With November 5 less than two weeks away, how can Californians make sure their vote counts?
“We’re in a political environment where there’s a lot of unreliable information, and the number one question i get asked is: ‘Where do i vote?’” said Joe Kocurek, California deputy secretary of state for communications, at a friday, october 25 ethnic media services briefing about the ways that Californians can vote. California’s over 22 million voters constitute the largest number in the nation. those wanting to vote in person can find their nearest polling place here.
While it’s too late to register to vote online, Californians can still register in-person with an iD and vote on the same day at their local polling place or county elections office.
“in-person registration is conditional with a provisional ballot, which means that the voter will go through the same eligibility auditing process we would with any other. Your vote will be counted once we have concluded the process,” continued Kocurek. Voters — including those living out of state
Language access a barrier to elections for communities nationwide
NeArLY 70 million Americans speak a language other than english at home. With election day less than two weeks out, this population — nearly one in four Americans — continues to face significant barriers to voting. that’s the conclusion of a new report, Language Access and Voting rights: An overview of federal, state and Local Policies, published oct. 23 by the think tank Demos.
“While a patchwork of federal, state, and local laws provides for some language assistance in elections, thousands of voters who prefer a language other than english remain without a real opportunity to cast a ballot,” the study notes.
Latinos and Asian Americans, two of the nation’s fastest growing demographic groups with high rates of Limited english Proficiency (LeP), are among those most impacted, though other groups — including Native Americans and Us born Latinos — are also affected, according to the report. such barriers also help explain consistently lower turnout rates among these groups, with multiple studies showing a clear link
by AJPress
Palace: Philippines safer under Marcos
by Helen Flores Philstar.com
mANiLA — the Philippines is safer and the people are more secure than ever under President ferdinand marcos Jr., malacañang asserted on monday, october 28, contrary to claims by former President rodrigo Duterte at a senate hearing that crime has become rampant in the country.
“With due respect to former President rodrigo Duterte – there is no truth to his statement that crime remains rampant in the country,” executive secretary Lucas Bersamin said in a statement. Bersamin said statistics from the Philippine National Police show “the complete opposite.”
in defense of his bloody war on drugs, the former president claimed at the senate Blue ribbon committee hearing on monday that criminal activities had soared since marcos took over. there has been a widespread decline in crime across the board,” Bersamin said. moreover, we have achieved stability and maintained peace and order in our country without forgoing due process nor setting aside the basic human rights of any filipino.” this was the first time Duterte attended an inquiry into the bloody drug war after he stepped down. he had begged off from a similar investigation by the quad committee of the house of representatives.
Pope prays for Kristine victims in Philippines
by evelyn Macairan Philstar.com
m AN i LA — Pope francis has offered prayers for f ilipinos affected by s evere tropical storm Kristine. At sunday’s (october 27) Angelus address at the Vatican, the 87-year-old pontiff reportedly mentioned praying for the victims of Kristine.
“ i am close to the population of the Philippines, struck by a powerful cyclone. may the Lord support those people, so full of faith,” the pope said, from his window overlooking st. Peter’s square. floods and landslides led to 116 casualties, 109 injured and 39 missing people, the National Disaster r isk r eduction and m anagement Council said on m onday, october 28.
Kristine affected 6.7 million people or
1.6 million families in 10,147 barangays nationwide. it also displaced 980,355 people in 6,286 evacuation centers.
Damage to agriculture and infrastructure was estimated at P2.5 billion and P1.5 billion, respectively.
two more areas were placed under a state of calamity, bringing to 160 the total number of cities and municipalities that declared a state of calamity.
Caritas Philippines has appealed for food donations, potable water, hygiene kits and other relief supplies.
Bishops in the hardest-hit Bicol region had also appealed for aid as many families remained in evacuation centers.
Caritas manila executive director Anton Pascual reported they have donated an initial P1.2 million to six dioceses in Bicol, namely
Attending the first senate Blue ribbon subcommittee hearing on his war on drugs, Duterte defended his campaign, which is also being investigated by the international Criminal Court (iCC) over allegations of crimes against humanity. for all of its successes and shortcomings, i and i alone take full legal responsibility for what the [concerned] policemen had done pursuant to my order," Duterte said in filipino and english. "i will take responsibility and should be the one to go to jail, not the policemen who merely followed my orders. they are pitiful.
by AJPress
At Sunday’s (October 27) Angelus address at the Vatican,
Pope prays for Kristine victims in...
1
the Archdiocese of Caceres in Camarines sur and the Dioceses of Libmanan, Legazpi, Daet, Virac and sorsogon.
Pascual said they are preparing to send assistance to affected dioceses in southern Luzon and Central Luzon, as well as donations to help repair churches.
Lipa Archbishop Gilbert Garcera reportedly asked for prayers and help in Batangas.
in a situation report, the Lipa Archdiocesan s ocial Action Commission said 43 people died and 22 are missing in the province. meanwhile, three Philippine Postal Corp. trucks are being utilized by the o ffice of Civil Defense (oCD) to deliver essential supplies to communities in Bicol. two trucks carried 720 shelter tarpaulins and a third truck was stocked with 3,500 hygiene kits.
Humanitarian aid
i n Pampanga, the police regional office on s aturday,
october 26 deployed 62 personnel – specializing in search, rescue and retrieval operations – to provide humanitarian assistance to communities in the Bicol region affected by Kristine. the Police regional office 3 also sent essential relief supplies. “in times like these, extending help to the hardest-hit communities is vital. t his mission is made possible with the strong support of the oCD, whose resources have been instrumental in enabling our response,” said Pro3 director Brig. Gen. redrigo maranan.
Mental health
Aside from leptospirosis, the Department of health (Doh) is monitoring cases of stress and other mental conditions among those affected by Kristine. in evacuation centers, it is important to give assurances and have a few minutes of conversation with people,” health Assistant secretary Alberto Domingo said. At monday’s public briefing,
Domingo said the Code Blue alert is still in effect in the ilocos region, Cagayan Valley and Bicol region. Code Blue, he said, means around-the-clock monitoring and field reports so that immediate action can be undertaken if necessary.
t he D oh has deployed two augmentation teams to Bicol, he said. All Doh-run hospitals are operational.
the agency has not monitored an increase in illnesses in evacuation centers.
New underwear
Almost a week into their ordeal, evacuees affected by Kristine have one common request: underwear.
former Vice President Leni robredo, who is leading relief efforts in her hometown Naga, shared the appeal of evacuees after she visited the city’s largest evacuation center on sunday.
Angat Buhay, the nongovernment organization that
Election 2024: Voters to weigh in on...
benefit from improved facilities.
• Against: opponents contend that issuing bonds will increase state debt, placing a future financial burden on taxpayers.
Proposition 3: Constitutional Right to Marriage
Summary: Prop 3 would establish the right to marriage in California’s Constitution, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
supporters include equality California and American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of California. opponents include California family Council and traditional Values Coalition.
Arguments:
• In Favor: Advocates say this would enshrine marriage equality in the state Constitution, providing protection against future challenges.
• Against: opponents argue it could conflict with personal or religious beliefs and fear it may erode traditional values.
it weakens taxpayer protections by making it easier for local governments to incur debt.
Allowing Involuntary Servitude for Incarcerated Persons
summary: Prop 6 would eliminate involuntary servitude as a condition of punishment, allowing incarcerated individuals to choose whether to work.
supporters include California Labor federation and Antirecidivism Coalition, while there are no registered opponents.
Arguments:
• In Favor: Proponents claim this measure addresses forced labor concerns, aligning with modern labor standards.
• Against: opponents worry it could disrupt prison operations, increasing state costs for facility maintenance.
restrict how
providers spend revenues from prescription drugs, directing more funds to patient care.
supporters include the California Nurses Association and AArP California opponents include the Pharmaceutical research and manufacturers of America (PhrmA)
Arguments:
• In Favor: Proponents argue that it will prevent excessive profits, prioritizing patient care over pharmaceutical revenue.
• Against: Critics contend it could hinder innovation in the healthcare sector by reducing incentives for drug development.
Proposition 35: Provides Permanent Funding for MediCal Health Care Services Summary: Prop 35 would secure ongoing funding for medi-Cal services, aimed at expanding access to healthcare for low-income residents.
Proposition 4: Authorizes Bonds for Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, and Protecting Communities and Natural Lands from Climate Risks
Summary: Prop 4 seeks to fund projects addressing climate resilience, including safe drinking water, wildfire mitigation, and land conservation.
supporters include California League of Conservation Voters and Natural resources Defense Council. opponents include howard Jarvis taxpayers Association.
Arguments:
• In Favor: supporters say the measure will address California’s urgent environmental challenges and enhance climate resiliency.
• Against: Critics argue it increases the state’s debt without a guarantee that funds will effectively reduce climate risks.
Proposition 5: Allows Local Bonds for Affordable Housing and Public Infrastructure with 55% Voter Approval
Summary: Prop 5 would lower the voter threshold from twothirds to 55% for local bonds funding affordable housing and infrastructure projects.
supporters include California Association of realtors and housing California. opponents include California taxpayers Association.
Arguments:
• In Favor: supporters argue that this lower threshold will make it easier to address California’s housing crisis.
• Against: opponents believe
but registered in California — can also vote by mail, by sending the ballot to their local county elections office, dropping it off at a secure drop box or returning it to their local polling place.
“As long as the envelope is postmarked on election Day, November 5, and received by the 12th, it will be processed and counted,” he explained. “if people feel like their mail isn’t reliable, they should send it as soon as they possibly can, or drop it off at a box or polling center, many of which open days or weeks early.”
Ballots postmarked by the 12th but received after November 5, alongside provisional ballots, will be tallied during the official canvass period in the 30 days after election Day.
After county officials finalize the official vote results within those 30 days after the election, i.e. December 5, the office of the secretary of state will certify the results within 38 days after the election, i.e. December 13.
Proposition 32: Raises Minimum Wage Summary: Prop 32 would raise California’s minimum wage incrementally over several years.
supporters include the service employees international Union (seiU) and California Labor federation. opponents include the California Chamber of Commerce and National federation of independent Business
Arguments:
• In Favor: Advocates argue this would help Californians keep up with inflation and improve quality of life.
• Against: opponents claim it would hurt small businesses, leading to job losses and higher costs for consumers.
Proposition 33: Expands Local Governments' Authority to Enact Rent Control on Residential Property Summary: Prop 33 would allow cities and counties more authority to implement rent control on housing. supporters include the Alliance of Californians for Community empowerment and California Democratic Party. opponents include the California Apartment Association and the California Chamber of Commerce.
