drug plans are getting better next year. Some will also cost more.
WHEN Pam McClure learned she’d save nearly $4,000 on her prescription drugs next year, she said, “it sounded too good to be true.” She and her husband are both retired and live on a “very strict” budget in central North Dakota.
By the end of this year, she will have spent almost $6,000 for her medications, including a drug to control her diabetes.
McClure, 70, is one of about 3.2 million people with Medicare prescription drug insurance whose out-of-pocket medication costs will be capped at $2,000 in 2025 because of the Biden administration’s 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, according to an Avalere/AARP study.
“It’s wonderful — oh my gosh. We would actually be able to live,” McClure said. “I might be able to afford fresh fruit in the wintertime.”
The IRA, a climate and health care law that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris promote on the campaign trail as one of their administration’s greatest accomplishments, radically redesigned Medicare’s drug benefit, called Part D, which serves about 53 million people 65 and older or with disabilities. The administration estimates that about 18.7 million people will save about $7.4 billion next year alone due to the cap on out-of-pocket spending and less publicized changes.
The annual enrollment period for Medicare beneficiaries to renew or switch drug
u PAGE 4
Against access threats, ensuring votes count this November
WITH the presidential elections just three weeks away, voters and election officials nationwide are facing historically high threats to voting access.
These threats include new state voting restrictions, misinformation, voter roll purges and political violence.
Political violence
“You’d have to go back to the 1960s and ‘70s to see anything like the hotbed of political violence we’re in now,” said Dr. Robert Pape, political science professor at the University of
u PAGE 2
Biden, Harris honor Fil-Am History Month
by AJPress
UNITED States President Joe Biden and Vice
President Kamala Harris extended their greetings for Filipino American History Month, recognizing the contributions of Filipino Americans to the country.
Biden acknowledged that “since our founding, Filipinos and Filipino Americans have enriched the very essence of who we are as a people.”
“They are the community leaders, who advocate and stand up for all of us. They are the first responders and Service members, who put themselves at risk to keep the rest of us safe,” his statement continued,
adding the breadth of industries Fil-Am contribute to from health care workers to athletes to public servants.
He concluded that “Dreamers and doers like you embody the possibilities of this great Nation—and that is a big part of the reason why I have never been more optimistic about our future.”
For her part, Vice President Harris said during this month, “we uplift the stories of Filipinos and Filipino Americans — an integral part of the story of America.”
Based on the 2020 U.S. census, Filipinos make up the third largest Asian-American group with a 4.4 million population.
On Monday, October 21, the White House Initiative
De Lima recalls DDS ops, ties to ‘Superman’ Duterte
MANILA — The joint congressional panel investigating the war on drugs waged by former President Rodrigo Duterte heard the testimony of former Sen. Leila de Lima, one of the first public officials to question its methods since he first laid down its “template” as mayor of Davao City. Facing the House quad committee on
on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders held a Fil-Am History Month celebration, which featured Nani Coloretti, deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget, who is the highest-ranking Fil-Am in the Biden-Harris administration; Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), who is of Fil-Am descent; and former US Undersecretary of the Air Force Gina Ortiz Jones. Other prominent Fil-Am personalities and community leaders were present at the celebration, such as former White House chef Cris Comerford, social media influencer and beauty entrepreneur Patrick Starr, and Carlyle Nuera, Mattel designer who
by
and walked away when asked about
President Sara Duterte’s accusation that he does not know how to be president.
Reporters tried to get Marcos’ comment on Duterte’s accusation at the celebration of the Philippine Coast Guard’s 123rd anniversary in Port Area, Manila on Tuesday, October 22. In a press conference last Friday, October 18, Duterte said the Philippines was on the “road to hell” as Marcos does not know how to do his job. She also said she was blamed several times for the country’s current situation because she chose not to run for president in the 2022 elections. Duterte also claimed she had a list of impeachable offenses that could remove Marcos from office, but she did not disclose what these offenses were.
Reporters also sought comment from the Office of the President but received no response. n
De Lima was the most prominent figure to appear so far before the four-panel body—and one said to have suffered the consequences of confronting Duterte over by Krixia SubingSubing Inquirer.net
Former Pres. Bill Clinton campaigns for Harris, encourages Fil-Ams to vote in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS — Former United States
President Bill Clinton visited Las Vegas this week, rallying support for Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s “New Way Forward” plan. His visit, which included making a plea to Filipino Americans, was aimed to encourage Nevadans to vote early.
During a stop on Tuesday, October 22 at Red Ribbon Bakeshop inside Seafood City Supermarket, a community hub for Filipino Americans, Clinton spoke alongside U.S. Representative Dina Titus.
He praised Harris’ comprehensive strategy to support Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) entrepreneurs, highlighting the small business boom under the Biden-Harris administration. Clinton underscored the critical role these businesses play in the economy, citing Harris’ commitment to bolstering their success.
“What I’m campaigning for is my grandchildren’s future,” said Clinton.
“This country cannot thrive if we’re focused on division and blame instead of
Tuesday, Oct. 22, De Lima corroborated earlier accounts about the so-called Davao template, a phrase used by Royina Garma, a retired police colonel who claimed she was personally asked by Duterte to help implement the scheme on a national scale after he became President.
MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte fired back at critics questioning her state of mind on Tuesday, October 22, and insisted her recent tirades against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. — including an admission she once wanted to cut off his head in anger — were
LuiSa Cabato Inquirer.net
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton with Nevada Assemblymembers Brittney Miller and Erica Mosca and community leader Rozita Lee.
Vice President Sara Duterte attends her office’s first budget hearing with the House appropriations committee on August 28, 2024. House of Representatives / Release
After drawing flak, Sara Duterte...
PAGE 1
who have been investigating her office’s alleged misuse of funds.
This comes after Duterte held a two-hour press conference last week where she aired her grievances against the president and recounted an incident where she said she wanted to “cut off his head” for humiliating a student who asked for his watch as a graduation gift.
The comment did not sit well with a number of lawmakers, including Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel and Senate President Chiz Escudero, who both described Duterte’s remarks as “unusual” and “unbecoming,” respectively.
Duterte also recalled a conversation where she allegedly threatened Sen. Imee Marcos with exhuming the remains of the ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. to toss into the West Philippine Sea if the political attacks against her persist.
House leaders — including Assistant Majority leader Zia Alonto Adiong, the budget sponsor of the Office of the Vice President — said Duterte’s statements were “pure desperation” and had hit a “new low in public discourse” and urged her to tackle the allegations about her office’s budget instead.
For Duterte, the issue boils down to officials who “have never seen a politician who has nothing to lose.”
“Unstable, unhinged, unbecoming, unsound mine... I’m not any of those,” Duterte said in mixed English and Filipino.
“They have never seen a politician who’s IDGAF (I don’t give a f***). I’m not like them. People tend to say things like I’m crazy, desperate... but why would I be desperate? I’m the vice president of the Republic of the Philippines. I’m not going anywhere. So what would I be desperate about?” she said.
Duterte said she was willing to undergo a televised neuropsychiatric exam and a drug test as long as those seeking re-election in the
House of Representatives are willing to be tested for drugs.
The vice president singled out those running to represent Davao City’s first district, specifically her brother Rep. Paolo Duterte and Rep. Margarita Nograles — one of the perceived adversaries of the vice president in the lower chamber.
“So what we will do is have two tests for me because they say I’m unstable,” Duterte said.
“In my view, they’re unstable too. Why? Because when someone responds to their attacks, they get angry and call them unstable. Well, for me, you’re all unstable too,” she added.
Duterte also scored Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla for criticizing her remarks about exhuming Marcos Sr.’s body, saying: “There is a big difference between talking about desecration of a body and actually desecrating a body.”
While doing a sign of the cross to mimic being in prayer, Duterte said: “Let’s pray for the Philippines because we have a secretary of Justice who doesn’t understand the law.”
Remulla told reporters on Tuesday that Duterte’s remarks are “very disturbing” and “shocking.”
“We’ll just leave it at that and I think we all know the score, of what kind of vice president we have… How seemingly unstable her mind can be,” Remulla said.
Grand distraction
The word war between Duterte and her critics in the House — including Rep. Sandro Marcos, who called out the vice president for “crossing the line” with her remarks against his family — are more akin to “theatrics” than actual discourse, according to the Kabataan Partylist.
“Sara’s rants are not a mental health issue; these are an accountability issue. She doesn’t need a day at the doctor’s clinic but a day in Court or Congress hearings for her alleged crimes. What
the past days have shown us is that she and her family are surely crazy for power,” Kabataan Partylist First Nominee Renee Louise Co said.
“Health concerns have been used from Imelda Marcos, Gloria Arroyo to Rodrigo Duterte and many others to escape accountability, while many political prisoners suffer and die in jail cells due to illnesses. The youth sees beyond these theatrics, and we must treat her sins against the Filipino people with grave seriousness,” Co said.
Playing with Duterte’s choice of words for her press conference last week, Co added: “The country is being dragged to hell with the Marcos-Duterte clan wars. The youth already have enough problems as it is.”
Sara cusses at opponents anew
Insisting she is not naturally confrontational, Duterte said she decided to speak out more after jealousy-fueled attacks against her supposedly escalated after her exit from the Lakas–Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party in 2023.
The party, currently led by House Speaker Martin Romualdez, was the launchpad for Duterte’s vice presidential run in 2022. She left the party in 2023 after a House shakeup led to the demotion of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, another party stalwart, who lost the senior deputy speaker title.
Duterte expressed her frustration over what she described as relentless political harassment against her and those associated with her, noting that some of them are “in depression, another contemplating suicide, and others facing severe health issues.”
She also cussed at her adversaries, saying “ mga g*** talaga yan sila .”
“Politics is the root of these attacks. That’s perpetuation of power,” Duterte said, adding that she would speak about Romualdez “at another time.” n
Biden, Harris honor Fil-Am History...
PAGE 1
released a second Filipina Barbie for this year’s Fil-Am History Month celebration.
Filipino American History Month is celebrated every October, commemorating the first recorded presence of Filipinos in what is now the United States in 1587.
The Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) first established October as Filipino American History Month in 1991 to honor the contributions of Filipino Americans and to raise awareness about their history,
culture, and experiences.
Congress formally recognized the observance in 2009.
This year’s theme announced by FANHS is “Struggle, Resistance, Solidarity, and Resilience.” The theme serves as a reminder of the challenges that Filipino Americans have faced, from labor exploitation and racial discrimination to political marginalization, and their enduring spirit in overcoming these obstacles.
Some historic events include 100 year-anniversary since the 1924 Hawaii Sugar Strikes and
Hanapepe Massacre, 50 years since the election of Thelma Buchholdt, the first Fil-Am legislator in the U.S., and 25 years since the murder of Joseph Ileto, a postal carrier who was killed by a white supremacist in the Los Angeles area.
