the actress explained that her two-year stay in Careless was meant to help her take “more international opportunities” in her career, noting the agency has always focused on music.
“Careless’ focus has always been on music. The goal was always to build my own team and gradually shift to more international opportunities,” she said. “Through James [Reid] and Jeff [Oh], I was able to find my voice as a woman in entertainment and grow as an artist and entrepreneur in ways I could’ve never imagined.”
Soberano — who’s currently signed with U.S.-based label Transparent Arts and artist agency Verve — remains focused on making a name for herself in Hollywood. This means taking charge of how she would establish herself in the industry, with the actress saying she’s “fending” for herself.
“It can be a lot of work managing all of that, but it’s honestly very liberating knowing that I’m capable of all of it,” she said. “I don’t really think about rejection. I’ve been in this industry long enough to understand how things work… I rediscovered how smart, frank, and brave I could be when I let myself.”
In the interview, the actress shared that while she has constantly been receiving offers for “Filipino characters with very stereotypical arcs,” her agencies reminded her to be patient, as the right project will come.
“After doing my press runs where I talked about being a Filipina actress, I constantly got offers for Filipino characters with very stereotypical arcs… But my
U.S. representatives remind me to be patient and wait for the right project,” she said.
Soberano also reflected on the stage of her career so far, sharing that while nobody “knows what they’re doing,” the entertainment industry will always remain uncertain for its artists.
And that’s just the reality of the entertainment industry,” she said. In a September 2024 interview with entertainment insider Ogie Diaz, Reid explained that Careless confirmed Soberano’s departure to avoid any confusion from the public. He also reiterated that there were no hard feelings on both sides and wished the best for the actress’ endeavors.
“We can try our best to figure out the formula, to follow patterns, be a nice person, be the most talented person, be surrounded by the best of the best, but there’s no guarantee that that will translate to other people loving and appreciating your
A visit to the presidential residence...
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that combine the ideals of form and function. Since its launching in 1983, Katha Awards has sought to inspire and challenge Philippine exporters and designers to constantly innovate and develop designs and products for export.
This year’s winners include: major product design for furniture (Finali-Zulu Bench), lamps and lighting (Azcor Lighting Systems-Fauna), home decor and houseware (Bon Ace-Achite Chess Board Set), fashion (Bon Ace-PISA Hand Bag), holiday decor and
gifts (P & B Valises et CompagnieNutcracker Ornaments), and eco-design award (Buttons ‘N Things PAEA Table Runner).
Special citations were for best booth design (P & B Valises et Compagnie) and best sustainable booth design (Zarate).
Miss Aura Philippines 2024 Isabelle De Los Santos represented the country in the
Miss Aura Philippines Isabelle De Los Santos
Vince Tañada’s “Juan Luna, Isang Sarsuela” will be performed at San Sebastian College.
Liza Soberano — who’s currently signed with U.S.-based label Transparent Arts and artist agency Verve — remains focused on making a name for herself in Hollywood. This means taking charge of how she would establish herself in the industry, with the actress saying she’s “fending” for herself. Photo from Instagram/@lizasoberano
art.
‘Iti Mapukpukaw’ and ‘Sunshine’
Photos courtesy of Cinemalaya, Project 8 Projects
Christine Rocas: Breathtaking brilliance from trusting the created sacred space with cast and partner
“I FIRST met Christine Rocas about 12 years ago when I was asked to co-produce a fundraiser event for Typhoon Haiyan relief at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. I remember being completely entranced and mesmerized by her performance; a ballet dancer with so much power and grace, it was completely captivating (I mean, how many Filipino/FilipinoAmerican ballet dancers are there from professional companies like the Joffrey?). Fast-forward 12 years, Christine announces her retirement from professional ballet in her final performance where she will have played the title role in Joffrey’s ‘Anna Karenina.’ True to form, Christine delivered a powerful performance, exploding on stage with the effortless strength and quiet fortitude, not unlike Tolstoy’s tragic heroine. There, amidst her fellow cast members and with her partner (in various pas de deux moves), Christine shined; not with the brilliance that accompanies jewels, but with a radiant dignity and superlative movement that belied her many years as a principal dancer with the Joffrey. She will most definitely be missed.” – Ted Benito, September 2024
When Ted Benito asked me to watch Anna Karenina, featuring Christine Rocas as the lead character, with his artists/friends at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion LA, I first said no.
He then explained who Rocas is, a principal ballerina, retiring after 20 years with Joffrey Ballet and before that mentored by Lisa Macuja Elizalde, artistic director and CEO of Ballet Manila, who congratulated her: ”Today, I had the privilege of watching our very own Christine Rocas in her final career performance in the role of Anna Karenina. Christine, you took my breath away! Bravo!”