Arguments:
• In Favor: Proponents argue this measure would protect renters from rising costs and help prevent displacement.
• Against: opponents claim it could reduce housing supply and deter real estate investment in California.
Proposition 34: Restricts Spending of Prescription Drug Revenues by Certain Health Care Providers Summary: Prop 34 would
“Voters need to sign the back of their return envelope, because we use that to verify their identity when we receive things through the mail,” Kocurek added. “We default to enfranchising people. if there’s a signature that isn’t there, or is different than your usual, your local elections office will reach out to you and attempt to rectify it.”
Voters who requested absentee ballots can still use them to vote in-person at a drop box or polling center if they wish.
those who make a mistake on their ballot can apply for a replacement, or apply to provide a vote-by-mail ballot to their representative; both of these applications must be returned to a voter’s local county election office. Californians can check their voter status here, and track their ballot online, by text, by call or over email here. the California secretary of state office also offers voter hotlines and information guides in 10 languages: english, spanish, Chinese, hindi,
supporters include the California medical Association and health Access California. opponents include taxpayer advocacy groups, Courage California, the Children's Partnership, California Pan-ethnic health Network, California Alliance for retired Californians and the League of Women Voters.
Arguments:
• In Favor: supporters say this ensures medi-Cal’s stability, addressing healthcare gaps for California’s most vulnerable populations.
• Against: opponents argue it could result in higher taxes or divert funds from other critical programs.
Proposition 36: Allows Felony Charges and Increases Sentences for Certain Drug and Theft Crimes Summary: Prop 36 would allow felony charges and stricter sentencing for repeat drug and theft offenses.
supporters include the California District Attorneys Association and California Police Chiefs Association. opponents include Gov. Gavin Newsom, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the California Public Defenders Association. Arguments:
• In Favor: supporters believe stricter penalties will deter repeat offenders and improve public safety.
• Against: opponents argue that increased sentencing will worsen mass incarceration and fail to address root causes of crime. n
Japanese, Khmer, Korean, tagalog, thai, Vietnamese and ttY/ttD (for those who are dead, hearing impaired or speech impaired).
“in California, we believe in democracy. We really work hard to ensure easy access and easy return of ballots,” said Kocurek.
“We have a Voter Bill of rights, and if anyone feels like these are being denied, they can reach out to us through our voter hotline or by email.”
i encourage people to plan how they’re going to vote,” he continued. “i think that’s especially important for younger voters, for whom most everything else can be taken care of on their phones, as opposed to this more old-fashioned way of finding their nearest polling place or using snail mail.”
“Whether you return the ballot in person, mail it or drop it off, if voters think about how they’re going to do it, they’re that much more likely to do it,” Kocurek added. (Selen ozturk/Ethnic Media Services)
SAFE TO EAT. Green mussels, locally known as tahong, return to the Toril Public Market on Wednesday, October 30 after being off the shelves for nearly two months due to paralytic shellfish poison. Dr. Cory Sepulveda, OIC of the City Veterinarian’s Office, confirmed the mussels are now safe to consume, priced at PHP120 per kg. PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.
Governor Newsom issues executive order tackling rising electric bills
sACrAmeNto – on Wednesday, october 30,
Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order designed to reduce electric costs for Californians.
the governor’s action encourages electric bill relief while maintaining the state’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality and 100% clean electricity by 2045. the action comes as millions of Californians received an average credit of $71 on their october electric bills from the California Climate Credit, provided by the state’s Cap-andtrade program.
“We’re taking action to address rising electricity costs and save consumers money on their bills. California is proving that we can address affordability concerns as we continue our world-leading efforts to combat the climate crisis.”
Tackling rising electricity costs
While California has been successful in keeping electric bills lower than many other states on average thanks to decades of work advancing energy efficiency standards, Californians have seen their electric bills rising in recent years. A major driver has been critical utility wildfire mitigation efforts that have accelerated to match the pace of the climate crisis, as well as several programs added over time. the governor’s executive order addresses both of these cost drivers by zeroing in on some programs that could be inflating customer bills and evaluating utility wildfire mitigation expenses for potential administrative savings.
The governor’s executive order:
• Encourages electric bill relief the executive order asks the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to identify underperforming programs and return any unused energy program funds back to customers receiving electric and gas service from private utilities as one or more credits on their bills.
• Maximizes the California Climate Credit. the executive order directs the California Air resources Board (CArB) to work with the CPUC to determine ways to maximize the California Climate Credit, which is a twice annual credit that shows up on many Californians’ electric and gas bills in the spring and fall and is funded by the state’s Cap-and-trade program.
• Manages and reduces electric costs for the long-term the executive order asks the CPUC to evaluate electric ratepayer supported programs and costs of regulations and make recommendations
on additional ways to save consumers money. it also asks the CPUC to pursue any federal funding available to help lower electricity costs for Californians. Additionally, the executive order directs the California energy Commission (CeC) to evaluate electric ratepayer-funded programs and identify any potential changes that could save Californians money on their bills.
• Smarter wildfire mitigation investments the executive order directs the office of energy infrastructure safety, and requests the CPUC, to evaluate utility wildfire safety oversight practices and ensure that utility investments and activities are focused on cost-effective wildfire mitigation measures. text of the executive order is available to read by visiting https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/ uploads/2024/10/energy-eo-10-30-24.pdf.
in addition to the governor’s action, earlier this year, the CPUC approved a proposal to reduce the price of residential electricity through a new billing structure authorized by the state Legislature. this follows actions in recent years such as providing direct relief to customers and using state funds, rather than ratepayer monies, to develop a strategic reliability reserve to maintain electric grid reliability during extreme conditions. the governor welcomes partnership with the legislature to further additional actions that will address electric bill affordability.
“Californians expect us to take a hard look at their monthly energy and electricity bills and deliver reduced costs and savings for the longterm,” said Assembly speaker robert rivas (D-salinas). “i support increased oversight efforts, because regulators must ensure energy programs are implemented effectively and responsibly. the governor’s action today is another step forward to lessen households’ total energy burden and lower the cost of living in our state.”
rising electricity costs are impacting Californians and their quality of life,” said senate President pro tempore mike mcGuire (D-North Coast). the state, including its regulatory agencies, needs to buckle down and blunt the expanding fiscal impacts on ratepayers. this is an important start by Governor Newsom, and the senate plans to double down on this progress in the months ahead.” (CA Governor’s Office Release)
Pope prays for Kristine victims in...
r obredo founded, started accepting donations of new underwear to support victims.
New underwear may be dropped off at Angat Buhay’s headquarters in Quezon City and Naga City.
Angat Buhay executive director raffy magno also appealed for canned goods, which will be donated to evacuees in Bicol.
According to Angat Buhay, it has provided relief goods, hygiene kits and hot meals to over 95,000 families and people.
As of monday, the organization received in-kind donations worth almost P26 million and raised more than P34 million in cash donations. meanwhile, 604 families from Barangays mabolo and triangulo received 5,040 gallons of purified water, which came from the water purification system of the metropolitan manila Development Authority. the oCD has deployed its rapid deployment team to Naga to oversee the distribution of relief goods.
o CD Assistant s ecretary hernando Caraig Jr. attended a briefing with President marcos in Naga. PNR restores routes t he Philippine National railways (PNr) has restored its route in Laguna and Quezon, which were battered by Kristine. t he state-owned railway reopened the Lucena-CalambaLucena route on monday. PN r routes in Bicol remain closed. (With reports from Ric Sapnu, Mayen Jaymalin, Janvic Mateo, Pia Lee-Brago, Ghio Ong)
PAMPUBLIKONG PAGDINIG NG LUNGSOD NG ALAMEDA TUNGKOL SA MGA PANGANGAILANGAN SA PABAHAY AT PAGPAPAUNLAD NG KOMUNIDAD
Ang Konseho ng Lungsod ng Alameda ay magsasagawa ng Pampublikong Pagdinig sa darating na Disyembre 3, 2024. Iniimbitahan at hinihikayat ang publiko na magkomento sa mga pangangailangan sa pabahay at pagpapaunlad ng komunidad ng Lungsod para sa taon ng pananalapi (FY) ng 2025-26. Nauugnay ito sa mga aktibidad na popondohan ng Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) at maaprubahan sa Taunang Plano ng Aksyon sa FY 2025-26. Batay sa nakaraang pagpopondo, inaasahan ng Lungsod na makatanggap ng humigit-kumulang $1,112,658 sa mga CDBG Entitlement fund at $60,000 sa Kita ng Programa para sa FY 202526. Hindi bababa sa 70% ng mga pondo ng CDBG ang dapat pakinabangan ng mga residente o kapitbahayan na may mababa at katamtamang kita; isang limitadong halaga ng mga pondo ang maaaring ilaan upang maalis ang pagkawasak sa mga piling lugar. Ang pagbuo ng isang taunang Plano ng Aksyon ay kinakailangan ng Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) at isusumite sa pamamagitan ng Alameda County HOME Consortium. Tutukuyin ng Taunang Plano ng Aksyon ang mga pangunahing pangangailangan sa pabahay at pagpapaunlad ng komunidad. Noong nakaraan, ang Limang Taon na Pinagsama-samang Plano at taunang Plano ng Aksyon ay may prayoridad: pagrereserba at pagpaparami ng abot-kayang pabahay at pansuportang pabahay; pagbabawas ng diskriminasyon sa pabahay; pag-iwas sa kawalan ng tirahan at pagtugon sa mga pangangailangan sa pagpapaunlad ng hindi pabahay na komunidad, tulad ng mga pagpapabuti sa kapitbahayan, mga serbisyong pampubliko, mga pagpapabuti ng accessibility at pag-unlad ng ekonomiya. Ang Limang Taon na Pinagsamasamang Plano na sumasakop sa FY 2020-2025 ay magtatapos sa Hunyo 30, 2025 at available para sanggunian sa website ng Lungsod sa: https://www.alamedaca.gov/Departments/Housingand-Human- Services. Ang bagong Limang Taon na Pinagsama-samang Plano ay ginagawa kasabay ng Alameda County HOME Consortium.