“From the painful to the triumphant, all of these moments contribute to a cumulative Filipino American history. We encourage our communities to reflect on our history and celebrate our collective love and joy,” FANHS said in a statement. n
Against access threats, ensuring votes...
PAGE 1
Chicago, at a Friday, October 18
Ethnic Media Services briefing about voting access threats.
As director of the Chicago Project on Security and Threats (CPOST), Pape and his colleagues found that since 2001, the average number of Department of Justice-prosecuted threats increased fivefold to 19.5 under President Trump, and even higher to 21.6 under President Biden.
“Most of this violence revolves around support or criticism of Donald Trump, and mass support and publicity is nudging volatile would-be attackers to act out,” he explained. “Much of it is also motivated by the ‘Great Replacement’ theory that the country’s white population is being replaced by other ethnic groups.”
Recent political violence includes assassination plots and attempts against major political figures like Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in May 2022, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in October 2022, President Joe Biden in June 2023, former President Barack Obama in September 2023 and former President Trump in July and September 2024.
Alongside these are politically motivated mass shootings like the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting in September 2018; the El Paso, Texas Walmart shooting in August 2019; and the Buffalo, New York supermarket shooting in May 2022.
A September 2024 CPOST survey of over 2,200 demographically representative Americans found 5.8% saying political violence was justified to restore Trump to the presidency and 8% saying it was justified to prevent him from being president — amounting to 15 million and 21 million Americans on the national scale, respectively.
“If Trump loses, the violence could actually get worse,” said Pape. “A third of respondents already own guns … While Election Day itself is a danger point, it may get worse afterward because of state vote counting and certification schedules, especially in swing states where losing even 3% of ballots could throw the outcome into chaos.”
However, the CPOST survey also found that 84% of Democrats and 76% of Republicans — collectively amounting to 200 million Americans on the national scale — supported a bipartisan Congressional coalition against political violence.
“The political violence prevention strategy we’ve been seeing the most traction with is not to have our political leadership become therapists getting people to talk out their anger, but helping people redirect their anger away from violence and toward voting,” added Pape.
Voter suppression
“Voter suppression doesn’t involve states putting up giant signs that say you can’t vote. It involves less overt ways to make it just a little too hard for some people to get to the ballot box, like a death by 1,000 cuts,” said Andrew Garber, a voting rights and elections counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice. These measures include laws that shorten deadlines for voter registration, early voting and mail ballot requests; laws that make it harder for organizations to help people register to vote; understaffing or closing polling centers; and limiting the ability of local election administrators to help voters use ballots.
Between 2020 and 2024, at least 30 states have passed an unprecedented 78 restrictive voting laws — nearly double the laws passed in the prior eight years.
The years between 2016 to 2020 saw 27 such laws, while 2013 to 2016 saw 17.
The most common type of voting restriction law in recent years involves mail voting.
“2020 saw an explosion of people voting by mail due to the pandemic, and these restrictions have particularly fallen on communities of color,” Garber explained. “In Georgia, for instance, previously, primarily white voters voted by mail. In 2020, that flipped toward voters of color … In January 2021, the Georgia legislature reconvened and, as one of its top priorities, passed a law that made it harder to vote by mail.”
“To justify these restrictions, the claim legislators make over and over is that our elections have widespread fraud — and that’s untrue,” he added.
A 2016 Brennan Center survey of 44 election administrators overseeing 23.5 million votes across 42 states saw 30 incidents of suspected noncitizen voting, or .0001% of all votes.
“The U.S. has some of the most secure elections in the world. It’s not the actual infrastructure apparatus. It’s more about people’s ability to access it,” said Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters (LWV).
Ensuring voter access What can voters do?
“First and foremost, register to vote,” continued Stewart.
“With voter roll purges, it’s important to update and check your registration, especially if you move or change your name … To get around potential long wait times on Election Day, learn about early and mail in-voting opportunities in your state.” Local polling locations, voter registration, mail-in and early voting resources, candidate information, campaign finance information and ballot guides are available in English and Spanish through the LWV hub VOTE411.
LWV chapters also hold
question-and-answer forums with local candidates in jurisdictions nationwide.
“Nothing is better than being able to hear directly from a candidate answering your questions about the issues you care about,” said Stewart. “When we vote for our leaders, we’re choosing the people who will make decisions that impact how we engage in the world day-today, whether that’s health care, jobs or climate change — like the impact of the recent hurricane in the South.”
Fighting voter restrictions in Arizona
“Arizona has the most extreme requirements in the country for providing proof of citizenship when registering to vote in state and local elections,” said May Tiwamangkala, advocacy director at Arizona Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander for Equity (AZ AANHPI), the only AAPI civic engagement organization in the state.
“They passed this requirement back in 2004. This year, the fact that registrants who registered before 2004 did not provide citizenship led to 98,000 people being taken off the voter roll,” she continued.
Of these people, one was found to be a non-citizen — 0.00001% of the 98,000 — and they had never voted.
“The ‘non-citizens voting’ rhetoric is a scare tactic that certain elected officials and media outlets use to divide our state … and this election year, the rampant anti-immigrant narrative is making it easier for lawmakers to pass laws that target immigrant communities,” said Tiwamangkala.
AZ AANHPI is currently involved in a lawsuit against the state of Arizona for two voter restriction laws passed in 2022, HB 2492 and HB 2242.
One law “adds more requirements for providing proof of citizenship in order to register to vote,” she explained, and the other “gives county recorders the right to suspect voters of being a non-citizen and purge voter rolls … If additional proof of citizenship is not provided within 35 days after a notice to give documentation, it may also lead to criminal investigations.”
“We’re an extremely polarized culture, especially since we’re a border state, and people are hesitant to get political because they don’t want to break personal relationships. Voter apathy is growing here because people are struggling with inflating living costs, and they feel that the government isn’t helping,” Tiwamangkala said.
“We’re constantly on the defense against harmful bills like these that impact citizens, rather than advancing bills that actually address the issues we face,” she added. (Selen Ozturk/ Ethnic Media Services)
Medicare drug plans are getting better...
coverage or to choose a Medicare Advantage plan began Oct. 15 and runs through Dec. 7. Medicare Advantage is the commercial alternative to traditional government-run Medicare and covers medical care and often prescription drugs. Medicare’s stand-alone drug plans, which cover medicines typically taken at home, are also administered by private insurance companies.
“We always encourage beneficiaries to really look at the plans and choose the best option for them,” Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, who heads the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, told KFF Health News. “And this year in particular it’s important to do that because the benefit has changed so much.”
Improvements to Medicare drug coverage required by the IRA are the most sweeping changes since Congress added the benefit in 2003, but most voters don’t know about them, KFF surveys have found. And some beneficiaries may be surprised by a downside: premium increases for some plans.
CMS said Sept. 27 that nationwide the average Medicare drug plan premium fell about $1.63 a month — about 4% — from last year. “People enrolled in a Medicare Part D plan will continue to see stable premiums and will have ample choices of affordable Part D plans,” CMS said in a statement.
However, an analysis by KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News, found that “many insurers are increasing premiums” and that large insurers including UnitedHealthcare and Aetna also reduced the number of plans they offer.
Many Part D insurers’ initial 2025 premium proposals were even higher. To cushion the price shock, the Biden administration created what it calls a demonstration program to pay insurers $15 extra a month per beneficiary if they agreed to limit premium increases to no more than $35.
“In the absence of this demonstration, premium increases would certainly have been larger,” Juliette Cubanski, deputy director of the Program on Medicare Policy at KFF, wrote in her Oct. 3 analysis. Nearly every Part D insurer agreed to the arrangement. Republicans have criticized it, questioning CMS’ authority to
make the extra payments and calling them a political ploy in an election year. CMS officials say the government has taken similar measures when implementing other Medicare changes, including under President George W. Bush, a Republican. In California, for example, Wellcare’s popular Value Script plan went from 40 cents a month to $17.40. The Value Script plan in New York went from $3.70 a month to $38.70, a more than tenfold hike — and precisely a $35 increase.
Cubanski identified eight plans in California that raised their premiums exactly $35 a month. KFF Health News found that premiums went up for at least 70% of drug plans offered in California, Texas, and New York and for about half of plans in Florida and Pennsylvania — the five states with the most Medicare beneficiaries.
Spokespeople for Wellcare and its parent company, Centene Corp., did not respond to requests for comment. In a statement this month, Centene’s senior vice president of clinical and specialty services, Sarah Baiocchi, said Wellcare would offer the Value Script plan with no premium in 43 states.
In addition to the $2,000 drug spending limit, the IRA caps Medicare copayments for most insulin products at no more than $35 a month and allows Medicare to negotiate prices of some of the most expensive drugs directly with pharmaceutical companies.
It will also eliminate one of the drug benefit’s most frustrating features, a gap known as the “donut hole,” which suspends coverage just as people face growing drug costs, forcing them to pay the plan’s full price for drugs out-of-pocket until they reach a spending threshold that changes from year to year.
The law also expands eligibility for “extra help” subsidies for about 17 million low-income people in Medicare drug plans and increases the amount of the subsidy. Drug companies will be required to chip in to help pay for it.
Starting Jan. 1, the redesigned drug benefit will operate more like other private insurance policies. Coverage begins after patients pay a deductible, which will be no more than $590 next year. Some plans offer a smaller or no deductible, or exclude certain drugs, usually inexpensive generics, from the deductible.
After beneficiaries spend $2,000 on deductibles and copayments, the rest of their Part D drugs are free. That’s because the IRA raises the share of the bill picked up by insurers and pharmaceutical companies. The law also attempts to tamp down future drug price hikes by limiting increases to the consumer price inflation rate, which was 3.4% in 2023. If prices rise faster than inflation, drugmakers have to pay Medicare the difference.
“Before the redesign, Part D incentivized drug price increases,” said Gina Upchurch, a pharmacist and the executive director of Senior PharmAssist, a Durham, North Carolina, nonprofit that counsels Medicare beneficiaries. “The way it is designed now places more financial obligations on the plans and manufacturers, pressuring them to help control prices.”
Another provision of the law allows beneficiaries to pay for drugs on an installment plan, instead of having to pay a hefty bill over a short period of time. Insurers are supposed to do the math and send policyholders a monthly bill, which will be adjusted if drugs are added or dropped.
Along with big changes brought by the IRA, Medicare beneficiaries should prepare for the inevitable surprises that come when insurers revise their plans for a new year. In addition to raising premiums, insurers can drop covered drugs and eliminate pharmacies, doctors, or other services from the provider networks beneficiaries must use.
Missing the opportunity to switch plans means coverage will renew automatically, even if it costs more or no longer covers needed drugs or preferred pharmacies. Most beneficiaries are locked into Medicare drug and Advantage plans for the year unless CMS gives them a “special enrollment period.”
“We do have a system that is run through private health plans,” CMS chief Brooks-LaSure said. But she noted that beneficiaries “have the ability to change their plans.”