I took my 9yo granddaughter with me to watch this ballet, #princess2015la, her pseudonym in this article. At that young age, she knew a pas de deux style: “Grandma, it is two people, dancing ballet together, as a couple.” I marveled at that answer. At 9yo, I was into multiplication and division and homework.
Ted’s loving feedback illustrates the respect and appreciation for Rocas’ transformation since 12 years ago, for she has achieved what she learned from Joffrey Ballet, an organization that puts the welfare of its dancers first. During the pandemic, Rocas shared how they all kept their jobs and how the cast kept up with practice, training, and even creating new works. She is especially indebted and grateful that they applied creativity in dancing in pods, and mindful of public health mandates, such that if they were living together, they can dance as partners.
Could this be the understated truth of the body of knowledge, sustained training, and her higherlevel understanding of what goes on backstage? Let me walk you through this incredible discovery of a talent, multifaceted in emotional maturity, physical adeptness, intellectual smarts, and spiritual alignment.
“Christine is truly an artist, an amazing actor, and dancer that makes the audience feel emotional,
watching her. I only got to dance several times with her, and she is an amazing partner and person. She builds great partnership with each one that she partners with. I think she modifies how she dances with that partner too. What else can you ask for? As a person that danced with Ballet Manila, she is Ate Christine, but now she is ballet master so, she is teacher Christine yet, she will always be Ate Christine in my mind! I’m happy and excited that she is our ballet master now, and passing on her magic to us!”
–Hyuma Kiyosawa, Joffrey Ballet’s dancer, September 2024.
A ballerina defies not just gravity, but dances to a form that commands grace and strength. It is about body control where her hands and feet form geometric patterns and acquired spatial skills to know where she is at any moment on the dance stage. It is teaching a neutral spine to center, a line of balance for posture and anatomically correct placement. That kind of awareness, including how she responds emotionally onstage to her fellow cast of dancers and partners, is a result of conscious, diligent formation as a human: sensitive, considerate and selfless lack of ego, to inhabit the characters.
Christine Rocas has created magic in her 20 years. Dancing principal roles in ballet including Romeo and Juliet, The Nutcracker, Le Corsaire, La Bayadere, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, and Anna Karenina, Rocas has transitioned to interim Rehearsal Director/Coach of Joffrey Ballet in 2024 and now is part of Joffrey Ballet’s artistic leadership team. She can do more of her magic, transferring her skills and mentoring others to do their own magic, as well.
Onstage, we watched Christine Rocas give life to Anna Karenina, fell in love, and later, spurned by the man she loves, amidst the darkness of the train station, a metaphor perhaps of escaping the darkness of fascism in Russia in those times.
Her passion is displayed in her musicality and ability to discern the music tempo, and her dance moves, with such ferocity and precise adeptness, accentuated by the music, sung live by Lindsay Metzger, a mezzo soprano and with a full live orchestra.
“Music is number one in Ballet, if I see that music, my steps make chemistry – and this is what makes me happy,” as shared by Ukrainian born choreographer Yuri Possokhov with Joanne Divito, LA Dance Chronicle.
In my one-on-one interview with Rocas, amidst the clanking sounds of dishes brought to the table and cleared later at Yamashiro Restaurant, the conversation effortlessly unfolded. Lunch tab was picked up by Ted Benito, which included a young ballerina, Bridget Duffy, and her mom, Celina Taganas-Duffy.
Yes, and…respecting the sacred space
“More than her [Christine] achievements, it really warms a mother’s heart when people would approach me and say ‘you raised your daughter well,’ because that reflects her total person. Thank you for your interest in Christine.
by P rosy A b A rquez -D el A cruz , J.D. AJPress
May God bless you!” – Mila Espina Rocas in a Facebook message sent to me, September 2024. Her international award-winning husband, Philippe Quint, a classical Russian-American violin virtuoso, trained by Andrei Korsakov before immigrating to the U.S., to study at The Juilliard School and a lead performer in several concerts, enthusiastically shared:
“Sure Prosy. Talking about my wife is one of my most favorite topics. An extraordinary person and artist that I feel so blessed to have met. Christine is truly the embodiment of kindness, empathy, and generosity. Her unwavering compassion touches everyone she meets, and her ability to understand and support others is truly remarkable. She gives of herself freely, always putting others first, and her warm, loving spirit brightens the lives of those around her. As a wife, daughter, sister, and now the newly appointed Rehearsal Director at the Joffrey Ballet, she excels in everything she undertakes. I’m incredibly fortunate to share my life with such an extraordinary human.”
Can you feel the generosity of spirit in how Rocas is described by her mother, her husband, her dance partner, her mentor, and Ted?
Your body seems to be pliable, bendable silk or almost like liquid gel that performs well to form geometrically angular or straight lines – how did you achieve that body control down to the muscles that exhibit feelings, I asked Rocas?
Her husband, Philippe declared, before Christine could respond: “Amazing, you don’t get questions like this, it is both scientific and poetic.”