HINIHIKAYAT AT INIIMBITAHAN ANG PAMPUBLIKONG KOMENTO
Ang Konseho ng Lunsod ay diringgin ang mga komento at pag-iisipan ang pagpapatibay ng Pahayag ng Pampublikong Pangangailangan sa regular na pagpupulong nito sa 7:00 p.m. sa darating na Disyembre 3, 2024, sa City Hall, 2263 Santa Clara Avenue. Pakidirekta ang anumang katanungan kay Andre Fairley sa (510) 747-6883. Hinihikayat at iniimbitahan ang publiko na magkomento sa mga pangangailangan sa pabahay at pagpapaunlad ng komunidad. Mangyaring magpadala ng mga komento kay Andre Fairley sa (510) 747-6883 o mag-email sa clerk@alamedaca.gov. Ang mga nakasulat na komento ay maaaring isumite sa address sa itaas hanggang 7:00 p.m. sa darating na Disyembre 3, 2024.
MGA PROBISYON PARA SA MGA TAONG MAY KAPANSANAN
Kung ang sinumang taong may interes sa paglahok sa nabanggit na pederal na programa ay isang may kapansanan gaya ng tinukoy sa Seksyon 504 ng Rehabilitation Act of 1974 at nangangailangan ng akomodasyon para lumahok o kumuha ng interes, puwedeng humiling ng akomodasyon kay Andre Fairley sa (510) 747-6883, o sa pamamagitan ng email sa housing@ alamedaca.gov. Ang nasabing kahilingan ay dapat magsama ng paglalarawan ng hinanap na akomodasyon, kasama ang isang pahayag ng kapansanan na nangangailangan ng akomodasyon. Ang anumang hiling para sa akomodasyon ay dapat suriin at isang tugon ay ibibigay sa loob ng limang araw ng negosyo pagkatapos matanggap ang naturang kahilingan. Ang paunawa ng anumang akomodasyon na ipinagkaloob ay kaagad na ibibigay sa humihiling.
MGA PROBISYON PARA SA MGA RESIDENTENG HINDI NAGSASALITA NG INGLES
Ang Lungsod ng Alameda ay may network ng mga empleyado na nagsasalita ng mga 45 wika na maaaring kumilos bilang mga interpreter o tagasalin para sa mga residenteng naghahanap ng impormasyon tungkol sa nabanggit na pederal na programa. Kung aabisuhan nang maaga ng dalawang araw ng negosyo, aayusin ng Lungsod na magkaroon ng available na interpreter o tagasalin. Mangyaring makipag-ugnayan kay Andre Fairley sa (510) 747-6883 o sa pamamagitan ng email sa housing@alamedaca.gov.
PATAKARANG WALANG DISKRIMINASYON
Palace: Philippines safer under...
m alacañang, meanwhile, also slammed Duterte for citing “outdated” facts about a drug raid in san miguel, manila, where the Palace is situated.
Duterte was apparently referring to the arrest of a suspected drug pusher at a residential area in m alacañang complex in s an miguel.
further, the incident which the former president cited – of a drug raid in san miguel, manila – is based on outdated information,” Bersamin said.
“in that case, one suspect was arrested, drug paraphernalia was seized and his partner is now being pursued by law enforcement,” he said.
“All of this shows that our country is safer, our people more secure and our future more assured than ever before under the stewardship of President ferdinand marcos Jr.,” Bersamin, a former chief justice, said.
marcos had said his government would not hand over Duterte to the international Criminal Court (iCC), which is investigating the previous administration’s alleged atrocities in its war on drugs.
Make Duterte pay
Commenting on Duterte’s admission of full responsibility for thousands of extrajudicial killings during his administration, house members said the former president
should be made to face “the full force of the law and go to jail.”
for deputy majority leader and tingog party-list rep. Jude Acidre, Duterte’s admission “leaves no room for leniency.”
t he former president has publicly accepted responsibility for these deaths ... if we truly stand by our principles of justice and the rule of law, then mr. Duterte must be held accountable. he must go to jail for these eJKs. this is not about politics; it’s about justice,” he said.
Duterte admitted the existence of the death squad and accepted full responsibility for thousands of killings in his drug war at monday’s first hearing by the senate Blue r ibbon sub-committee on the issue.
Acidre emphasized that no one, “especially those in positions of power, should be immune from legal consequences.”
“Duterte’s words have given the justice system a clear mandate to act ... As public servants, our duty is to uphold justice – not to shield individuals. Duterte must face the legal consequences for his actions,” he said. the wheels of justice must take its due course. Charges must then be filed and, if proven guilty, rodrigo Duterte must go to jail,” the house deputy majority leader asserted.
“We must not set this evidence aside, or keep a blind eye to
violations of our laws that were made as state policy,” he pointed out.
“the Philippines is not a ‘no man’s land’ where there are no laws and accountabilities. We are a democratic country run by a rule of law, which is the very basic foundation of our government,” Acidre maintained. the problem in the drug war of the previous administration is very clear: instead of being fair and just, the policy became harsh and bloody. this policy violated human rights under our 1987 Constitution,” he said. the result: we veered away from the path to justice, and this policy claimed the innocent lives of our people, including young ones,” Acidre said. “the problem lies in the implementation of the policy of the past administration’s war against drugs.” house assistant majority leader and Zambales rep. Jay Khonghun echoed Acidre’s stance, calling Duterte’s admission a “pivotal moment” that offers an opportunity for the nation to reaffirm its commitment to the rule of law. this is a critical time for our institutions to show their strength by pursuing the legal accountability that so many families have waited for,” he added. for her part, house assistant majority leader and Nueva ecija
Ang Lungsod ng Alameda ay hindi nagdidiskrima laban sa sinumang tao batay sa lahi, kulay, relihiyon, bansang pinagmulan, ninuno, kasarian, pagkakakilanlan o pagpapahayag ng kasarian, oryentasyong sekswal, katayuan sa pag-aasawa, katayuan sa pamilya, pinagmumulan ng kita, genetic na impormasyon, medikal na kondisyon, pisikal na kapansanan o kapansanan sa pagiisip, o anumang iba pang kategoryang protektado ng batas.
Batangas
town
Palace: Philippines safer under...
rep. mika suansing highlighted the role of government institutions in ensuring that justice is upheld.
our judiciary and investigative bodies now have a duty to act on this admission... the former president’s own words must be met with a serious response. for too long, victims of eJKs have waited for answers,” suansing said.
Cagayan de o ro City r ep. Lordan suan, for her part, called on the Department of Justice and the office of the ombudsman to initiate a full investigation.
“We cannot ignore such an admission,” suansing stressed. t hese institutions must act decisively and transparently to restore faith in our justice system.” rep. mohamad Khalid Dimaporo (Lanao del Norte first district) said Duterte’s admission “should galvanize us to reinforce our commitment to justice and human rights.”
“We owe it to the victims and to the filipino people to prove that our institutions can and will deliver justice,” Dimaporo, chairman of the house committee on muslim affairs, stressed.
DOJ, ombudsman r ep. Bienvenido Abante Jr.,
chairman of the house committee on human rights and one of the leaders of the quad committee, said prosecutors from the office of the ombudsman and the Department of Justice should look into the criminal liability of Duterte, who owned up to killings and human
rights violations during his term.
“former President Duterte’s admission should be taken seriously by both Philippine authorities and the international community. this is a crucial opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to human rights, justice and the rule of law,” Abante said. the legal basis is there. We owe it to the victims and the filipino people to pursue justice without fear or favor,” he said. he said Justice secretary Jesus Crispin remulla and ombudsman s amuel m artires should look deeper into Duterte’s admission. the house quad comm has already unearthed evidence and testimony that bolstered allegations that the victims of the war on drugs were innocent, that they were victims of a relentless campaign waged by no less than m alacañang, and had its full blessings,” Abante said.
“We have testimony that shows that the former president issued directives and gave the green light to a reward system that led to the death of innocents. if the former president says that he is taking responsibility for the illegal and fatal acts of law enforcement during his administration, then he should be held accountable,” Abante maintained.
h e said that by his own admission, the former president should be made to stand trial before Philippine courts or the iCC.
“While he was president, the law and political considerations protected him. But now, this
admission might be seen as enough basis for both Philippine and iCC prosecutors to hold him accountable,” he explained. the iCC, which had initiated a preliminary examination of the anti-drug campaign, could potentially interpret Duterte’s statements as an endorsement of systematic actions against alleged drug offenders, a potential crime against humanity, Abante said.
Although the Philippines withdrew from the rome statute in 2019, Abante pointed out that the court retains jurisdiction over incidents committed before 2019. Independence doubted Lawyers and families of some victims of extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration have questioned the independence of the s enate Blue r ibbon subcommittee investigation, saying it “has become a platform for those involved and accused,” particularly senators Bato dela rosa and Bong Go.
t he r ise Up for Life and for r ights noted that the two senators “had neither the decency nor discretion to inhibit themselves, despite persistent and credible allegations of their participation in the whole scheme of things.”
“ t his raises significant questions over the independence and effectivity of the s enate investigation and the possibility that this might serve as a whitewash,” it added. (With reports from Sheila Crisostomo, Delon Porcalla, Mark Ernest Villeza, Janvic Mateo)
Duterte: No apology for drug war...
they were just doing their job," he said in a prepared statement.
senate minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel iii, chairman of the senate blue ribbon subcommittee, said the public hearing would examine the Duterte administration's enforcement of anti-illegal drugs laws.
"Did it follow the laws and rules? Was it compliant with the letter of the Constitution, as well as with the values and principles contained in our Constitution? Let us therefore answer the cries for justice from our people," the senator said.
"Let us reform not just the Philippine National Police but the entire nation of public service. We want to know the truth, not only because it can set us free but also so we can strengthen the rule of law and then heal our land," Pimentel said.
Duterte denied accusations that he gave monetary rewards to policemen who killed drug suspects during a buy-bust. "it is not state-sponsored killing. i did not say such a thing because i'm a lawyer."
he said that when he was Davao City mayor — and even during his presidency — he instructed policemen "to encourage [the suspected] criminals to fight, encourage them to draw their guns."
he admitted that he has his own "death squad" but did not elaborate when sen. risa hontiveros asked him to describe the structure of that death squad. that is my instruction. if they fight back, kill them so that the problems in my city will end. When i became president, that was also my instruction during the command conference in malacañang," he said.
Duterte had a faceoff with former senator Leila de Lima and families of drug suspects believed to be victims of eJK.
De Lima was detained in 2017 at the Philippine National Police
Custodial Center on what she described as trumped-up drug charges.
De Lima denied the drug charges and said they were politically motivated because she criticized Duterte's bloody war on drugs. the muntinlupa regional trial Court in 2023 dismissed all the drug complaints against her.
De Lima testified that when she was still with the Commission on human rights, she investigated alleged eJKs conducted by the so-called Davao death squad against criminals.