But many don’t take the time to compare dozens of plans that can cover different drugs at different prices from different pharmacies — even when the effort could save them money. In 2021, only 18% of Medicare Advantage drug plan enrollees and 31% of stand-alone
2024 Presidensyal na Pangkalahatang Eleksyon
Mga Vote Center ay Bukas Araw-Araw mula Ika-26 ng Oktubre - Ika-5 ng Nobyembre. Bumoto ng maaga para maiwasan ang mahahabang mga pila! Humanap ng lokasyong malapit sa inyo sa sdvote.com
IMF retains Philippines growth outlook for 2024, 2025
by LOUISE MAUREEN SIMEON Philstar.com
MANILA — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has retained its growth prospects for the Philippines for this year and next amid challenging private consumption expansion in the country.
Based on the World Economic Outlook (WEO) released Oct. 22, the Washington-based multilateral lender kept its gross domestic product (GDP) assumption for the Philippines at 5.8 percent.
This was the same forecast the IMF gave the Philippines during the 2024 IMF Article IV consultation earlier this month.
While this is an improvement from last year’s 5.5 percent expansion, it falls below the six to seven percent growth assumption set by the Cabinet-level Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC).
The IMF said private consumption is going to grow slightly with less momentum. The sector’s growth during the first semester was lower than expected due to more expensive food prices.
Private consumption rose by 4.6 percent in the second quarter, slower than the 5.5 percent growth in the same period last year.
IMF’s growth forecast for the Philippines remains one of the highest in the region, next to Vietnam’s 6.1 percent.
This year, the Philippines is expected to grow faster than Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and even China.
Likewise, the IMF retained its 6.1-percent GDP assumption for 2025, also way below the 6.5 to 7.5-percent target of the economic team.
For inflation, the IMF also did not change its inflation forecast for the Philippines, which would
ease to 3.3 percent this year and further to three percent in 2025.
The latest data showed that the September inflation eased to an over four-year low of 1.9 percent, even falling below the expectation of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. The sharp reduction was primarily due to slower increases in the prices of food and nonalcoholic beverages, as well as transport and housing water, electricity, gas and other fuels.
In its report, the IMF noted that the global battle against inflation has essentially been won, even though price pressures persist in some countries.
However, the IMF also warned that downside risks to inflation are rising, specifically with the escalation in regional conflicts, monetary policy remaining tight for too long, growth slowdown in China and continued protectionist policies of some countries. n
BUMISITA.
Kumpletuhin ang inyong balota sa ginhawa ng inyong tahanan. Pirmahan at petsahan ang inyong sobreng pagbabalikan, i-seal ang inyong nakumpletong balota sa loob, at ibalik ito sa pamamagitan ng U.S. Postal Service - hindi kinakailangan ng selyo!
Ibalik ang inyong balota sa alinmang opisyal na mga ballot drop box ng Tagapagrehistro sa buong county na magsisimula sa Martes, Ika-8 ng Oktubre hanggang sa Araw ng Eleksyon, Martes, Ika-5 ng Nobyembre. Iwasan ang mahahabang pila sa pamamagitan ng paggamit ng benepisyo sa maagang pagboto! Simula Sabado, Ika-26 ng Oktubre, magbubukas araw-araw ang mga vote center mula ika-8 ng umaga hanggang ika-5 ng hapon hanggang Lunes, Ika-4 ng Nobyembre. Sa Araw ng Eleksyon, Martes, Ika-5 ng Nobyembre, ang mga oras ng botohan ay mag-iiba mula ika-7 ng umaga hanggang ika-8 ng gabi.
Humanap ng ballot drop box o vote center na malapit sa inyo sa sdvote.com.
PURE TALENT. The National Arts and Crafts Fair kicks off at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday, October 23, with Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina Roque (in blue), Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco (2nd from right), and officials of Design Center of the Philippines and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts gracing the opening program. The five-day event is a celebration of Filipino creativity, talent and craftsmanship. PNA photo by
Medicare drug plans are getting better...
PAGE 3
drug plan members checked their plan’s benefits and costs against competitors’, KFF researchers found. For free, unbiased help selecting
drug coverage, contact the State Health Insurance Assistance Program at shiphelp.org or 1-877839-2675. KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth
journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. (Susan Jaffe/KFF Health News)
De Lima recalls DDS ops, ties to ‘Superman’...
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the merciless crackdown.
Despite being an incumbent senator in 2017, she was charged and detained on charges of drug trafficking filed by the Department of Justice, an agency she also once headed, during the Duterte administration.
She was detained at Camp Crame as the trial dragged on for more than seven years. All three cases were eventually dismissed, the last in June this year.
De Lima is currently running for a House party list seat and has earlier spoken of plans to sue Duterte over her legal ordeals.
Duterte, 79, was invited to Tuesday’s hearing but did not show up. According to a letter he sent to the panel, he had to decline for health reasons.
“I attend this hearing with a deep sense of irony,” De Lima said in her opening statement.
“I have not forgotten that in September and October 2016, the House committee on justice conducted [an] inquiry on the Bilibid drug trade. However, unlike this hearing, the real subject of that hearing was not in any way about the drug trade.”
“The real subject of that 2016 House committee hearing was all about destroying me for conducting a Senate inquiry which, in so many aspects, was like this one. The only difference between this hearing and that Senate hearing is that my committee inquiry was eight years earlier and Duterte was at the peak of power.’’
“It is so saddening that it was only now that there has been a comprehensive discussion by Congress of the drug war and EJKs, only after the bodies of thousands of victims have already mounted,’’ she said.
First look at DDS
In the course of the hearing, De Lima confirmed several aspects of Garma’s testimony, including how Duterte tapped his most trusted police officers to head major commands, their use of lists obtained from village or barangay governments to select “victims,” and the payoff system for hired gunmen and their “handlers.”
As then chair of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), De Lima launched an investigation in 2009 into the summary killings allegedly perpetrated by the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS), incurring the ire of then-city mayor Duterte.
The CHR probe, De Lima recalled, found that the DDS was composed of former communist rebels who were hired as hitmen, with active police officers serving as their handlers.
Between 1988 and 2000, the DDS teams were paid P15,000 per kill, split into P10,000 for the gunman and P5,000 for the handler, she added.
At the time, De Lima said, Duterte “personally gave out the kill orders and the reward money directly to the assassins themselves.”
In 2001, she said, the DDS was “upgraded” to make it appear as part of the Davao City police, where it became known in the organization as the Heinous Crimes Investigation Section (HCIS).
By this time, the teams were composed of active officers and civilian “abanteros” or hit men. The reward now ranged between P13,000 and P15,000 per job: P3,000 to P5,000 going to the handlers; P7,000 to P8,000 for the assassins; and P500 to P1,000 for the informants.
“Special projects” that involved high-value targets, De Lima said, were rewarded between P100,000 and P1 million per hit, she added.
‘Nanlaban’ concept
The DDS members “directly received salaries as auxiliary services workers,” the money drawn from the mayor’s intelligence funds, De Lima said in an exchange with Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel.
Even the concept of “nanlaban”—or of the suspects being killed because they allegedly resisted arrest and shot back at the law enforcers— came from the DDS operations, De Lima said.
Most of the CHR’s findings were later corroborated by confessed hit men Edgar Matobato and Arturo Lascañas, who went public about the DDS in 2016 and 2020, respectively.
Lascañas’ affidavit on the DDS was later submitted to the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is investigating Duterte for crimes against humanity.
De Lima said Lascañas’ accounts would show that the DDS was not just a loosely organized gang but a group that reported directly to Duterte, who was code-named “Superman” in its lingo.
Applicable PH law
These findings, she said, were also part of her personal investigation notes that she submitted to the ICC.
De Lima renewed her calls on the Marcos administration to cooperate with the ICC and reverse the policy it inherited from Duterte.
She also reminded Congress that Republic Act No. 9851, or the law against crimes against humanity, empowers the government to file charges against those most responsible for drug war killings.
The 2009 law punishes the same crimes that fall under ICC jurisdiction, including extrajudicial killings, she said.
Section 6, for example, deals with “crimes against humanity” and the corresponding penalty of reclusion perpetua, while Section 9 specifies the public officials, including heads of state, who can be held accountable.
De Lima further noted that even before the Philippines ratified the Rome Statute, the treaty creating the ICC, in 2011, the country had already recognized the jurisdiction of the tribunal and other international bodies through RA 9851. The law allows for the surrender or extradition of individuals accused of crimes against humanity to international courts, she said, adding: “It is our own law that says we have to cooperate with the ICC even before we became a member of the ICC. To say that we don’t care about the ICC, we have to repeal this law.”
Should the victims of the drug war decide to file cases using RA 9851 as a basis, it would still depend on the ICC whether it would see it as an improvement of the Philippine justice system, de Lima said.
She was referring to the premise that the ICC investigation only targets persons “most responsible” for the crimes being alleged.
‘Admit your sins’ Asked what she would have told the former president if he appeared at Tuesday’s hearing, De Lima said:
“I’ve proven that I’m beyond (being) threatened by him. Just admit everything. Admit your sins against me, that you merely targeted me, that you invented the cases against me, and that you are the most involved as the mastermind, the one who gave the orders and induced the killings.”
“Admit it so that the victims who have long been seeking out justice can finally have peace,” De Lima said. n
Former Pres. Bill Clinton campaigns...
PAGE 1
Doolittle Community Center, an early voting site, with Senator Jacky Rosen, and at the Martin Luther King Jr. Senior Center in North Las Vegas. At these events, he emphasized the importance of voting early, encouraging attendees to mail in their ballots or vote in person. He warned that under Trump’s Project 2025 agenda, Social Security could run out in six years, a move that would devastate seniors. In contrast, he pointed to Harris’ commitment to strengthening Social Security and Medicare, vital programs for millions of Americans.
The former president’s message resonated with the audience, urging them to spread the word and encourage others to vote. He stressed that the future of the country depended on participation in the electoral process.
Other notable figures attending the Fil-Am community visit included Nevada State Senator Rochelle Nguyen, Assemblymembers Erica Mosca, Brittney Miller and Reuben D’Silva. Additionally, Fil-Am community leader Rozita Lee, former White House Commissioner under President Obama’s
Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, was present. As early voting continues, Clinton’s visit underscored the importance of the Harris-Walz vision, which aims to lower costs for families, make housing more affordable, and ensure a brighter future for all Americans. n
FAMILIAR
Davao City mayor. Photo by Niño Jesus Orbeta
NOT LOOKING GOOD. Dark clouds seen from the Ortigas Central Business District, located within the joint boundaries of Pasig, Mandaluyong and Quezon City, on Tuesday afternoon, October 22. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc
Dateline PhiliPPines
Duterte to appear before Senate panel
by Javier Joe ismael and Bernadette e tamayo ManilaTimes.net
FORMER president Rodrigo Duterte will attend the Senate hearing on his administration’s bloody war on drugs on Monday, October 28, Senate President Francis Escudero said Tuesday, October 22.