We all smiled, observing the rapport between this husband and wife, who are both creative artists.
Unperturbed and without losing composure, Christine answers with a depth of wisdom, of how vulnerability is created in sacred spaces of dancing, between partners.
She said: “I say it is about the same. Years and years of dedicated training. We spend a lot of time practicing so when the time comes that we are allowed to take liberty in a performance; the technique is there, it is solid and reliable. Years and years of dedicated training, [so] when the time comes to perform, the technique is solid and reliable. Muscles will do what it needs to do and it is always the work.”
She continues to share her acquired wisdom, a depth of spirituality, with emotional maturity, and is quite selfless in executing her dance moves.
“It is about time spent in rehearsal space, getting to know each other, making sure that the rehearsal space is sacred. There’s no vulnerability that can happen if the space is not safe. And vulnerability is required in order to express feelings with your partner.
I said it to someone, at a donor’s event, what I am going to miss the most is the intimacy, where in the dance world, you can feel how a person loves another person, through characters, and be willing to open themselves up to another person, even with the guise of doing a character. But I am really honored to feel how other people
love me even if it is about their loving the character – as we are all transforming. I almost experienced how my partners love their partner because in a way, art imitates life. I see the openness, I see the warmth, I see the vulnerability, I see the sensitivity they afford to their partners and they afford it to me. I want to make sure I take care of that. I want to make sure I continue to create that safe space for them – to continue to be open when I dance with them. You give me this stimuli and I give you this. I feel really open, but I think I am very fortunate to be dancing with friends. In dancing with people I don’t know, there could be inhibitions.”
For different partners, “It is not ever it does not work. It is just different. Find other ways to what that person is giving and you relate to that.”
She illustrates an example. “We have shared very intimate characters onstage, where he’s one of the people I feel safe to engage with [him] onstage. Even if we are exhausted, I am not giving up on him, he opens up himself to me, and I have to reciprocate. That‘s the exchange. That’s the conversation. That’s the art form.”
Philippe couldn’t stop appreciating his spouse: “You are focusing on the positive!”
She then concludes that part: “So I respond by yes, and…that’s the conversation.”
That was the mutuality of support and interactive conversation that the husband and wife were having, amidst all of us, listening to Rocas respond to the questions that I raised, including her husband’s.
It was magic to see Rocas respond positively to all the multiplicity of stimuli coming at her.
To which I said, “I sense your lack of ego – not self-conscious at all. Always immersed in the character, the work!”
When you listen to the reviews, several adjectives and descriptors were used, equally generous to mirror what they saw onstage:
“Mind-Boggling”
“Tears-Flowing”
“Woke up a sleepy 9yo to pay attention”
“Effortless beauty”
“Blissful onstage presence”
“Inhabits a role with pristine approach and exuberant lyricism.”
It is not surprising that Philippe, her husband, values the scientific and lyrical portrayals of Rocas’ dancing moves, especially the modern risk-taking, interpretation of Romeo and Juliet. And interjects with his curiosity, he asked: “Her Juliet moves are miraculous, paying homage to Balanchine. She is always immersed in a character…very selfless to give to the character. Describe what it is like for you to be immersed in the character?”
Effortlessly, and with calm composure, Rocas engages what she knows about human relationships: “It’s not always about one person. If one person in the room is not as committed,
then it can easily take you away, it’s a matter of teamwork. It is also responding to everyone’s moves, it’s really being active, you relate to everybody, you respond in the moment.” Scientific in the
or as she flies
Christine Rocas in The Nutracker Ballet performance photos by Cheryl Mann
Christine Rocas in Jane Eyre
Christine Rocas and Dylan Gutierrez in Beyond The Shore
Rocas with Ted Benito Facebook photo courtesy of Ted Benito
Rocas with her mentor in Ballet Manila, Lisa Macuja Elizalde Rocas with her mother, Mina Rocas
Bridget Duffy (left) and Christine Rocas
Photo courtesy of Celina Taganas Duffy
Rocas with her parents, Mina and Geronimo (+)
Photo taken from a social media post
Rory Hohenstein and Christine Rocas in Romeo and Juliet
Christine Rocas in Prodigal Son
FOR the first time Filipinos from all over Southern California gathered to witness one of the most-awaited historical and lifechanging moments of the year, the Rivermaya Reunion Concert at the Greek Theatre on Friday, October 4.
It was as if Rivermaya fans were transported back to the ‘90s when the Philippines experienced a renaissance in Pinoy rock. The emergence of Rivermaya in 1994 along with several bands that produced seminal “anthems” spewed an alternative rock explosion in Original Pilipino Music history.
It was a reunion of sorts at the world-renowned Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. Not only was it a long-awaited assembly of original band members — lead singer Bamboo Mañalac, singer/ songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Rico Blanco, bass player Nathan Azarcon and drummer Mark Escueta — but it was also a gathering of friends who drove several miles from all corners of California to the Greek Theatre to see one of their favorite bands come together after a long hiatus.