But she was not able to pursue it even when she became justice secretary due to lack of evidence.
"You all heard from the horse's mouth that there are indeed death squads," she said. inducing, encouraging and prodding people to kill directly or indirectly is not part of the duty of an executive official, whether it is mayor or president," de Lima said.
Duterte challenged de Lima to file charges against him.
Duterte said his mandate as president was to protect the country and the filipino people. "Do not question my policies because i offer no apologies, no excuses. i did what i had to do, and whether you believe it or not, i did it for my country."
he said the war on illegal drugs "is not about killing people; it is about protecting the innocent and the defenseless."
Duterte said the war on drugs is about the eradication of illegal substances such as shabu, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, party drugs and the like.
Duterte said he believes that "rehabilitation and not fear of death or incarceration to be the key to the return of the addicted individuals back to the mainstream of a just and forgiving society."
"But no mistake about it. i hate drugs; i loathe the purveyors, the merchants and the pushers of this demonizing element. i have not failed to emphasize from the very day of the campaign when
i ran for the presidency in 2016. this was my covenant with the filipinos who believe in me, and to this day, most still agree with what my government had achieved," he said. it is unfortunate that drugrelated crimes are on the rise again. every day, you can read about children being raped. People getting killed and robbed, and just recently, a drug den was raided within the malacañang complex. this clearly manifests that the purveyors of this menace are back in business," Duterte said. "filipinos are anxious and distressed." he said that self-preservation is the first law of nature. "it is instinct. it is recognized in our laws as self-defense; that is why i have always told the police authorities and operatives to be mindful of this basic law of nature. however, i tell them not to abuse their authority and power."
During the anti-drug campaign Duterte launched shortly after taking office in 2016, he ordered police to shoot dead suspects if officers believed their lives were in danger.
While the crackdown has been widely condemned and sparked an international investigation, only nine police officers have been convicted for killing drug suspects. the drug war has continued under Duterte's successor, ferdinand marcos Jr., though he has pushed for more emphasis on prevention and rehabilitation. While the current and former presidents have had a bitter falling out, marcos has stressed his government will not cooperate with the iCC investigation.
the Philippines quit the iCC in 2019 on Duterte's instructions, but the tribunal has said it had jurisdiction over killings before the pullout, as well as killings in the southern city of Davao when Duterte was mayor there, years before he became president. (With reports from AFP)
Language access a barrier to elections for...
between language assistance and voter participation.
Defining language minorities
“from the literacy tests of the Jim Crow era to the englishonly voting materials imposed by states in the modern era, language barriers have a long history of leaving voters, particularly voters of color, without adequate access to the ballots,” study author and Demos senior researcher Angelo Ancheta told spanish-language news outlet La Opinión in 1975, Congress amended the Voting rights Act to explicitly prohibit discrimination against “language minority” groups, mandating, among other things, that state and local election officials provide written translations of ballots and election materials.
the move came following Congress’ recognition of the challenge to voting faced by spanish-speaking Puerto rican voters who are U.s. citizens.
Under the amended rules, jurisdictions where more than 5% or more than 10,000 votingage citizens are limited-english proficient, are considered language minorities and are therefore covered under section 203 of the VrA.
Yet, Ancheta writes, the definition of what constitutes a “language minority” has remained limited, meaning “the vast majority of non-english languages that are spoken in the U.s. are categorically excluded from group-based coverage under the VrA.” that includes languages such as Arabic, Armenian, farsi, french, haitian Creole, Polish, russian, somali, and Ukrainian, among others. moreover, the VrA’s numerical benchmark excludes communities that fall just short of the 10,000 number required under the law.
one hundred five language minority groups in 30 states had
relevant populations of between 7,500 and 9,999 or between 3.9 and 4.99%,” according to the study.
“for example, in Arizona’s Pinal County, Latino LeP voting-age citizens numbered 9,865, which was fewer than 150 citizens short of meeting the 10,000 benchmark, while in Virginia’s fairfax County, Korean LeP voting-age citizens numbered 9,934, which was fewer than 70 citizens short of meeting the numerical benchmark.”
Filling in the gaps the study, which examines current federal, state and local laws, notes numerous states and localities across the country have moved to fill in the gaps, providing in-language outreach literature, registration forms and sample ballots in languages not covered by the VrA. other efforts include lowering the minimum threshold, thereby expanding the number of voters receiving assistance. the battleground state of Pennsylvania earlier this month moved to make voting documents available in nine additional languages not covered by the VrA, potentially enfranchising up to 251,701 eligible Pennsylvania voters.
Lawmakers in California, home to the largest number of LeP households in the country, are considering a similar bill.
Yet issues remain, including underinvestment as well as poor and even mistranslation leading to ballot errors in some cases, even in regions supportive of greater language access. there are also jurisdictions where “backlash against the provision of bilingual or multilingual ballots is also not unusual; criticism from many voters and public officials is often vocal and severe, even openly nativist or racist.” such attitudes have been enshrined in public policy
in a number of jurisdictions where opponents of language assistance argue that english is and should be the dominant language and that any provision of assistance undermines incentives for LeP communities to become more proficient.
An issue of ‘racial equity’ “Language access is an issue of racial equity,” Demos Director of Democracy Phi Nguyen told La opinión. “As they currently stand, federal language access laws often fail to protect voters and leave out thousands of voters of color due to their level of language proficiency.”
Among the study’s recommendations are: – the creation of electoral materials in languages other than those required by federal law.
– Lowering thresholds for language assistance offered below federal triggers to expand the number of voters receiving assistance.
– the use of clear compliance mechanisms that are based on both sufficiently funded government policies and strong community participation.
Civic organizations and nonprofits, meanwhile, have also been active in producing inlanguage election material, including the website Guides. vote, which offers non-partisan voter information on candidate races both at the state and national level in 12 languages. the group also produces popular social media campaigns like this one that has garnered over 1 million views.
“As we have already seen in many states and localities across the country,” noted Nguyen, “enacting policies to better address the diverse linguistic needs of American voters can address inequities in ballot access and ensure our democracy works for our communities.” (Peter Schurmann/Ethnic Media Services)
Former President Rodrigo Duterte and former Senator Leila de Lima attend the Senate hearing on the war on drugs on Monday, October 28, 2024.
Photo by Mike Alquinto
DAteline PhiliPPines
Philippines, US, Japan hold talks to counter economic coercion
by cristina cHi Philstar.com
mANiLA — the Philippines renewed talks with the United states and Japan on working together to shield their economies from foreign countries' coercive economic practices.
Delegates of the three countries held an "informal trilateral discussion" in manila on october 25 to reinforce their joint stance against the issue during the first Japan-U.s.Philippines summit in April.
the trilateral meeting stressed the need for each country to build economic resilience and raise awareness on potential foreign tactics and practices of coercion.
economic coercion refers to a nation's weaponization of economic tools, such as trade restrictions, targeted sanctions or aid cuts, to pressure another country into political concessions.
the statement on the trilateral meeting did not identify the country or countries that pose a threat via economic coercion, but Washington has regularly raised the issue of China's coercive tactics as a matter of national security with its allies in the region.
the participants shared their concern over and strong opposition to economic coercion and a commitment to building economic resilience," the U.s state Department said in a statement on october 25.
"they also affirmed that the three countries intend to cooperate to raise awareness of this issue among the international community and enhance their resilience to and response capabilities to potential economic coercion," it added.
the discussion was chaired by ma. Corazon halili-Dichosa, executive director for industry Development services at the Board of investments in the Philippines.
What went before
During their first trilateral talks in April, the Philippines,
U.s. and Japan issued a joint statement expressing their objection to economic coercion and willingness to deepen their cooperation in fighting the practice.
A month before that, the Chinese embassy in manila called out the Philippine ambassador to the United states Jose manuel romualdez for claiming China could use trade restrictions to pressure the Philippines over the south China sea dispute, saying his statement was "deplorable" and "in ignorance of basic facts." the embassy, in its statement in march, said China's economic relations with the Philippines has brought "tremendous benefits to both countries" and that the accusation is forms part of a "malicious smear campaign against China." Without singling out the United states, the embassy said: "Who invented 'economic coercion'? Where did it originate? Who weaponizes economic power and gets addicted to sanctions? the questions are self-explanatory."
the U.s. and five other countries — Australia, Britain, Canada, Japan and New Zealand — issued a joint declaration in 2023 that they oppose the use of trade-related economic coercion to force or influence nations into complying with third-party countries' demands.
the U.s. has also been accused by Chinese officials of using economic coercion to achieve its aims through its imposition of sanctions on entities and individuals.
A Washington Post investigation in July found the U.s. has imposed three times as many sanctions as any other country or international body, affecting a third of all nations with some form of financial penalty on individuals or organizations. for instance, under trump, the U.s. in 2017 imposed severe sanctions on Venezuela with the goal of ousting Nicolás maduro's regime in support of the opposition. these sanctions targeted the oil industry and key officials, aiming to cut off
Comelec sees up to 5M new voters for 2025
by William Depasupil ManilaTimes.net
the number of registered voters in the 2025 midterm polls is likely to increase by 4 million to 5 million or a leap to between 70 million and 71 million from 66 million in 2022, the Commission on elections (Comelec) said.
Comelec Chairman George erwin Garcia said over the weekend that based on reports from 93 percent of the election officers nationwide, as of october 26, the number of registered voters stands at 68,571,499.
Garcia said they were still waiting for the figures from overseas voters and the Bangsamoro region in muslim mindanao (BArmm). the overseas voters and Bangsamoro are not yet there. [once the numbers are in], the total would reach around 70 to 71 million," the poll chief added.
Also, Garcia said that printing of ballots will start before the end of the year, and the number should correspond to the total registered voters.
it will be one ballot per person. Unlike in the past, there will always be excess ballots. But now, there will be no excess ballots that will be printed," he added.
Garcia also assured the public of complete transparency in the printing of ballots at the National Printing office in Quezon City.
Commission on Elections Chairman
and
Oct.