In a press conference, Escudero assured the former chief executive that he would be accorded the utmost courtesy as a former president of the country and as a former member of Congress.
Escudero did not say, however, if Mr. Duterte could be cited in contempt if he refuses to answer questions from any of the senators, but he said he doesn’t want this to happen.
On Friday, October 18, Escudero declared that the hearings on the drug war would be handled by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee rather than the Senate Committee of the Whole, as proposed by Sen. Risa Hontiveros.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III is scheduled to preside over Monday’s hearing, even though Sen. Pia Cayetano is the chairman of the panel.
Pimentel on Tuesday rejected a call to have Sens. Ronald Dela Rosa and Bong Go — who were alleged to have played a part in the war on drugs — inhibit themselves from the Senate
investigation next week.
The Akbayan Party-list had called on Dela Rosa and Go to take an indefinite leave amid the scheduled Senate probe.
Retired police colonel Royina Garma testified during the House of Representatives’ quad committee hearings on Duterte’s antidrug campaign that Dela Rosa and Go had a role in the reward system for policemen who killed drug suspects during operations. Both senators have denied the accusation.
Pimentel, chairman of the Senate Committee on Justice, said their presence should not affect the credibility of the probe.
“They are not going to preside. And we have to encourage other senators to show interest in the probe,” Pimentel said in a text message on Tuesday.
Asked what role Dela Rosa and Go could play in the hearing, Pimentel said, “They will be given time [to ask questions].” He said the senators could anticipate the issues against them and answer these allegations.
Dela Rosa has said Duterte would attend the Senate hearings, but Pimentel said he would not be called first.
He said Duterte “can give his immediate reaction after hearing first the issues raised against his administration’s war on drugs.”
Go leads senate preference survey
by Bernadette e tamayo ManilaTimes.net
SEN. Bong Go led a recent Senate preference baseline survey conducted by Publicus Asia Inc. with 5 percent of the votes.
In a statement, Publicus said while certain candidates have gained early support, a significant portion of voters remain undecided and open to change. It said the “unaided test was part of the survey where respondents were asked to name their topof-mind senatorial candidate.”
The survey was conducted from October 16 to 17 with 1,500 respondents randomly drawn from the market research panel of over 200,000 registered Filipino voters.
The survey firm said Sen. Risa Hontiveros “emerged as the most prominent name in the survey due to her leadership in the Senate investigation into illegal Philippine offshore gaming operations.” However, she is not running for reelection in 2025 since her term ends in 2028.
Go was followed by a four-way tie among cardiologist and health advocate Doc Willie Ong, former senators Manny Pacquiao and Vicente Sotto III, and Sagip party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, who all got 4 percent.
Go was the top pick in Mindanao with 12 percent, while Pacquiao followed at 8 percent.
In North Central Luzon, Ong held a 7 percent
lead. In the National Capital Region, returning senators Paolo Benigno Aquino IV and Francis Pangilinan were the respondents’ “top of mind with 7 percent and 6 percent, respectively.”
The Publicus said the survey showed that five to seven out of 10 voters who named candidates such as Go, Ong, Sotto, Marcoleta, Pangilinan, Aquino, returning senator Panfilo Lacson, and Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa were “unlikely to change their votes.”
However, Pacquiao, Sens. Imee Marcos and Bong Revilla, as well as senatorial aspirant Erwin Tulfo, “have a larger number of supporters who are still undecided and could potentially shift their choices as the election approaches.”
Publicus also said that when respondents were shown a list of senatorial candidates, newcomers Ong (41 percent) and Tulfo (40 percent) topped the survey, along with Ben Tulfo (33 percent) and Aquino (27 percent).
These new faces were joined by eight in the Top 12, including Sotto (38 percent), Lacson (38 percent), Go (35 percent), Pia Cayetano (33 percent), Pacquiao (32 percent), Pangilinan (30 percent), Marcos (30 percent), and Dela Rosa (26 percent), it added.
“Despite the strong early showings for several candidates, the survey reveals that 45 percent of voters remain undecided and are likely to change their preferences in the lead-up to the May 2025 elections,” Publicus said. n
Sandro hits Sara: She ‘crossed line’
by Jane bautiSta Inquirer.net
MANILA — Ilocos Norte
Rep. Sandro Marcos, the eldest son of President Marcos, on Tuesday, Oct 22, scored Vice President Sara Duterte for “crossing the line” with her comments about wanting to behead his father and exhume and then throw the remains of his grandfather and his father’s namesake, former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., into the sea.
The young Marcos said he had “held [my] tongue” out of respect for the vice president despite castigating his family, but said he had drawn the line at her “bizarre temper tantrum”
and “abhorrent comments.”
He was referring to Duterte’s two-hour press conference on Friday, October 18, where she admitted to having daydreamed once about cutting off Marcos’ head and to threatening the president’s older sister, Sen. Imee Marcos, that she would dig up and dispose of the patriarch’s body in the West Philippine Sea if “they don’t stop” the political attacks against her.
Marcos Sr., who fled the country in 1986 after his ouster during the Edsa People Power Revolution, died in exile in Hawaii in 1989. His preserved remains were flown back to the country in 1993 and stayed in a family mausoleum in Batac
City, Ilocos Norte, which was opened for public viewing. He was finally interred at Libingan ng mga Bayani in 2016 on the approval of Duterte’s father, then President Rodrigo Duterte. “Going ballistic was perhaps the self-therapy she prescribed for herself. But she crossed the line, leaving the civic and civil space in which disagreements can be rationally argued,” Representative Marcos said. “Let this be an opportune time to remind ourselves that we mustn’t take our mental health for granted and that above all else I sincerely hope she is OK,” he added.
Duterte faces allegations of mismanaging hundreds of
PMA cadet who asked Marcos for watch reprimanded – AFP
by neStor CorraLeS Inquirer.net
MANILA — The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) cadet who asked President Marcos for his watch at the graduation rites in May has been reprimanded, the spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Philippines said on Tuesday, Oct. 22.
Col. Francel Margareth Padilla clarified at a press briefing that the president was not required to give his/ her watch to a member of the graduating class.
“This is not a tradition of the PMA. We’ve been there, we graduated there and through the years, this is not a tradition we uphold,” Padilla, who graduated from the academy in 2000, told reporters.
Isolated incident
“This is an isolated incident, and it has already been dealt with. He was already reprimanded; in our case, it’s already a closed book,” she said.
The cadet, according to her, had long been given a reprimand even before Vice President Sara Duterte claimed
in a press conference on Oct. 17 that Marcos had refused to give up his watch as a graduation gift.
Duterte said the incident left her so angry that she imagined herself decapitating the president. According to Padilla, the cadet “was already admonished,” while the case “has already been dealt with according to the regulations of the AFP and the PMA.” She clarified that the cadet was merely “called out” for his behavior and was now serving in the military. In 2019, then-President Rodrigo Duterte gave his watch to PMA cadet officer Alberto Julaquit during the commencement exercises held in Baguio City. n
AP Photo/Aaron Favila
Election e-fraud
IT’S good to hear the Commission on Elections banning the use of troll farms for the May 2025 midterm polls. Such troll farms have been used by certain candidates in recent elections to malign their rivals and influence public opinion. Whether the Comelec can enforce the ban effectively, however, remains to be seen.
The Comelec said it would get help from social media platforms in going after troll farms. Social media giants TikTok and Google recently announced that they are banning paid political advertisements on their platforms in the runup to the May 2025 midterm elections, in support of Comelec initiatives for clean and honest polls.
Editorial
Meta announced a similar ban, but only during the official campaign period, to give candidates and parties with limited resources a chance to promote themselves and their advocacies on its popular platforms including Facebook and Instagram. Meta said it was also instituting measures to curb troll accounts on its platforms. Worldwide in previous years, Meta has removed numerous accounts found to be violating its policy against coordinated inauthentic behavior and “foreign interference” – referring to CIB done in behalf of a foreign or government entity. Most of those removed were linked to “commercial entities and individuals associated with political campaigns and political offices,” Meta said. “Domestic campaigns like these raise
WITH just a little over two weeks left before the Nov. 5 presidential elections in the United States, never in the history of the world has so much attention been focused on this election. Poll results show the race to be so tight that it could be anybody’s game, with the winning margins projected to be “razor-thin.”
Unlike other countries where the candidate who wins the popular vote is declared the winner, the United States has a unique system called the Electoral College where a state is allocated electoral votes based on the number of their congressional representatives and two more from the senators. The winner will need 270 Electoral College votes out of the total 538, and with this system, it’s possible for a candidate to win the popular number of votes nationally but still lose the election.
Swing states or battleground states are those where results have not been predictable for each election cycle, with the support for candidates split rather evenly. This year, the battleground states include Pennsylvania, Michigan,
a particularly complex challenge by blurring the line between healthy public debate and manipulation,” Meta pointed out.
The social media giants have the technical savvy and other resources to prevent the use of digital technology for undermining free elections. The Comelec doesn’t have such resources, so it will need to coordinate with the internet-based platforms to go after troll farms. The Comelec will also need sufficient tech support for enforcing its requirement, imposed on all candidates and party-list groups, to disclose all campaign paraphernalia using artificial intelligence.
Last month, the Comelec issued a resolution, giving all candidates, party-list organizations and their campaign teams until Dec. 13 to register their official social media accounts, pages, websites, podcasts, blogs, vlogs and other internet-based campaign platforms. Poll fraud is going digital. The Comelec – and the nation – must be prepared for the many ways by which technology is being used to subvert the people’s mandate in elections. (Philstar.com)
All eyes on the US elections
Wisconsin, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada –which is why both the Trump and Harris camps are doubling down on their campaign activities to shore up support in these critical states and convince undecided voters across race, age and gender lines.
However, a report from the Pew Research Center on the results of a survey conducted from Aug. 26 to Sept. 2 shows that majority of Americans “continue to favor moving away from Electoral College,” with 63 percent indicating they would “prefer to see the winner of the presidential election be the person who wins the most votes nationally,” while 35 percent favored retaining the Electoral College system. I also came across an interesting report published at the website of National Public Radio titled, “In an election race this close, Asian American voters have become a force” about members of the Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) community – which includes Filipino Americans – emerging as the “fastestgrowing voting group” in the United States.
In Pennsylvania for example, “the number of eligible voters from this demographic group grew by a whopping 55 percent
between 2010 and 2020,” the report said, explaining that while their number may be just a narrow slice of eligible voters, the AAPI vote can turn the tide and help determine who will win in a critical state like Pennsylvania.
According to AAPI data, there are “over 2.14 million Filipino-American adults eligible to vote” and that “when considering battleground states, Filipino Americans are one of the three largest groups of eligible AAPI voters” at 15 percent. With more Filipino Americans getting involved and increasing their participation in U.S. politics, they can become a potent force in the elections and undoubtedly play a major role in strengthening the relationship between the Philippines and the United States.