The quartet opened their show with a performance of “Monopoly” and progressed on to a staggering barrage of hit after hit such as “Hinahanap Hanap Kita,” “Elesi,” and “Awit
ng Kabataan” with electrifying performances by frontmen Bamboo Mañalac and Rico Blanco as they shared the stage and rendered these showstoppers alternately and together in a duet.
One would imagine such high production with stunning lighting, exceptional sound system and turnkey operations associated with concerts of this magnitude and Charles Victor Entertainment certainly delivered. What’s even more impressive is the addition of a horn section made up of local musicians behind the band.
Several sponsors, local businesses and community leaders from Los Angeles such as Wacky Face Photobooth, DJ Wapcharles, Prieto Prints, Hannah and Hazaiah Fashion Boutique, Vivamax, Viva One, QD Skinnovations, M Lhullier
Rivermaya rocks Los Angeles with a sold-out reunion concert
Kwarta Padala and State Farm by Marsha Isabella were present to show their support.
Food sponsors such as Charina Vergara of Titas of Manila and Tito’s Bar & Grill, Fiesta Fast Food, Chow Fun, Dollar Hits, Cebuchon, Jollibee, Max’s Restaurant, Kan-Anan, Manila Inasal, Take Out Corner, Baker’s Lab by AnJ and Bakes and Paste made sure that the band, production crew and staff were well fed during the duration of the pre-show and post-show activities.
Event partners and community partners including Ed Rame Flowers, Autohouse LA, Royal Ground Transportation Services, DJ Headthrasher, Meryl M Photography, Angel Mejia Photography, Quint’s Lens, Kiddo Dong Films, Dwight Jehan Photos, Photoopsstudio.com, Six Paths Photography, Tambuli, Kabataan Culture, Philippine Badminton Club of America, Los Angeles Kids Fashion Show, Kubo.com.ph, PK Luxury Drambags and Pass Review Center & Psychup Nursing PC were also instrumental in making this show come together.
This outstanding concert concluded in a climax with the most impressive display of energy from everyone on stage as they performed some of their most-loved and most-memorable hits such as “Himala” and “Kisapmata.” And in one blink of an eye, this utterly magical show was over.
* * * 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.
* * * micdiazpresents@gmail.com
Bamboo Mañalac rendering a song onstage. Photo by Mic Diaz
Rivermaya’s Rico Blanco and Bamboo Mañalac
Photo by Mic Diaz
Rico Blanco plays the guitar at the reunion concert.
Photo by Mic Diaz
Rivermaya concert producer Charles Victor (left) and lead singer Bamboo Mañalac. Photo by Charles Victor
Rivermaya concert food vendors
Photo courtesy of Charina Vergara
Rivermaya band members at their reunion concert.
Photo by Mic Diaz
Rivermaya band members at their reunion concert. Photo by Mic Diaz
Two of the sponsors of the Rivermaya concert: Tito’s Bar & Grill and Titas of Manila Filipino Kitchen.
Photo by Charina Vergara The sponsors night during the Rivermaya reunion concert. Photo courtesy of Charina Vergara
Rivermaya’s Rico Blanco and Nathan Azarcon
Photo by Mic Diaz
MAKE HISTORY. ELECT THE FIRST FILIPINA EVER TO STATE OFFICE. TUMULONG SA PAGGAWA NG KASAYSAYAN
In the State Assembly, Jessica will fight to:
SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES and create more good-paying jobs.
COMBAT POLLUTION and advance policies to ensure clean air and water
REDUCE HOMELESSNESS by focusing on mental health and supportive housing.
PROTECT RENTERS from unlawful evictions and work to lower housing costs.
RAISE WAGES, empower workers, and build an economy that works for everyone.
STOP COST INCREASES of gas, goods, and housing that hurt local families
FULLY FUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS and improve teacher recruitment.
COMBAT GUN VIOLENCE by implementing commonsense reforms.
JESSICA CALOZA and her family immigrated to Los Angeles from Quezon City in the early 1990s to build a better life. Growing up, she was inspired by her parents to dedicate her life to public service so she could fight for working families like hers.
Jessica’s career has included working in President Barack Obama’s Administration, serving as L.A.’s first-ever Filipina Public Works Commissioner, and now working for Attorney General Rob Bonta as a women’s rights advocate. Now, Jessica is running for the CA Assembly in District 52! If elected, Jessica would be the first Filipina ever to serve in the CA State Assembly.
AD-52 includes Eagle Rock, Mt. Washington, Highland Park, Echo Park, Silver Lake, Atwater Village, Glassell Park, East Hollywood, Los Feliz, and South Glendale.
by Tuesday, November 5, VOTE