Photo
from day one, the printing of the test ballots, up to the last when we are to ship them, everybody will be present to see for themselves how we are going to print and prepare the most important document in an election," he said. At the end of the voter registration period, Comelec records showed 6,442,112 applied for registration. of the number, more than three million were new voters, including more or less 100,000 reactivated. Garcia, however, said that 5.3 million deactivated voters failed to reactivate their status. Voters are placed on the deactivated list if they fail to vote in two successive elections. one is also removed from the list because of a court decision and because of death, among other reasons.
by Jane Bautista Inquirer.net
mANiLA — former Presidential spokesperson harry roque is now implicated in the qualified human trafficking case against Cassandra Li ong and several others concerning the alleged illegal activities of the Philippine offshore gaming operator (PoGo) hub Lucky south 99 Corp. in a 15-page supplemental complaint affidavit filed on monday, october 28, the Presidential Anti-organized Crime Commission (PAoCC) and the Philippine National Police-Criminal investigation and Detection Group added roque, Lucky south 99 Corp., Whirlwind Corp., mercides Peralta macabasa and Ley tan as respondents in the initial complaint filed on sept. 10 against those involved in the illegal PoGo in Porac, Pampanga, which was raided earlier in June.
his legal services to Lucky south 99 despite having claimed that he only lawyered for Whirlwind in an ejectment case, but the organizational structure of Lucky south 99 and his activities speak otherwise,” the document read in part.
it noted that roque “benefited from the fruits of the trafficking in persons operations” and other illegal activities in the PoGo hubs but chose to keep silent about it.
“As an officer of Lucky south 99, respondent roque knows that there is something not right about what is happening inside the compound, and he intentionally withheld such information from the police or from any law enforcement agents,” the complaint said.
‘Trumped-up charge’ in a statement posted on his facebook page, roque said the complaint filed with the Department of Justice was “nothing but a trumped-up charge.”
revenue and pressure maduro to step down. instead, the sanctions worsened Venezuela's economic collapse, causing severe shortages of food, medicine, and fuel, leading to hyperinflation, widespread poverty, and a mass exodus of Venezuelans seeking refuge abroad. n
Deputy City Prosecutor Darwin Cañete told reporters that roque was included due to his “active participation in the furtherance of the illegal activity” of Lucky south 99.
Based on the complaint, roque was listed as the legal officer of Lucky south 99 in the application of the PoGo hub for the renewal of its permit with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.
‘Something not right’ “respondent roque offered
Cañete pointed out that testimony from Pagcor Assistant Vice President Jessa marie fernandez on July 26, 2022, stated that roque and Cassandra ong went to their office and that roque “made several followups with her on the status of the renewal of the gambling license of Lucky south.”
“so, combined together based on the investigation of PAoCC, officers and people who have something to do with the corporation should be made to answer and are supposed to explain their respective activities with respect to the human trafficking activities of Lucky south,” the prosecutor said.
“it took PAoCC four months after the raid in Porac, Pampanga, to get witnesses to agree in concocting lies for the sake of implicating me … they had no evidence linking me against PoGos and obviously manufactured some now just to implicate me,” roque said. however, according to Cañete, the complaint filed is an opportunity for the former official to clear his name and submit contravening evidence. meanwhile, tan, who was also named as a new respondent, allegedly cooperated in the trafficking and other illegal activities of the PoGo by becoming the head of the accounting department, as evidenced by the organizational chart that Lucky south submitted to Pagcor. in her capacity, tan “enabled” the corporation to commit human trafficking, Cañete said.
“You make companies like this appear legitimate. You protect the facade of the corporation as a legitimate organization doing ordinary things when, in fact, they were committing human trafficking, so her participation is essential in sustaining the appearance as in the preparation of books and accounts,” he added. n
U.S. President Joe Biden heads to a trilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (R) and Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (L) at the White House in Washington, D.C.
Malacañang file photo
George Garcia gestures during the Townhall interview held by DZRH
The Manila Times on
24, 2024.
by Mike Alquinto
OPiniOn FeAtures
Waiting for indictment
Finally facing a congressional investigation, former President Rodrigo Duterte delivered a mouthful on Monday, October 28, refusing to leave the Senate even after spending eight hours before the Blue Ribbon subcommittee.
Duterte’s main message was that he was taking full legal and moral responsibility for the policy pursued during his presidency in dealing with the illegal drug scourge, which led to the killing of over 6,000 drug suspects in law enforcement operations. human rights groups say the actual number of fatalities, including those killed apparently by vigilantes, could reach around 20,000.
the former president was unapologetic, saying, i did what i had to do… i did it for my country.” he shielded the Philippine National Police from blame, even when he admitted having a “death squad” that he said was composed of “gangsters” and wealthy civilians who wanted to kill criminals when he was mayor of Davao City. Pressed to identify the death squad members, he said at age 73, his memory fails him. “thousands” were killed in Davao at the time, he said, but they were criminals.
Duterte, however, along with his aide-turnedsenator Bong Go, denied maintaining a cash reward system for police officers who killed drug suspects. Duterte dismissed as a “liar” the source of this story, former Philippine Charity sweepstakes office general manager royina Garma, a retired police colonel.
former senator Leila de Lima, who attended the Blue ribbon hearing, had investigated Duterte over the Davao Death squad when she was chair of the Commission on human r ights and later the secretary of justice. Asked by sen. Jinggoy estrada why she did not press criminal charges against Duterte in her previous official capacities, she said witnesses were fearful to come out and there was “no real evidence yet at my disposal.”
Duterte’s testimony on monday, as noted by sen. risa hontiveros, could bolster criminal charges against him related to his bloody war on drugs. having lost his presidential immunity from criminal prosecution, Duterte can now be indicted and tried. t he m arcos administration has maintained that the international Criminal Court, which is investigating Duterte and several of his former officials for possible murder as a crime against humanity, need not exercise jurisdiction over the Philippines because the pillars of justice in the country are working. the marcos administration can prove this by pursuing cases in court against Duterte and his former officials. it can be done parallel to the iCC probe, and it will be a test of the strength of the Philippine criminal justice system. (Philstar.com)
Testing America’s political stability
if the United states can hold peaceful, orderly elections on Nov. 5 and inaugurate a new president without prolonged legal or political battles, it will mark a major success for American democratic institutions. such an outcome would send a powerful message to the world: that free elections, even in highly polarized climates, remain a credible source of political legitimacy. Political legitimacy is the foundation of strong institutions, and strong institutions are the barriers that prevent autocrats from hijacking democracy.
Unfortunately, this scenario seems increasingly uncertain as America gears up for what could be its most consequential
presidential race in history. the final national poll from The New York Times and siena College shows Democratic candidate Kamala harris and republican candidate Donald trump tied at 48 percent of the popular vote. this seems to leave just 4 percent of American voters with the power to decide the next president. the U.s. electoral system is complex. the presidency isn’t awarded to the candidate with the most popular votes nationwide but to the one who secures the majority of the electoral College votes from the 50 states. i n most states, the candidate who wins the popular vote claims all that state’s electoral votes. this winner-take-all rule applies everywhere except in maine and Nebraska, where electoral votes are partly distributed based on congressional district results.
h istorically, “blue” states vote Democratic, while “red” states tend to go r epublican. h owever, about six or seven states, known as “battleground” or “swing” states, can vote either way, ultimately determining the election outcome. Key among these are states with large electoral votes: Pennsylvania (19), North Carolina (16), Georgia (16), michigan (15), Arizona (11), and Wisconsin (10). the electoral College has 538 votes, and a candidate needs a majority of 270 to win. this system can create situations where a candidate wins the nationwide popular vote but loses the electoral count—as happened in 2016 when hillary Clinton lost to Donald trump. i t’s not surprising therefore that in the last few weeks of the current presidential campaign, Kamala h arris and Donald
Rody holds court
t he stories emerging from the congressional probes on the drug war are more terrifying than halloween ghost stories.
Now, is the nation horrified enough to act so that the atrocities won’t happen again?
there’s no guarantee that there won’t be a repeat, even if the alleged perpetrators are put behind bars. Unless one point that r odrigo Duterte raised in his much-awaited appearance at the senate is addressed: slow justice. this slow pace, and the overall weakness of the criminal justice system, make people feel unsafe and so frustrated with lawlessness that they are willing to accept short cuts to justice. election results and surveys consistently show a level of public support for anti-crime hardliners that would frustrate human rights advocates.
t he maiden hearing of the senate Blue ribbon subcommittee produced several bombshells – some volunteered by an unapologetic Duterte himself – that could bolster efforts to indict him and his minions for crimes against humanity.
But he also used the hearing to remind the nation of his life’s advocacy, for which filipinos gave him a landslide victory in 2016: the justice system is broken, so he will just go around it and get rid of criminal elements. there’s a segment of the population that agrees with him when he argues that you can’t play nice with the
lowlifes; you just have to exterminate them. there are cops who genuinely support such short cuts to justice. in police offices, you hear personnel grumbling about the hassle of having to spend half a day to attend a court hearing as a prosecution witness. for a single case, they grouse, their presence in court could be required over 20 years, and this is no exaggeration. so why not just get rid of the offender for good, AsAP? the world will then be a safer place – this hardliner’s message resonates. it appeals to the basic human need for personal safety, which is ranked in importance next to the basic physiological needs for food, water and shelter.
* * * h ave you missed Duterte’s profanity-laden diatribes? if you haven’t, it looks like he did. Arriving at around 10 a.m. on monday, october 28 at the senate, the former president fielded questions from the Blue ribbon subcommittee for hours. By past 6 p.m., he still wasn’t done, saying there were many points he had not yet explained. surely he knew the comical impact of his refusing to leave the Blue r ibbon stage. When his supporters in the chamber finally managed to drag him away, he held a press conference. Duterte was holding court again, before a national audience, and clearly enjoying himself, ignoring sen. risa hontiveros’ request for him to refrain from filling the senate with the Pi that peppered his statements. in vintage Digong, he apologized while saying it was in his
nature to be “bastos” and “walanghiya” – and then proceeded to continue using his favorite profanity throughout the rest of his testimony. maybe he wouldn’t have been president, he said, if he weren’t rude and shameless, and he was just showing his rage toward criminals. hontiveros was not the only one who was reminded of Duterte’s meandering late-night briefings at the height of the CoViD lockdowns; she told him that his senate appearance was not such a briefing. still, Duterte would have none of it.