Without a doubt, every diplomat in Washington, D.C. is closely monitoring the developments and carefully watching the twists and turns in the campaign. In fact, all eyes will practically be riveted on America on election day, knowing fully well that the outcome will have tremendous global impact in most every aspect, particularly in terms of the foreign policy direction that the U.S. under a new administration will take.
As noted by Dr. Victor Cha, president of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Korea chair of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), in his foreword to a major new report titled “The Global Impact of the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election,” the audience is global, with the choices of Americans having “ramifications for the world.”
Calling it “an election of global consequence,” Dr. Cha says the next U.S. president will, “upon entering office, contend with not only two wars in Europe and the Middle East, but also growing cooperation among autocratic powers as a disruptive force in the global order,” highlighting that “China’s assertiveness and coalitions of autocratic leaders are putting unprecedented stress on the rules-based international order.”
Not surprisingly, Europe seems to be slightly on edge, considering that the war in Ukraine continues to rage. As International Crisis Group president Dr. Comfort Ero has put it, it’s a “highstakes election for NATO and Ukraine,” noting that “in all the biggest conflicts in and around Europe, the U.S. is playing a central role. It is a critical supplier of military aid to Ukraine as Kyiv fights to fend
off Russian aggression. It has taken the lead in attempting to end the Gaza war and contain spillover elsewhere in the Middle East. Washington has also been out front seeking a settlement to the civil war in Sudan.”
It is, therefore, quite “jarring” for many European leaders to think about “the erosion of a partnership on which the EU relies to manage the crises that plague its neighborhood,” Dr. Ero says. From what we are told, the foreign policies of the two candidates may differ on Europe, but when it comes to the Indo-Pacific region, the policies would more or less be the same regardless of who the next occupant of the White House will be.
During my discussion with the board, advisory council and members of Asia Society Northern California, I conveyed that majority of Filipinos strongly support the current trajectory of our relationship with the United States. With strong bipartisan support for the Philippines by members of the U.S. Congress, I am confident that whichever way the U.S. elections will go, our alliance, friendship and partnership will remain strong, anchored on the Mutual Defense Treaty – which
remains a tool for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. (Philstar. com)
* * * 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.
* * * Email: babeseyeview@gmail.com
IT’S no secret that many families in California today have overwhelming financial barriers. We are drowning in debt and forced into a rental market that grows more unaffordable by the day. Many young people have already given up on the American dream of owning a home and starting a family. Meanwhile, long-time residents — the very people who have helped build and sustain this city — are being driven out of their homes.
SOMCAN understands how critical rent control is to protect tenants in our community, which is why we are encouraging Californians to vote YES on Proposition 33. Even though the measure may involve some challenges, such as reducing home values of current residents, voting YES on Prop 33 is still the best choice as it will assist
California’s residents both now and in the future. Under the current law, the Costa Hawkins Rental Housing Act of 1995 imposes strict limitations on how cities can regulate rent control. Specifically, it prohibits rent control on singlefamily homes, condos, and any buildings constructed after February 1995. This law also prevents cities from capping rents once a tenant vacates a unit, allowing landlords to raise rents to market rates.
Proposition 33 seeks to eliminate these restrictions, empowering cities and counties to apply rent control to a broader range of properties, including newer buildings, and to limit rent increases even after tenants move out. This change is aimed at providing local governments with more flexibility to address the growing housing affordability crisis.
Residents in metro cities across California, especially in areas like San Francisco, San Jose and Los Angeles, are feeling pressure from these high expenses. While the influx of new jobs has attracted new people who can afford these rising prices, longterm residents are increasingly being priced out of their homes. If Proposition 33 is passed, several positive outcomes could impact the state as a whole.
• Preservation of long-term residents: Expanded rent control would help protect long-term residents from displacement due to rising housing costs, allowing them to stay in their homes and communities.
• Increased rent control protections: Tenants living in 30and 40-year-old buildings would be protected under rent control, preventing unexpected and potentially devastating rent hikes.
• Support for low-income and
working-class families: Expanded rent control would make housing more affordable for low-income and working-class individuals who are struggling to keep up with the area's high cost of living.
• Reduced gentrification: With more housing included under rent control protections, California neighborhoods would be less vulnerable to gentrification, helping to maintain the cultural and economic diversity of the neighborhoods.
• Mitigation of homelessness: With more renters protected from exorbitant rent hikes, the risk of falling into homelessness will decrease, especially among vulnerable populations.
• Community stability: More affordable housing options would allow community members to continue living in the city where they work and attend school.
Opponents of Proposition 33 contend that repealing the
Costa Hawkins Rental Housing Act will deter developers from constructing new buildings, arguing that the potential for rent control will discourage investment in housing projects. However, this perspective overlooks a crucial reality: the new developments currently being constructed in California are primarily aimed at the luxury market. These highend apartments often cater to wealthier residents, further exacerbating the affordability crisis for working-class families and low-income individuals.
Voting YES on Prop 33 isn’t just about rent control. It’s making sure that the Bay Area and California remains a place for everyone to thrive. It’s about sending a message that we prioritize people over profit.
* * * 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.
* * * Established in 2000, SOMCAN is a multiissue and multi-strategy organization that uplifts the lives of youth, families, individuals, and workers. We work on a wide range of issues – from tenant rights to community planning to Filipino language access to worker's rights – and provide culturally competent direct services ranging from tenant counseling, family support, youth empowerment, employment, and health and wellness activities SOMCAN believes in uplifting the voices of immigrant, people-ofcolor, and low-income communities so that they will be heard in local policy-making decisions and so that government officials are accountable to their needs.
Whether you're a new kid on the block or a born-and-raised San Franciscan like us, your vote on this proposition matters. Let’s keep both the Bay Area and California more affordable and accessible for all residents.
Comelec urges lawmakers: Overhaul party-list system
by rhodina ViLLanueVa Philstar.com
MANILA — The Commission on Elections called on lawmakers to push for the complete overhaul of Republic Act (RA) 7941 or the PartyList System Act to address the concerns of different sectors, especially the marginalized.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia said amending the law would make it more responsive to the requirements of partylist representation.
“In my opinion, it should be given a complete overhaul so that it can reflect the decisions of the Supreme Court,
concerns on marginalized and underrepresented would be reflected, address qualification of nominees and even (check) how to compute their representation in Congress,” Garcia said on Friday, October 18.
“We really hope that it will be updated, revised, amended and fixed, this party-list system, especially since it was passed way back in 1995,” he added.
Garcia said the overhaul is necessary since all the partylist groups, their nominees and even the Comelec are facing numerous criticisms.
“The issues, the problems and the criticisms being thrown
to party-list organizations are all rooted in this law that is being implemented by the Comelec,” Garcia said. RA 7941 was signed into law by then-president Fidel Ramos in March 1995.
The law aims to promote proportional representation in the House of Representatives through a party-list system of registered parties or organizations of Filipinos belonging to marginalized and underrepresented sectors.
Critics of the law argue that it is being exploited by political aspirants who do not genuinely represent the marginalized and underrepresented sector. n
Duterte to appear before Senate...
Pimentel wanted to allow first the families of the drug war victims and Garma to testify.
“We should first hear the issues against the war on drugs. Because the only reason why we conduct hearings was because there must be some issues. If it’s a perfectly run government program, then we will have no issues.”
Last week, Escudero said the nature of the issues to be raised makes the Blue Ribbon Committee the logical choice.
He added that he would prefer the hearing begin during the congressional break so that the Senate can
give its full attention to the debates on the 2025 national budget when it is back in session.
“This timing is important because Congress must pass the proposed national budget for 2025 before the year ends to prevent a reenacted budget,” he said.
He said the Blue Ribbon Committee has the authority to conduct motu propio investigations even while Congress is in recess.
Escudero said Duterte’s presence on Monday would be significant because this would be the first time he attended any hearing related to his actions while in office.
Escudero, meanwhile, ruled out a joint hearing with the House quad committee, saying congressional rules do not provide for the conduct of a joint investigation by two separate houses. On Monday, House quad committee lead co-chairman Rep. Robert Ace Barbers proposed that the Senate and the House of Representatives conduct a joint investigation into the alleged extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration’s war on drugs. After discussions with Escudero, however, the senators agreed that the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee would hold its own hearings. n
millions of pesos in confidential and intelligence funds allocated to both the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, where she served as secretary for two years until her resignation in July this year.
She has repeatedly refused to attend congressional hearings to clear her name, while also openly disavowing Marcos and especially his cousin, Speaker Martin Romualdez, whom she accused of controlling the national budget.
Father’s advice Sandro, who is also House senior deputy majority leader, said his father advised him to refrain from making a statement.
“However, one must draw the line at some point and it’s frankly long overdue,” he said.
“Forget that the objects of her derision are dear to me, but I would also be remiss in my responsibility as an llocano representative if I didn’t voice out my disdain at the abhorrent comments she so carelessly uttered. I can ascertain that my emotions are shared not only by my kakailian ( province mates ) in the north but across the country,” Sandro said.
He said he still wished Duterte success, hoping that she “find the peace of mind and mental clarity that seems to be eluding her.”
Meanwhile, Senate President Francis Escudero believed the vice president’s criticism of the Marcoses had no impact at all on the economy and on the stability and security of the government.
“But if ever there would be any effect, it would be to herself and her office, just like the commentaries we heard in relation to the press
conference she had recently,” Escudero said at a briefing on Monday.
“The president and the vice president are not actually bickering. The vice president was talking against the president and the president was not answering back. The president did not engage in an argument with her. It was only her (Duterte) … in a sense it’s just one-sided,” he added. Several government officials, including lawmakers, have expressed disappointment over Duterte’s “deeply alarming” remarks, with others saying she should seek a “psychological assessment.”
Escudero had said Duterte’s conduct was “unbecoming” of the second highest official of the land and this portrayed her in a bad light.
Asked if Duterte’s conduct should determine her fitness, especially since she is the country’s Vice President, Escudero said: “There is no such provision in our Constitution. If you will examine fitness in relation to the health of a government official, only the President was mentioned, not the Vice President.”
“And if you also remember, the provision in our Constitution says that majority of the President’s Cabinet may write Congress and say that the president is not fit, health-wise. But there is no same provision in relation to the vice president. So that is a gap or gray area with regard to our procedure and existing law,” he said.
While the Senate leader understood where the vice president was coming from, Escudero said Duterte should have been more circumspect in her statements issued in a public setting. (with a report from Tina G. Santos)
FBI joins hunt for abducted American vlogger in Zamboanga
by CRISTINA CHI Philstar.com
MANILA — Agents of the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have arrived in Zamboanga del Norte to probe the alleged kidnapping of an American national who was reported missing last week.
FBI agents have coordinated with the Sibuco municipal government to join the search for the missing American vlogger, Elliot Eastman, who has been living in Sibuco town for the last five months, said Helen Galvez, information officer of Police Regional Office 9 (Zamboanga).