You can see why he preferred to face the senate while snubbing the quad comm hearings at the house of representatives. With help from his supporters in the chamber – and they weren’t just ronald dela rosa and Bong Go –Duterte turned the Blue ribbon hearing into a bully pulpit. his appearance at the senate should make his political foes at the house think twice about impeaching his daughter, Vice President s ara Duterte, and handing her over to the senate for trial.
the Blue ribbon did obtain some gems: Duterte admitted that he organized a death squad in Davao City. But the details of several of his statements were inconsistent with those provided by persons who have given statements to the international Criminal Court ( i CC), and the bombshells dropped by several of his former officials who have faced the quad comm. sen. Koko Pimentel, who chairs the Blue ribbon subcommittee, said the transcripts of the pro-
trump and their major celebrity endorsers—for example, former president Barack o bama for harris and the multibillionaire e lon m usk for trump—have focused their campaign efforts on the battleground or swing states. in the final NYt-siena College poll, harris leads by less than 1 percentage point in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and michigan. trump holds a similarly narrow lead in North Carolina, Georgia, and Arizona. t hese tight margins underscore how the winnertake-all rule can make even the smallest fraction of votes pivotal. i n 2020, Biden narrowly won Georgia with 49.47 percent of the popular vote to trump’s 49.24 percent—a margin of just 0.23 percent or 11,779 votes. the margin in Georgia was so close that Georgia’s secretary of state Brad raffensperger ordered a hand recount, which confirmed
Biden’s win. Nevertheless, trump leaned heavily on raffensperger to “find” the 11,780 votes he needed to win. to his lasting credit, raffensperger stood firm.
Until the final moments of the 2020 electoral process, trump pressured then-Vice President mike Pence, who oversaw the congressional certification of electoral votes, not to certify Biden’s win. t he events culminating in the Jan. 6 Capitol assault by trump supporters remain fresh in Americans’ minds. trump has yet to acknowledge his 2020 loss.
As though to test, once and for all, the limits of America’s deeply fractured politics, this year’s election pits one of the most racist and misogynistic of America’s politicians against an American woman of s outh i ndian and African-Jamaican ancestry. few candidates could
be more different in personality, demeanor, and background than trump and harris. this rare matchup brings to the fore the issues that have polarized Americans in recent years: immigration policy, abortion and women’s rights, racial equality, wealth distribution, the role of the state, and the autonomy of government institutions, particularly law enforcement and the judiciary. the choice American voters make on Nov. 5 will definitely shape not only their future but also America’s role on the world stage. (Inquirer.net)
*
* * 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.
* * * public.lives@gmail.com
ceedings would be made available to the public and can be accessed by anyone. those who need the transcripts in any court proceedings can get these certified by the senate, he said. f acing “ s torycon” on o ne News, Pimentel expressed hope that foreign probers – referring to the iCC – won’t beat Philippine prosecutors in using the transcripts.
* * * Duterte’s defense of his brutal approach to the illegal drug problem was not new. We heard it throughout his six years in office, and he won the presidency by a landslide on such a platform. in his early days as president, he sat down with The STAr at m alacañang for a long chat, during which he explained his approach to the drug problem. it was much like what he said at the senate last monday.
he told us what i’ve also learned from covering the crime and judiciary beats. having worked for years as a prosecutor, local chief executive and congressman, he said he found it tough to pin down people for drug trafficking. they have to be caught in the act – meaning they have the drugs in their possession and they are selling it. or else there is material evidence such as surveillance camera recordings of the act of trafficking, with witnesses providing testimony against the drug kingpin.
even when there are sufficient witnesses and material evidence, the case could languish for years in the courts, during which witnesses could be murdered and corrupt judges paid to dismiss the case.
“if you file a case, it will take years,” Duterte told the senate subcommittee, while stressing
that he is not denigrating democratic institutions. there are filipinos who will agree with him. such arguments cannot justify the execution of thousands whose guilt has not yet been established. Keeping people safe cannot come at such a steep cost. But these are issues that must be sufficiently addressed, if we don’t want a repeat of the mass killings carried out in the name of law enforcement. Unless this is done, even if Duterte and the enforcers of his drug war are put away for life, we are likely to see another politician promising his brand of justice rising to high office. (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.
Former President Rodrigo R. Duterte attends the Senate Blue Ribbon Subcommittee hearing on the Philippine War on Illegal Drugs on Monday, October 28, to shed light on his administration’s
Freedom, opportunity, and a new way forward for Filipino American families
new, optimistic generation of leadership and will chart a New Way forward—one that ensures you can not just get by, but get ahead.
v
f or generations, people of f ilipino heritage have come to America in search of hope and opportunity. t he earliest filipinos arrived at morro Bay, California, in the 16th century. today, more than four million f ilipino Americans call this country home, and your values of hard work, family, and faith make America stronger. t his o ctober, as we honor f ilipino American h istory month, i join you in celebrating this incredible community. f rom the manongs and manangs who organized to improve labor conditions in the Delano Grape strike, to the filipino and filipino American soldiers who fought against tyranny in World War ii , to frontline health care workers during the pandemic, you have been a part of our greatest triumphs and struggles. i was proud to welcome the return of in-person filipino American h istory m onth celebrations at the White house, and i am inspired by your stories and aspirations for a better future. my mother was 19 when she crossed the world alone, traveling from india to California with an unshakable dream to be the scientist who would cure breast cancer. s he worked tirelessly to raise our family and taught me to never complain about injustice, but do something about it. At a young age, i decided i wanted to do the work of fighting for people, and that has been the story of my entire career. As a courtroom prosecutor, i stood up for women and children against predators. As Attorney General of California, i took on the big banks and delivered $20 billion for families who faced foreclosure. As Vice President, i have stood up for workers and seniors. Now, i am running for president—because i believe Americans want and deserve a leader who will fight for all the American people. this election is about two very different visions for our nation: one focused on the future, the other on the past. i represent a
i grew up in a middle class household, and i remember my mother’s sacrifices and the long hours she spent to make things work for our family. As president, i will build an o pportunity e conomy where every American has the opportunity to own a home, to build wealth, to start a business. i will cut taxes for 100 million Americans, hold companies accountable for price gouging on food and groceries, and work to lower the costs of essentials.
i will build three million affordable homes and provide up to $25,000 in down payment assistance to firsttime homebuyers. i know what homeownership means to the American people, not to mention what it meant to my mother. We were renters growing up, and she saved up for years to buy our first home. she was so excited when that day came, and i want all Americans with dreams of achieving homeownership to feel that same excitement. small businesses and filipino American entrepreneurs are the engines of our economy, and i will support these essential businesses by boosting access to capital and increasing the startup expense deduction 10fold, from $5,000 to $50,000. f ilipino Americans are also at the heart of our healthcare system. i will protect the Affordable Care Act, which has reduced the uninsured rate among Asian Americans to record lows. President Biden and i worked to lower the price of prescription drugs and cap the cost of insulin at $35 for seniors, and i will go further to reduce costs for all Americans.
m y plan will also strengthen medicare to cover home care for seniors, easing the financial and emotional burden many filipino Americans face when caring for their elders. i took care of my mother when she was sick with cancer—i know that caregiving is about dignity. i have spent my career fighting crime, and as Vice President, i have helped to secure $15 billion for law enforcement and public safety and enact landmark legislation to combat anti-Asian
“ During Filipino American History Month, we honor the ways Filipinos and Filipino Americans have helped bring our nation closer to fulfilling the promise of America. In a democracy, while we can hold on to it, our vote is the power that each of us as an individual has. It is an extraordinary power, and we will not give it away.”
hate crimes. While Donald trump’s failures during the pandemic put filipino American health care workers at risk and fueled anti-Asian violence, i will work to keep you safe, including from gun violence. our safety is also dependent on fixing our broken immigration system. i will sign the bipartisan border security bill that trump sabotaged, and i reject the false choice between securing our border and creating a system of immigration that is orderly and humane. We can and must do both. finally, i will work to strengthen America’s global leadership. While trump cozied up to dictators and tyrants, i have traveled to 21 countries, met with more than 150 world leaders to advance our interests, and deep-
ened our ties with the Philippines. in my visits to manila and Palawan, i strengthened our economic and investment ties, reaffirmed our mutual defense commitments, and reiterated our commitment to upholding international rules and norms in the south China sea and around the world. t his election, the stakes could not be higher. Donald trump intends to “terminate” the Affordable Care Act, strip away health care protections from millions, and raise drug prices. his policies would cause inflation to skyrocket, lead to a recession by mid-2025, and increase costs for families by nearly $4,000 a year. h e and his allies would devastate the middle class and cut s ocial security and medicare.
Donald trump is an unserious man, but the consequences of him ever getting back into the White h ouse are brutally serious. trump has vowed to be a dictator on “day one,” and speaks openly about using the military against Americans. his own national security officials warn he is unhinged and unstable, and out for unchecked power. Consider what he intends to do if we give him power again, especially after the U. s s upreme Court ruled he would be immune from criminal prosecution. he would wield the powers of the presidency not to improve your life, not to strengthen our nation, but to serve himself. i t is time to turn the page on the chaos and divisiveness of trump. America is ready to chart a new way forward.
During f ilipino American h istory m onth, we honor the ways f ilipinos and f ilipino Americans have helped bring our nation closer to fulfilling the promise of America. i n a democracy, while we can hold on to it, our vote is the power that each of us as an individual has. it is an extraordinary power, and we will not give it away. i will always fight for the American people. And together, we will build a brighter future for our nation.
* * * 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.
* * * Kamala D. Harris is the Vice President of the United States.
Friday, November 1, 2024
Korina Sanchez is new host of ‘Face To Face: Harapan’ on TV5
BroADCAst journalist and television host Korina sanchez-roxas was unveiled as the new host of the upcoming iteration of tV5's tabloid talk show "face to face," replacing Karla estrada. this will be Korina's second major project with tV5 after "rated Korina," the new form of her popular show "rated K," which previously ran on ABs-CBN until the network's franchise was canceled. the upcoming show is officially titled "face to face: Harapan" and will air on the tV5's "Hapon Champion" afternoon block beginning November 11, though no specific time slot has been given as of writing. Despite the revamped title, the show remains committed to its mission as "a platform for addressing real-life issues and fostering genuine resolutions" by bringing opposing parties together onto one stage to resolve conflicts. face to face: Harapan" is a co-production of mQuest Ventures and Cignal tV, and promises to reveal more new faces and twists in the coming days.
this new hosting stint comes a few months after Korina returned to news and public affairs after a decade via Bilyonaryo News Channel’s “Agenda.”
Before Korina and Karla, editions of “face to face” were hosted by Amy Perez, Gelli de Belen, and Christine Bersola-Babao. (Philstar.com)
Fil-Am stunt coordinator Jonathan Eusebio directs 2 Oscar winners in directorial debut
by Kristofer Purnell Philstar.com
ACADemY Award winners Ke h uy Quan and Ariana DeBose lead the cast of "Love hurts," the directorial debut of filipino-American stunt coordinator Jonathan eusebio.