“We already have persons of interest. We’re still verifying if they have any connection to previous kidnapping incidents,” Galvez said in an interview with Radyo DZBB on Monday, October 21.
“There hasn’t been a kidnapping in the area for a long time. As long as there hasn’t been any demand for ransom, we’re not ruling out other possibilities or angles,” she added.
Witnesses told police that they saw four armed men took Eastman, but the identity of the alleged abductors have yet to be identified, Galvez said.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines said in a statement on Monday that it is prepared to assist the Philippine National Police in locating the missing American national, including the conduct of tracking and pursuit operations.
In an earlier statement sent to Philstar.com, U.S. Embassy acting spokesperson Glenda Wallace said that the U.S. government works closely with local law enforcement when a U.S. citizen goes missing and maintains close contact with their family.
“The Department of State has no higher priority than the welfare and safety of U.S. citizens abroad,” it added.
What went before
Earlier police reports indicate that the four armed men pretended to be law enforcement officers before forcibly taking Eastman, who was shot in the leg during the kidnapping.
The alleged abductors have not reached out to the police to make any demands related to Eastman, the police officer said. “We don’t have proof of life for now,” she added.
Eastman is married to a Filipino national. He returned five months ago to attend his wife’s graduation before being abducted in his wife’s home, Galvez said.
Video clips posted on Eastman’s Facebook page show he regularly documents his daily life inside his residence. n
Notice of Closed Wait List for Senior Housing
Grace Tower, low-income senior apts in San Diego, has closed its waiting list for studio apts (single occupants) effective October 25th, 2024. We will no longer be accepting applications for studio units. The Waiting List for one-bedroom apts will remain open. One bedroom apts are for two person households. A notice will be published when the waiting list for studio apts is re-opened. Applicants for one-bedroom apts must meet HUD low income limits ~ 60,600 for two person(s). No religious affiliation required.
Grace Tower – 3955 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92103 –(619) 298-5442 ~ TTY: Dial 711 for hearing impaired. Interpreter services avail.
Email: Mila@royalpropertymgmt.com. Disabled applicants may request reasonable accommodations.
EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
Sandro Marcos
Phto from Lyn Rillon
Comelec Chairman George Garcia presents a sample of the official ballot to be used for the 2025 elections during a local source code review kickoff event in Makati City earlier this month. Philstar.com file photo by Edd Gumban
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NOTICE OF INITIAL PETITION FOR PROBATE ESTATE OF SANDY PECK
CASE NO: 24PE001806C
To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of: SANDY PECK
A Petition for Probate has been filed by ADIL ABDULAHAD in the Superior Court of California, County of SAN DIEGO
The Petition for Probate requests that ADIL ABDULAHAD be appointed as personal representative to administer with will annexed the estate of the decedent.
The petition requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.
The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.)
The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows:
Date: 10/30/2024
Time: 01:30 P.M. Dept.: 502 Address of court: 1100 Union Street, San Diego, CA 92101
Branch Name: Central, Probate
If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.
You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.
Evane K. Abbassi, Esq. (SBN 335491) Abbassi Law Firm c/o Estate of Sandy Peck 6320 Canoga Ave, Suite 1610 Woodland Hills, CA 91367 818-463-2329 Publication Dates: 10/18, 10/25, and 11/01/20224 AJ 1539 AJSD 1539
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9020756
El Presidente Backflow Co. located at 590 G St, Chula Vista, CA 91910. Registrant: Jose De Jesus Ramirez Reyes, 590 G St, Chula Vista, CA 91910. This business is conducted by An Individual. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 04/24/2019.
Signature: Jesus Ramirez. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 10/15/2024. AJ 1537 10/18, 10/25, 11/01, and 11/08/2024. AJSD 1537
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9020311 Park Vista Apartments located at 49-45 4th Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91910. Registrant: West Grawyler Associates LTD, 244 Palomar St, STE A/Office Chula, Vista, CA 919114200. This business is conducted by A Limited Partnership. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 07/11/1979. Signature: Dennis H Pennell. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 10/08/2024. AJ 1544 10/25, 11/01, 11/08, and 11/15/2024. AJSD 1544
CASE NUMBER: 24CU015696C TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner Rudy Hernandez Jr filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. Rudy Hernandez Jr to Rodolfo Sandoval. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 11/26/2024 Time: 8:30 AM Dept. 61 Superior Court of California, County of San Diego 330 WEST BROADWAY DEPT. 61 San Diego, CA 92101
A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county. Asian Journal: 10/08/2024 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT Maureen F. Hallahan Judge of the Superior Court AJ 1547 10/25, 11/01, 11/08, and 11/15/2024 ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME (JC Form #NC-120) NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120). If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner. To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, drivers license, passport, and other identification, a certificate copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issues the legal document that need to be changed to determine if a certificate copy is required. A certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be obtained form the Civil Business Office for a fee. Petitioners who are seeking a change of name under the Safe at Home program may contact the assigned department for information on obtaining certified copies. If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the Court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions. If timely objection is filed, the Court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions. A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE, MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date. Any Petition for the name change of a minor, that is signed by only one parent, must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other, non-signing parent, and proof of service must be filed with the Court. AJSD 1547
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9020659
Butter Mochi SD located at 11319 Spica Dr, San Diego, CA 92126. Registrant: Mahalu LLC, 11319 Spica Dr, San Diego, CA 92126. This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 10/04/2024.
Signature: Kurt Antonio. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 10/14/2024. AJ 1538 10/18, 10/25, 11/01, and 11/08/2024. AJSD 1538
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9020372
Elegance Hair Boutique located at 1915 Avenida Del Mexico Unit 261, San Diego, CA 92154. Registrant: Maria Elena Camarena Fierro, 1915 Avenida Del Mexico Unit 261, San Diego, CA 92154. This business is conducted by An Individual. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 10/07/2024.
Signature: Maria Elena Camarena Fierro. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 10/09/2024. AJ 1545 10/25, 11/01, 11/08, and 11/15/2024. AJSD 1545
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9019072
SERVER SD located at 1039 13th St, Imperial Beach, CA 91932. Registrant: Jose Castillo Martinez, 1039 13th St, Imperial Beach, CA 91932. This business is conducted by An Individual. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 09/19/2024.
Signature: Jose Castillo Martinez. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 09/19/2024.
AJ 1522 10/04, 10/11, 10/18, and 10/25/2024. AJSD 1522
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9019215
Sweetwater Apartments located at 1058 Elkelton Blvd, Spring Valley, CA 91977.
Registrant: South Bay Group LLC, 244-A Palomar St, Chula Vista, CA 91911. This business is conducted by A Limited Partnership.
REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 10/02/1979.
Signature: Robert Pennell. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 09/23/2024. AJ 1529 10/11, 10/18, 10/25, and 11/01/2024. AJSD 1529
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9019609
AERIESTHETICS located at 3655 Avocado Boulevard, La Mesa, CA 91941.
Registrant: Aerie-Renai Almandarez Campbell, 2071 Lakeridge Circle Unit 102, Chula Vista, CA 91913. This business is conducted by An Individual. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.
Signature: Aerie-Renai Almandarez Campbell Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 09/30/2024.
AJ 1533 10/11, 10/18, 10/25, and 11/01/2024. AJSD 1533
STATEMENT OF WITHDRAWAL FROM PARTNERSHIP OPERATING UNDER FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9020904 a. Troy’s Trusses THE STATEMENT OF THE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME(S) REFERRED TO THE ABOVE WAS FILED IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY ON 09/23/2024, and assigned File on. 2024-9019217
LOCATED AT: 8936 Troy St, Spring Valley, CA 91977. THE FOLLOWING PARTNER HAS WITHDRAWN: Paulino Morales Solis, 8936 Troy St, Spring Valley, CA 91977.
Signature: Paulino Morales Solis. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 10/17/2024. AJ 1540 10/25, 11/01, 11/08, and 11/15/2024. AJSD 1540
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9021035
House Of Hope located at 1101 Camino Del Mar, #C, Del Mar, CA 92014.
Registrant: a. Jai Jun Yang, 1101 Camino Del Mar, #C, Del Mar, CA 92014. b. John Young, 1101 Camino Del Mar, #C, Del Mar, CA 92014 This business is conducted by A General Partnership. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 08/18/2022. Signature: Jia Jun Yang. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 10/18/2024. AJ 1546 10/25, 11/01, 11/08, and 11/15/2024. AJSD 1546
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9019397
BOHOLEO located at 4654 Louisiana Street, San Diego, CA 92116. Registrant: BOHOLEO LLC, 4654 Louisiana Street, San Diego, CA 92116. This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company.
REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.
Signature: Valorus Hyatt Cromwell Jr. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 09/25/2024. AJ 1523 10/04, 10/11, 10/18, and 10/25/2024. AJSD 1523
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9019784
Visions Window Cleaning By J.P located at 4765 Home Ave Apt 91, San Diego, CA 92105.
Registrant: Visions Window Cleaning By J.P Corp, 4765 Home Ave Apt 91, San Diego, CA 92105. This business is conducted by A Corporation.
REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 02/19/2020.
Signature: Jesse Perez. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 10/01/2024. AJ 1530 10/11, 10/18, 10/25, and 11/01/2024. AJSD 1530
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9019804
Cleaning Services Lucy’s Clean Touch Co. located at 963 Gillispie Dr, Spring Valley, CA 91977. Registrant: Fatima Gonzalez, 963 Gillispie Dr, Spring Valley, CA 91977. This business is conducted by An Individual. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 10/01/2024.
Signature: Fatima Gonzalez. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 10/01/2024.
AJ 1534 10/18, 10/25, 11/01, and 11/08/2024. AJSD 1534
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9021005
TA’SEA LLC located at 8026 Hummingbird Lane, San Diego, CA 92123.
Registrant: TA’SEA LLC, 8026 Hummingbird Lane, San Diego, CA 92123. This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company.
REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.
Signature: Marisa Bell. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 10/18/2024. AJ 1541 10/25, 11/01, 11/08, and 11/15/2024. AJSD 1541
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9021126
Lasting Automotive Protection Company located at 1409 Broadway, Chula Vista, CA 91911.
Registrant: LAPCO Enterprise LLC, 3400 Cottage Way, Ste G2, Sacramento, CA 95825. This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company.
REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.
Signature: Linberg Pelarion. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 10/21/2024. AJ 1548 10/25, 11/01, 11/08, and 11/15/2024. AJSD 1548
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9019654
a. Goodboy Pizza located at 11354 Red Cedar Ln, San Diego, CA 92131. b. Goodboy Coffee located at 11354 Red Cedar Ln, San Diego, CA 92131.
c. Goodboy Burgers located at 11354 Red Cedar Ln, San Diego, CA 92131. d. Goodboy Breads located at 11354 Red Cedar Ln, San Diego, CA 92131. e. Goodboy Drinks located at 11354 Red Cedar Ln, San Diego, CA 92131. Registrant: R And M Provisions CO LLC, 11354 Red Cedar Ln, San Diego, CA 92131. This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company.
REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 08/31/2024. Signature: Remon Somcio. Statement filed with Recorder/ County Clerk of San Diego County on 09/30/2024. AJ 1524 10/04, 10/11, 10/18, and 10/25/2024. AJSD 1524
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9019668
Malaika Multi Services LLC located at 4135 38th St Apt 1, San Diego, CA 92105. Registrant: Malaika Multi Services LLC, 4135 38th St Apt 1, San Diego, CA 92105. This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company.
REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 07/10/2024.
Signature: Lindsay Laborde. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 09/30/2024. AJ 1531 10/11, 10/18, 10/25, and 11/01/2024. AJSD 1531
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9020633
a. CALI DISCOUNTZ located at 1014 Coolidge Ave, National City, CA 91950. b. THE NEXT DEAL located at 1014 Coolidge Ave, National City, CA 91950. Registrant: Francisco Garcia Zazueta Jr, 1014 Coolidge Ave, National City, CA 91950. This business is conducted by An Individual. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE. Signature: Francisco Garcia Zazueta Jr. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 10/14/2024. AJ 1535 10/18, 10/25, 11/01, and 11/08/2024. AJSD 1535
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9019572
Christina’s Boutique located at 456 J Street, Chula Vista, CA 91910. Registrant: Christina Alaniz, 456 J Street, Chula Vista, CA 91910. This business is conducted by An Individual.
REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 09/27/2024. Signature: Christina Alaniz. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 09/27/2024. AJ 1542 10/25, 11/01, 11/08, and 11/15/2024. AJSD 1542
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9018671
a. Bite and Bark Wild Snacks located at 1340 Hemlock Ave Apt 18, Imperial Beach, CA 91932. b. Bite & Bark located at 1340 Hemlock Ave Apt 18, Imperial Beach, CA 91932. Registrant: Carlos Humberto Pecovich Castro, 1340 Hemlock Ave Apt 18, Imperial Beach, CA 91932. This business is conducted by An Individual. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 09/13/2024. Signature: Carlos Humberto Pecovich Castro. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 08/29/2024. AJ 1549 10/25, 11/01, 11/08, and 11/15/2024. AJSD 1549
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9017359
Premier Markets & Vending located at 11196 Capilla Road, San Diego, CA 92127.
Registrant: MBBS Enterprises LLC, 11196 Capilla Road, San Diego, CA 92127. This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company.
REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.
Signature: Michael Becerra. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 08/26/2024. AJ 1525 10/04, 10/11, 10/18, and 10/25/2024. AJSD 1525
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9019568
Ariel Mariah LLC located at 4824 Bram Ave, Bonita, CA 91902.
Registrant: Ariel Mariah LLC, 4824 Bram Ave, Bonita, CA 91902. This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company.
REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.
Signature: Warren GibsonCrockett Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 09/27/2024.
AJ 1532 10/11, 10/18, 10/25, and 11/01/2024.
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9018448
a. BUNSKETCHES located at 11261 Spitfire Road, San Diego, CA 92126. b. BUNNY BUSINESS located at 11261 Spitfire Road, San Diego, CA 92126. Registrant: Yehleen Antonio Cerezo, 11261 Spitfire Road, San Diego, CA 92126. This business is conducted by An Individual. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE. Signature: Yehleen Antonio Cerezo. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 09/10/2024. AJ 1536 10/18, 10/25, 11/01, and 11/08/2024. AJSD 1536
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9020326
DRP Leasing located at 244 Palomar St, STE A/ Office, Chula Vista, CA 91911-4200. Registrant: PW INC, 244 Palomar St, STE A/Office Chula, Vista, CA 919114200. This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company.
REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 05/20/2014. Signature: Robert Pennell. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 10/08/2024. AJ 1543 10/25, 11/01, 11/08, and 11/15/2024. AJSD 1543
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9019176 DHARMA BIOCONSULTING located at 7895 Via Belfiore Unit 1, San Diego, CA 92129. Registrant: Supurna Chowdhury, 7895 Via Belfiore Unit 1, San Diego, CA 92129. This business is conducted by An Individual. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE. Signature: Supurna Chowdhury. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 09/2/2024. AJ 1550 10/25, 11/01, 11/08, and 11/15/2024. AJSD 1550
SAN DIEGO
Lumpia, palabok, reimagined suman: Filipino dishes draw crowds at NYCWFF
NEW York City’s food enthusiasts were treated to a feast of Filipino flavors over the weekend, indulging in dishes like palabok lumpia ginataang alimasag , and ube and pandan cookies at the 17th annual Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival (NYCWFF).
Held from October 17 to 20, NYC’s biggest food extravaganza featured over 80 culinary events across the city. Among the 400 chefs participating were Filipino culinary talents who showcased the vibrant creativity, unforgettable flavor, and rich heritage of Filipino cuisine.
Chef Augelyn Francisco recently featured the Filipino favorite, lumpia at the Grand Tasting events. For Chef Augee, lumpia is more than just food—it represents her Filipino heritage and family traditions. “My mom would ask us to help roll the lumpia , bringing everyone together at the table,” she recalled fondly.
Her passion for the dish also stems from its ability to connect people to Filipino culture. For her, lumpia symbolizes the Philippines’ diverse history and its ability to blend different cultural influences into one delicious creation. Lumpia is our word. You cannot take it away from us,” she explained, highlighting how the dish resonates with people who want to learn more about Filipino cuisine.
At the NYCWFF, lumpia was a big hit with festivalgoers, drawing long lines and enthusiastic feedback.
She brought more than 6,000 pieces of meat and vegetable lumpia to the three-day event, all wiped out before each day ended. “My heart is so full. It was such a proud moment for me, as a chef, a Filipino, and for the Filipino culture,” she said.
This year’s NYCWFF marked a significant milestone for Francisco, who was invited to participate in the prestigious Grand Tasting for the first
time. In previous years, she had been part of dinners and dessert parties, but this year’s thousands-strong crowd provided more exposure. “It was amazing, beyond what I expected,” she shared.
Meeting renowned chefs and culinary experts, while sharing her Filipino heritage with a wider audience, made the experience all the more meaningful.
Chef Jae de Castro of Keyks
World dazzled the Grand Tasting with her Filipinoinspired desserts, showcasing flavors like ube white chocolate chip and pandan with butterscotch in her signature cookies. Known for her nostalgic treats, particularly her Twinkie-inspired keyks Chef Jae’s creations are a reflection of her life as a FilAm baker, blending tradition with modern twists.
After years in marketing and communications, her passion for baking flourished when she became a stay-at-home mom. Now, she plans to open a café in Ozone Park, Queens, offering more Filipino-flavored delights to a broader audience.
Chef Frances Tariga, of the newly-opened Tadhana in the Lower East Side, brought Crispy Suman Rice Cake with Coconut Crab Stew ( Binalot na alimasag sa gata ) to the table. It was inspired by ginataang alimasag , a dish she remembers fondly from her childhood in Mauban, Quezon, where her grandparents used to prepare it.
Her restaurant Tadhana , praised by Bon Appétit as one of NYC’s best new spots in 2024, is a love letter to Filipino culture and cuisine, blending authenticity with modern innovation. It has become a destination for food enthusiasts eager to explore dynamic Filipino flavors.
“How are you going to feed 800 people? I had to be creative,” Chef Frances said. She paired the traditional suman (rice cake), turning the rice into crispy fried bites, using her Japanese culinary experience to add a tempuralike texture, with ginataang alimasag on top. She finished it off with a ginger, turmeric, and coconut puree, giving the dish a unique twist.
Reflecting on her experience, Chef Frances noted the difference from her previous work at NYCWFF last year representing Japanese cuisine with Trust Bae and Chef Masaharu Morimoto. This year, participating in the Asian Bites walkaround tasting event was more exciting for her, as it had a party-like atmosphere with plenty of fun, food, and drinks.
Chef Anton Dayrit of Tradisyon brought Lobster Palabok at the same event, held at the One World Observatory.
“ Palabok is what really started my Tradisyon journey,” Chef Anton told the Asian Journal . “I was craving palabok one day and no one was doing proper palabok in the city,
Kris Aquino to return to showbiz via new ABS-CBN show
by Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com
MANILA — “Queen of All Media” Kris Aquino revealed that she will make her ABS-CBN comeback before the year ends. In her Instagram post, Kris gave an update on her health condition as well as her showbiz comeback.
Para hindi kayo magsawang magdasal Sabi nyo , you miss watching me. I want to thank my former ABS-CBN bosses for allowing Jasmin and Darla to work with me on a show which will launch before 2024 ends,” Kris said.
“Secret muna ‘yung concept, but you will get to see my present day journey and as much as possible the reality of Kris, Bimb, and my ‘through the years” best friends (my extended family) and definitely my team of doctors who are now among my most trusted friends,” she added. In the same post, Kris said that she’s cancer-free but have life-threatening multiple autoimmune diseases.
“I now have 5, possibly 6 autoimmune
conditions. But the scary part is that 3 of the diagnosed ones are life threatening in other words- pwedeng ma-damage my vital organs or my blood vessels, specifically my artery connecting my lungs to my heart- to the extent na I can die immediately from a stroke or aneurysm or cardiac arrest,” Kris said.
by MOMar G. Visaya / AJPress
especially for delivery so I decided that I was gonna be the one to do it.”
Chefs Anton and Frances were among the nine chefs participating in the Asian Bites and Karaoke Nights event led by celebrity chef Jet Tila. It was Anton’s first time to join an NYCWFF event.
“My experience was amazing! We were one of, if not the most popular booths there that we were sold out in an hour and a half,” he exclaimed.
The strong presence of these Filipino chefs at the NYC Wine and Food Festival is proof of the rising global recognition of Filipino cuisine and its cultural significance. Through their innovative dishes, chefs like Augelyn Francisco, Jae de Castro, Anton Dayrit, and Frances Tariga highlighted the deep-rooted traditions and rich history embedded in Filipino food, showcasing
its modern adaptability.
Their participation in New York City’s biggest culinary event signifies not just their individual success, but also a broader movement toward a greater representation of Filipino flavors on the world stage, bridging cultures through food. n
Ginataang Alimasag on top of sumaninspired by Chef Frances favorite dish from childhood.
Chef Frances Tariga and her teammates from Tadhana, AP Villanueva and Dominico Quintos Contributed photos
Chef Anton’s Lobster Palabok, a big hit at the Asian Bites & Karaoke Nights event hosted by Jet Tila. Photo from NYCWFF/ Contributed photos Chef Anton Dayrit of Tradisyon
Chef Frances with celebrity chef Jet Tila, who hosted the Asian Bites event at the One World Observatory in downtown Manhattan. Contributed photo
Chef Jae and her assortment of cakes and cookies with Filipino flavors like use and pandan AJPress Photos by Momar G. Visaya
Kris Aquino
Photo from Kris Aquino via Facebook
Chef Augee and her lumpia dish, served with atsara
THROUGH the efforts of First Lady Louise AranetaMarcos, 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 then-presidential 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 MacapagalArroyo, 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 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,
A visit to the presidential residence of the First Family
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, Paris-educated 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 Araneta-Marcos’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 Bulong-Pulungan 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
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 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
and rapid electric vehicle charging
SAN DIEGO – On Thursday, October 17 San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla, Council President Pro Tem Joe LaCava and San Diego FireRescue Department (SDFD)
Chief Robert Logan celebrated the completion of the City of San Diego’s newest and most environmentally friendly fire station – Fire Station 52.
Valises et Compagnie) and best sustainable booth design (Zarate).
* * * Miss Aura Philippines 2024 Isabelle De Los Santos represented the country in the Miss Aura International in Turkey. She is the daughter of beauteous Oly Sason-De Los Santos and former PNP (Philippine National Police) spokesperson Chief Supt. Napoleon De Los Santos Jr.
* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
* * * rogeliocmedina@yahoo.com
Mayor Gloria highlights successful Safe Parking Program, planned expansion
SAN DIEGO – On Wednesday, October
(RFP) to continue the Safe Parking Program, including a new parking lot site that will accommodate up to 200 standard and oversized vehicles for overnight use.
“I’m excited to celebrate the completion of this topnotch facility featuring San Diego’s first electric fire truck and rapid charger,” said Mayor Gloria. “Thanks to our partnership with UC San Diego, we’re delivering on our promise to increase fire protection and life-safety coverage across San Diego.” Fire Station 52 is two stories with more than 14,000 square feet of space and is located within SDFD’s battalion 5.
an exercise room, a kitchen, a ready room and on-site parking. It is the first station in San Diego to house an electric fire apparatus and rapid electric vehicle charging station, which supports the City’s Climate Action Plan goals.
23 Mayor Todd Gloria underscored the importance of expanding successful options like the City of San Diego’s Safe Parking Program to help address homelessness. The program’s capacity is set to nearly double with the planned H Barracks site opening next year and current operations reveal a high success rate of individuals connected to housing.
The new facility has three apparatus bays, a sleeping quarter for nine personnel, an office for firefighters and the battalion chief’s office,
“One of my main goals is to make sure our firefighters have the resources they need to protect our communities,” said Fire Chief Logan. “I’m very pleased to be able to
New climate dashboard shows real time progress on City of San Diego’s environmental goals
tool unveiled as city’s climate action plan annual report shows modest reduction in greenhouse gases
Since opening in April 2023, the Rose Canyon Safe Parking Lot has seen 67% of program participants moving into more stable living situations or secure housing. The Safe Parking Program has four locations with the capacity for approximately 220 vehicles, and the Rose Canyon site has a particular focus on families, with a dozen RV trailers provided specifically for them to use.
The city also announced a solicitation issued Wednesday through a Request for Proposal
“Safe Parking serves a high percentage of people experiencing homelessness for the first time – often people with steady jobs or seniors on fixed income who fell on hard times and need a little help to get back on their feet,” said Mayor Gloria. “This program has proved instrumental in giving these folks the support to stabilize and avoid chronic homelessness, and my administration will continue to invest in this vital option as we simultaneously work to address our housing shortage and make rent more affordable.”
According to the most recent Point in Time Count, which surveys those experiencing homelessness annually, the number of
City of San Diego expands Safe Sleeping Program
Expansion adds space for hundreds at popular option within city’s shelter system; new intakes starting soon
Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Manotoc with news anchor-beauty titlist Jamie Herrell and their pets.
Rogelio Medina and Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Manotoc at CITEM’s Manila FAME at the World Trade Center’s Ilocos Norte Pavilion.
Architect Conrad Onglao (with mic) explains the renovations done to the Presidential Residence to selected media entities.
Rogelio Constantino Medina
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. will
Rogelio Medina inside First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos’ office at Bahay Pangulo.
Vince Tañada’s “Juan Luna, Isang Sarsuela” will be performed at San Sebastian College.
Miss Aura Philippines Isabelle De Los Santos
Mayor Gloria highlights successful Safe Parking Program...
Diegans sleeping in their cars across the county increased by 44% compared to the previous year – underscoring the need for additional safe options. The city’s four Safe Parking locations are operated by nonprofit Jewish Family Service (JFS) of San Diego. Participants work with case managers to create individual housing goals, with restrooms, housing navigation, mental health services and job training as some of the programs features.
In total, the city’s four Safe Parking sites have served more than 5,200 individuals since the program was launched in 2018. Since taking office, Mayor Gloria expanded one site to 24 hours and opened the Rose Canyon site. “Our goal has always been to help our
Safe Parking guests move forward to secure housing while also providing them with a dignified space to temporarily live out of their vehicles,” said JFS CEO Michael Hopkins. “Our high success rate results from our commitment to personalized case management –connecting guests with a multitude of supportive services and resources – which helps these individuals and families thrive.”
Hopkins highlighted the vital role volunteers play in making programs like the Rose Canyon lot a success. Shortly after opening in 2023 a group of retired teachers led by University City resident Rita Shafer started a monthly meal service, food pantry and birthday celebrations for the families staying at the site. When she was previously interviewed about her
volunteer efforts, Shafer explained why her group decided to help. “Have you seen those cute faces of those little children? You just couldn’t not come back,” Shafer said. “Those children are adorable and also, they’re our neighbors. We live in University City, five miles away, these are our neighbors and they need us. They need help. They’re moving up, this is not a permanent place for them, they are moving forward.”
Individuals interested in preparing or serving meals for Safe Parking residents can reach out to safeparkingdinners@ jfssd.org or call the volunteer line 858637-3050. If you are living out of your vehicle and would like to enroll in the Safe Parking program, please call 858637-3373.
(City of San Diego Release)
sustainability initiatives.
and make our climate data public,” said Heather Werner, Interim Director of the City’s Sustainability and Mobility Department. “It’s accessible to everyone, and it’s very comprehensive because our plan is so ambitious.”
The city’s landmark Climate Action Plan established a goal of net-zero greenhouse gases by 2035, committing San Diego to an accelerated trajectory for greenhouse gas reductions. Achieving net-zero emissions will improve air quality as well as the overall quality of life in our community. The CAP contains several strategies for achieving this goal, including decarbonization of the built environment, increasing access to clean and renewable energy, improving mobility and land use, creating a circular economy
and clean communities, and ensuring resilient infrastructure and healthy ecosystems.
This annual report marks the first assessment of the city’s progress since the adoption of the updated 2022 CAP, covering activities through the 2023 calendar year. Many of the actions highlighted in the report set the groundwork for more wide-ranging efforts in the future.
The strategies included in the CAP report, ranging from enhancing bicycle infrastructure to installing new public electric vehicle charging stations, demonstrate the city’s holistic approach to creating a more sustainable and equitable San Diego. Ongoing efforts to secure substantial grant funding will continue to bolster the city’s capacity to implement critical climate action and
The goal is not just to meet the CAP targets but to exceed them, ensuring that San Diego serves as a model for other cities worldwide.
“The goals in our updated CAP underscore our unwavering commitment to creating a sustainable, equitable and resilient future for our city,” said Shelby Rust Buso, the city’s Chief Sustainability Officer. “While the reductions in greenhouse gases represent important progress, they also serve as a reminder of the significant work that lies ahead. Our updated CAP is designed to tackle these challenges headon, with innovative solutions aimed at accelerating our transition to a low-carbon future.”
Due primarily to its focus on sustainable energy and
alternative transportation, San Diego was recently named the most environmentally sustainable city in the United States by the finance website WalletHub. The site’s annual report took multiple factors into consideration, including environment, transportation, energy sources, lifestyle and policy.
Also, the city currently generates more than 43% of its electricity from renewable resources, and leads the country in the number of solar panel installations per capita.
In addition, the study noted that San Diego leads the country in the number of certified organic farms per capita, and has a variety of “green” policies, including a bike-sharing program, and a ban on plastic bags.
(City of San Diego Release)
City of San Diego celebrates...
The $22.2 million state-ofthe-art facility was built along North Torrey Pines Road on the northwest corner of UC San Diego’s campus and will serve Torrey Pines and surrounding communities.
“Safety and sustainability are at the heart of the new Torrey Pines Fire Station,” said Council President Pro Tem LaCava. “Through the city’s continued partnership with UC San Diego, Station 52 will provide first-class equipment and facilities for our first responders to aid in response times and accessibility.
Furthermore, the addition of an electric fire engine is a paradigm shift towards sustainability in the city’s dayto-day operations.”
Discussions about Fire Station 52 between the city and UC San Diego began in 2010. The university gave the city $20.5 million for the project and the land where the station was built. The electric fire apparatus cost $2.1 million and was paid for with city funds.
“This project exemplifies what can be achieved through strong collaboration and
community partnership, particularly between the city of San Diego and UC San Diego,” said UC San
Chancellor
“By prioritizing safety, it reaffirms UC San Diego’s commitment to enhancing the well-being of our neighborhood, our city and our entire region.”
Since 2014, the city has now opened new fire stations in six neighborhoods – Torrey Pines, City Heights, Little Italy, Mission Valley, Point Loma and Hillcrest
off the streets. Each tent has space for up to two people, creating a new option for those who want to stay with a partner or caretaker.
Expanding Safe Sleeping was proposed in the recently updated Comprehensive Shelter Strategy and is part of the plan to transition approximately 600 shelter beds at facilities anticipated to close or reduce occupancy over the next several months. New intakes at the expanded site are set to begin next month. “Safe Sleeping sites have reduced street homelessness because they are a safer, healthier, more desirable alternative to living on the sidewalk,” said Councilmember Whitburn. “Expanding these sites provides places for more people to stabilize and begin getting back on their feet and into permanent housing.”
The nonprofit Dreams for Change operates the 20th & B site and part of the O Lot site, with the Downtown San Diego
Partnership also managing programs at the O Lot site. So far this calendar year, 118 program participants have been connected to housing. “These sites are a lifeline to some who have been living on the streets for years and want a low-barrier option to begin the process to end their homelessness.” said Sarah Jarman, Director of the city’s Homelessness Strategies and Solutions Department. “We thank Dreams for Change and the Downtown San
Diego Partnership for their commitment to providing these vital services.”
Earlier this month the City Council voted to expand Safe Sleeping by nearly 50% overall.
In fiscal year 2024, cityfunded programs placed 1,677 people into secure permanent or other forms of long-term housing, a 24% increase compared to FY23. This is due in large part to the expansion of emergency shelter options.
(City of San Diego Release)
Diego
Khosla.
– and renovated four others that serve the communities of La Jolla, Mira Mesa, North Park and Southcrest. (City of San Diego Release)