A trailer for the film sees Quan as marvin Gable, a successful regional realtor who in the middle of work receives a letter bearing the movie's title, the message "hiding ain't living," and a cracked heart. the words were what marvin told Ariana DeBose's rose, his former partner before he parted ways with her seemingly for good.
two men arrive to capture marvin, informing him they work for his brother Knuckles played by veteran h ong Kong actor Daniel Wu. the two begin to beat marvin up around the house, but marvin fights back just as Celine Dion's it's All Coming Back to me Now"
blasts through the trailer, and rose shows up to save marvin.
rose says she needs marvin's help to go up against Knuckles even though marvin vowed to leave his past life behind.
more fight scenes ensue inside marvin's offce and in one of the houses he's trying to sell, he quipped he knows people who can fix the rummaged location.
the trailer ends with a fight between marvin and Knuckles, with marvin once again repeating the movie's title.
"Love hurts" is co-produced by 87North's David Leitch, another stuntman-turned-filmmaker who helmed films like "John Wick," "Deadpool 2," "hobbs & shaw," "Bullet train," and "the fall Guy" after extensive stunt work on "Blade," "fight Club," "ocean's e leven," " troy," two " m atrix" movies, and more.
eusebio worked with Leitch on "Daredevil," "300," "the Bourne Ultimatum," "the fall Guy," and
"John Wick," also becoming a stunt or fight coordinator on "Black Panther," "Doctor strange," "the fate of the furious," and "the matrix resurrections." the filipino-American was also the second unit director on "Deadpool 2," "Birds of Prey," and "Violent Night," the latter also co-produced by Leitch and his wife Kelly mcCormick through 87North.
Quan won the Best supporting Actor oscar for his role in "everything everywhere All At once," his huge comeback role after child star outings in "indiana Jones and the temple of Doom" and "the Goonies." he left acting after struggling to find work, becoming a stunt choreographer on various films and was inspired to become an actor again following the success of "Crazy rich Asians" which led to starring in "finding 'ohana" and "everything everywhere All At once." following his oscar win, Quan
starred in "Loki," "American Born Chinese," and "Kung fu Panda 4," and is set to appear in "the electric state" and "Zootopia 2" next year. "Love hurts" will be his first film in a major lead role. s inger-actress DeBose appeared on Broadway productions like "hamilton," "Bring it on," motown: the musical," "A Bronx tale," and "summer: the Donna summer musical," before breaking out on film in Netflix's adaptation of "the Prom." DeBose won her o scar for steven spielberg's take on "West side story," which made her the first Afro-Latina person and first openly queer woman of color to win an acting oscar. for portraying Anita in the film, DeBose and rita moreno — who won an oscar for playing Anita in the original "West side story" film — became the third pair of oscar-winning actors for portraying the same character in two different films.
Korina Sanchez-Roxas TV5 photo
Ke Huy Quan and Ariana DeBose in “Love Hurts”.
Contributed photo
PH Ambassador Romualdez visits Amber Kinetics facility in Union
sAN frANCisCo – Philippine Ambassador to the United states Jose manuel romualdez visited Amber Kinetics’ facility in Union City, California, on october 11, 2024. the visit featured a tour and briefing on Amber Kinetics’ innovative longduration flywheel energy storage systems (fess).
As the industry leader, Amber Kinetics is the only provider offering long-duration fess, extending energy storage from minutes to hours. this cutting-edge technology provides safe, sustainable, and reliable energy storage solutions for the modern grid.
During the visit, the ambassador met with Amber Kinetics’ co-founder and Chief technology officer Dr. seth sanders, Gm Global human resources merrill sutherland, Global VP of engineering roger hitchcock, and Gm for Us operations Will Colban.
Accompanying Ambassador romualdez were Consul General Neil frank ferrer, Consul rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil, trade Commissioner Kristine Umali, rosalie say, Lalaine Bacha, and Noel Nufable. the team was given an exclusive tour of the Union City Amber Kinetics r&D fess facility. the delegation learned that Amber Kinetics is expanding its operations in the Philippines, where it has created the world’s first flywheel innovation hub. the company currently manufactures, assembles, and tests flywheels in its Batangas facility and demo site at De La salle University in sta. rosa, Laguna.
Ambassador romualdez recognized the significant role Amber Kinetics plays in advancing the Philippines’ renewable energy sector, saying, “Amber Kinetics’ investment and innovation in energy storage are transforming the Philippines’ energy landscape, driving sustainability and supporting our transition to a greener future.” Dr. seth sanders, appreciated the Ambassador’s visit to Amber Kinetics, and said, “this has been a wonderful bilateral international collaboration, and
we look forward with excitement to the next stages of our joint development of world leading energy efficacy solutions.” in addition, Amber Kinetics informed the group that the company is expanding its operation in the Philippines and the United states. Consul General Neil ferrer added, “the Philippine government remains focused on exploring potential public-private sector partnerships by leveraging silicon Valley’s dynamic culture of innovation. As a global leader in renewable energy advancements, silicon Valley is shaping the future of energy by developing sustainable solutions that transform how we generate, store, and use clean energy.” the ambassador’s visit follows Amber Kinetics’ participation at the Philippines sustainability roundtable held along the sidelines of APeC 2023 in san francisco, where the company was commended for its contributions to the country’s renewable energy initiatives. (PCGSF Release)
VILLAGE DELEGATION CALLS ON CONSUL GENERAL FERRER. The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, led by Consul General Neil Ferrer, welcomed a group of young Filipino entrepreneurs and international business students, headed by Carlo Calimon, Director of StartUp Village on October 25, 2024 at Sentro Rizal, Philippine Center. The courtesy call aimed at fostering collaboration, and inspiring the next generation of Filipino leaders and entrepreneurs. Consul General Ferrer, accompanied by Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil and PTIC-SV Trade Commissioner Anne Marie Kristine Umali, exchanged views with the group and provided an overview of the consulate’s trade and investment initiatives under its economic diplomacy framework. For their part, the students shared their business ventures and their takeaways from their immersion trip. StartUp Village is a Philippine incubator/accelerator that helps startups turn their ideas and business concepts into reality. It assists entrepreneurs and startups through acceleration services, mentorship, and
U.s immigration Attorney michael J. Gurfinkel takes on one of the most challenging cases in the show’s 19-year history. Judy was petitioned by her father in 1993, but a series of tragic events complicated her case: Judy fell into a coma in 2002, and her father, the petitioner, passed away shortly after. Adding to the challenge, one of her daughters was close to aging out of the petition.
Judy remained in a coma for years while her family held on to the hope that her daughters would eventually have a chance at a better future in the U.s. By 2008, Judy’s priority date for her visa had become current, but her medical condition and the death of her petitioner left her case in limbo.
Judy’s family eventually sought
Jasper and Joyze
From left: Roger Hitchcock, Global VP for Engineering; Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil; Dr. Seth Sanders, Chief Technology Officer; Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez; Merrill Sutherland, Global Director for HR; Consul General Neil Frank Ferrer; Philippine Trade Commissioner Kristine Umali; and Will Colban, GM for U.S. Operation. San Francisco PCG photo
the help of Atty. michael J. Gurfinkel after watching “Citizen Pinoy.” Despite the odds stacked against them, Judy’s brother, Jasper, made a promise to his
sACrAmeNto – California ports are about to become cleaner and more climate friendly thanks to new funding from the Bidenharris Administration.
on tuesday, october 29, the U.s environmental Protection Agency announced seven California ports are receiving more than $1 billion to build zero-emission infrastructure and implement plans to clean up air quality. California ports received a third of the total funding announced today nationwide. the Port of Los Angeles is receiving the nation’s largest clean ports grant of $411 million, which will help the port shift to zero-emission operations.
exports. this funding is key to Governor Newsom’s build more, faster infrastructure agenda.
(see projects in your community at build.ca.gov.)
California ports receiving funding from the federal Clean Ports Program include:
• Port of Los Angeles —
$411.69 million: this project aims to accelerate the port’s transition toward Ze on-terminal operations by significantly reducing air pollution in and around the port, deploying Ze cargo handling equipment (Che), and enhancing electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
• Port of Oakland — $322.17
transportation by implementing the final electrification elements to transform san Diego’s maritime cargo terminals and the goods movement network on san Diego Bay.
• Port of San Francisco — $55.39 million: this investment will transition ferry operations along the san francisco waterfront to zero-emissions, removing 455,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide greenhouse gases and enhancing air quality at the Port of san francisco and throughout the Bay Area airshed.
in san francisco, in a fashion show held at the Philippine Center’s Kalayaan hall on october 26, 2024.
Consul General Neil ferrer and madame miriam ferrer led the dignitaries in attendance, which also included Greek Consul General Grigorios tassiopoulos; members of the Legion of san francisco Consular Corps, and filipino community leaders such as Daly City mayor Juslyn manalo.
“i wish to say on behalf of the entire Philippine Consulate General family and the filipino American community in the Bay Area: Welcome home. We are deeply grateful for your decision to open a showroom here at the Philippine Center,” Consul General ferrer told tolentino in his welcome remarks.
Consul General ferrer added that the “evening’s showcase of filipino talent and creativity is a fitting conclusion to our celebration this october of filipino American history month,” and quoted U.s President Joe Biden’s message where he referred to filipino artists as among those who “have enriched the very essence of who we are as a people.”
“oliver tolentino is a name that has become synonymous with elegance and innovation in fashion. his work beautifully bridges the rich traditions of filipino artistry with contemporary design, creating pieces that tell stories and evoke emotions,” the Philippine Consul General further said.
“We look forward to more engagements with you as we showcase the beauty of filipino culture and the promising future of Philippine fashion,” concluded
Consul General ferrer. the fashion show featured 17 models, headlined by fil-Am supermodel tutay maristela, who donned 34 outfits from tolentino’s collection. filipino motifs are evident in his collection, such as the use of Philippine piña (pineapple fabric) and other natural textiles, and the use of designs such as the distinctive solihiya (filipino geometric pattern) and the butterfly sleeve. the san francisco showroom at the Philippine Center signifies tolentino’s expansion in Northern California. his other showrooms are located in Beverly hills, California and in makati City, Philippines. the Bataan-born tolentino has
been advocating filipino haute couture using Philippine indigenous weaves, which he recently showcased at the hinabi Project’s “terno de mayo” gala show in san francisco.
tolentino’s use of natural and handwoven Philippine textiles has brought his work to some of the world’s biggest stages such as the New York and the Los Angeles fashion Weeks, the Cannes film festival, and the oscars. he holds the distinction of being one of only two filipino fashion designers who dressed an oscar winner. interested clients in Northern California may reach out to tolentino through the contact information posted on his website. (PCGSF Release)
“thanks to historic support from the Biden-harris Administration and our state’s Congressional leaders, California’s ports are undergoing a rapid transition to become zeroemission. Cleaner ports means cleaner air for communities up and down our state – this is a huge win for our ports that are the backbone of the fifth largest economy in the world,” said Gov. Newsom in a statement from his office.
California’s ports handle about 40% of the nation’s containerized imports and 30% of America’s
million: this project will support the vision of reducing emissions and fully decarbonizing port activities by transitioning to Ze alternatives for drayage trucks and cargo handling equipment.
• Port of Stockton — $110.47
million: this project will transform the port into the first small port with Ze terminal operations and increase the Ze workforce in Northern California.
• Port of San Diego —
$58.6 million: this project will support the port’s longstanding commitment to the electrification of san Diego’s maritime cargo handling facilities and freight
• Port of Hueneme — $42.29 million: the Port of hueneme reducing emissions, supporting health (Phresh) project consists of two components: Phresh stArt (sustainable, thoughtful And resilient transformation), which includes planning activities, and Phresh Air (Accelerating implementation and results), which involves the deployment of roughly 35 pieces of Ze terminal equipment and a drayage truck incentive program.
• Port of Redwood City —
$1.97 million: this project, in partnership with a private entity, includes climate and air quality planning for hydrogen-based fueling and infrastructure.
(CA Governor’s Office Release)
Success story: Comatose mother’s petition...
comatose sister: he would do everything he could to make sure Judy’s daughters could immigrate to the U.s Atty. Gurfinkel faced three major legal hurdles: reinstating Judy’s petition after her father’s death, convincing UsCis to allow a biometrics appointment (fingerprints) and interview for a comatose beneficiary at her home, and ensuring that Judy’s daughter Joyze, who was about to turn 21, would not age out of the petition. Against all odds, Atty. Gurfinkel was able to navigate these challenges. he successfully reinstated Judy’s petition under obama’s survivor Law, arranged for UsCis agents to conduct the necessary home visit for Judy’s green card despite her coma, and used the Child status Protection Act to preserve Joyze’s eligibility for immigration.
in february 2024, Judy's long journey to provide her daughters with a brighter future in the U.s finally came to fruition. Both Joyze and mitzi were granted their immigrant visas at the U.s embassy in manila and were able to enter the U.s. While Judy remains in a coma, her love and determination have opened the door to the American Dream for
Fil-Am fashion designer Oliver Tolentino, with Madame Miriam Ferrer and other members of the Legion of San Francisco
Models don Oliver Tolentino creations on the catwalk.
Francisco PCG photos
miss Aura international 2024 first runner-up i sabelle Delos santos was oozing with charisma and confidence even after the coronation night. Days before the coronation, Delos santos became the early favorite among the candidates as she won the fan favorite category and secured her spot to be part of the top 11 finalists of the competition. she appeared in some films such as “Ano‘ng meron kay Abok” (2022), Becky and Badette (2023) and “may for ever” (2024). she has been a volunteer for special olympics Pilipinas, providing sports and opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities in communities across the Philippines. i have a strong feeling that beauteous isabelle Delos santos, possessing an auratic presence, will capture an international title
Isabelle de los Santos, ‘24 Miss Aura Int’l 1st runner-up; Elia
in the near future.
* * * Boy Lizaso iii, a fashion designer and owner of Lizaso haute Couture, has produced prestigious fashion shows in hollywood, California benefiting charitable organizations. he recently celebrated his 75th birthday, with a dinner gala, fashion and awards night and performances from Pocholo malillin’s Club mwah, attended by glitterati at manila hotel’s maynila Ballroom.
i was about to leave manila hotel when actor roger Calvin (her daughter used to be my neighbor in a condo at Wack-Wack) and actress imelda ilanan (mom of actress maricel Laxa and grandma of actor Donnie Pangilinan) told me not to leave yet and enjoy the night but i had to since it was already late evening. they were so caring. i hope to see roger and imelda again.
* *
*
multi-awarded, talented child actress elia ilano will appear in Viva films’ “Nanay, tatay” film, to be shown on october 30 exclusively at sm cinemas. it also stars Andrea del rosario, Jeffrey hidalgo, Aubrey Caraan, heart ryan, and Xia Vigor.
“Nanay, tatay” is the first filipino movie together with “Pasahero,” to be part of the sine sindak film festival which is now on its 5th year.
elia ilano will be playing the role of malena in the said horror film. After the blockbuster and award-winning movie, “Deleter,” and her accolade-filled performance in “Pinoy Ghost tales,” elia is set to be part of another horror movie. According to elia, malena is her dream role and the most difficult role she ever played to date.
*
* * A recent mini-reunion of Citem
(Center for international trade, expositions and missions) employees happened during the manila fAme, a bi-annual trade show organized by Citem, the export promotions arm of the Philippine Department of trade and industry, at World trade Center.
* * *
GmA Pinoy tV, the home of Global Pinoys, proudly joins the celebration of f ilipino American history month this october, embracing the theme “struggle, resistance, solidarity, resilience.” through its participation in various events and activities, GmA Pinoy tV honors the history, achievements, and legacy of filipinos in the United states.
Global Pinoys can participate in various celebrations across the United states, which include concerts by popular filipino bands such as Ben&Ben and side A, as well as special programs and shows, enlightening talks, and fun markets. the Ben&Ben Autumn tour 2024 will thrill Global Pinoy fans on october 27. Known for its heartfelt lyrics and unique musicality, the nine-piece band from the Philippines is set to deliver a performance that will showcase the fine elements of contemporary filipino music. Watch Ben&Ben at the California’s san Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 255 s Almaden Blvd.
A special episode of “Becoming Pinoy” will air on october 26, featuring filipino-American rapper talilo (tala and ilog). Known for his powerful storytelling through rap and hip-hop, talilo sheds light on social issues, poverty, and personal struggles through his original compositions and music videos filmed in the Philippines, where he showcases local icons like Apo Whang-od, the ilonggos, and popular tourist destinations.
“Becoming Pinoy,” GmA Pinoy tV’s multi-awarded original series, profiles successful and influential
Filipino adobo celebrated in San Francisco with Claude Tayag cooking demo, new book
sAN frANCisCo – the Philippine Consulate General in san francisco and the Bay Areabased filipino food movement hosted renowned filipino food writer, artist and restaurateur Claude tayag for a cooking demonstration and tasting featuring the filipino adobo, held at La fusion Peruvian restaurant in Downtown san francisco on october 14, 2024. tayag, who was introduced to the American audience when he accompanied chef and tV host Anthony Bourdain in a tour of Pampanga in “No reservations,” was in san francisco for the 7th biennial filipino American international Book festival.
At the book fest, tayag promoted his latest book “the Ultimate filipino Adobo: stories + recipes from the heart” from Anvil Publishing. the book serves as a follow-up to “the Ultimate filipino Adobo: stories through the Ages,” a gastrodiplomacy book project of the foreign service institute.
tayag began his presentation with an invokation to the “Dalit sa Adobo” (“Hymn to the Adobo”) by Philippine National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario: “Ay! Ang adobo ni inang, pang-tagaraw, pang-tag-ulan; parang pusong nagmamahal, mas masarap ‘pag nagtatagal.” (“oh!
My mother’s adobo, good for all seasons; like a loving heart, tastes better when it lasts.”)
During the cooking demo hosted by filipino food movement Vice President Keesa ocampo, tayag presented three filipino adobo dishes that were featured in his newest book: Adobong Portobello mushrooms, Adobong Pusit
* * * many thanks for featuring us in New York City billboard for the 2nd southeast Asian Premier Business and Achiever Award. thanks to La Visual Corp. and to Janice israel Delima.
* * *
Biyaya Animal sanctuary was thrilled recently when Krishnah Gravidez, a filipino youth advocate and an ilocana beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned m iss World Philippines 2024 (she will compete in miss World 2025 in february), participated in “fUr-ever Yours” Weekend Adoption event at Quezon City’s Ayala malls Vertis North Atrium to give these fur babies the chance to find their fur-ever homes. every pet deserves quality care.
*
* * i made it to the 12/2-3/2022 massachusetts institute of technology’s Knight s cience Journalism Advanced fact-Checking Workshop. During the science Journalism forum (sJf) 2022, the
filipino adobo from its versions in the rest of the hispanic world, where adobo is used to marinate or preserve food. tayag emphasized that more than being a dish, the filipino adobo is a cooking method with vinegar as the primary liquid, which should allow anyone to create their own adobo recipes. for instance, he told the audience to use any vinegar product that is accessible to them; for the cooking demo, he used balsamic vinegar for the Adobong Portobello mushrooms, and apple cider vinegar for the threeWay Adobong Manok All attendees got their taste of plated servings of the three dishes, accompanied with bottles of san miguel & red horse Beers and glasses of red wine. Consul rowena PangilinanDaquipil, Vice Consul Adrian Baccay, and Vice Consul hannah attended the event. on behalf of the consulate, Vice Consul Baccay thanked tayag, the filipino food movement, La fusion restaurant and its owner Chef eddy Bonilla, and the attendees for gracing the event. A livestream of the event is available on the filipino food movement’s facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ filipinofoodmovement. (PCGSF Release)
Philippines (i represented) topped the Whova Leaderboard, followed by Bangladesh (female journalist farhana Nila) and Pakistan (male journalist satram sangi). in 2023, i emerged No. 3 (Philippines) in the sJf 2023 Leaderboard, after 1st placer hassan Abouseada (head of frequency Coordination Department of the e gyptian s pace Agency) from Cairo, egypt and 2nd placer Bouda Brahim, freelance journalist from Algiers, Algeria. Another filipino, marshall Asis (No.10) from the Philippine Department of Agricul-
ture’s Bureau of Agricultural and fisheries engineering, made it to the top 10. hailed as the virtual multilingual and most diverse global event for science journalists, the october 28-31, 2024 sJf predicts to be a huge success.
* * * 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
Isabelle Delos Santos, Miss Aura International 2024 first runner-up
Krishnah Gravidez with an aspin at Ayala Malls Vertis North Atrium.
GMA Pinoy TV celebrates Filipino American History Month on October 2024.
At Boy Lizaso’s birthday celebration: (from left) Carlito Pocholo Malillin, Nick Legaspi, Fernando Pando Manipon, Rogelio Medina and Cris Nicolas.
Former CITEM Executive Director and Tourism Secretary Mina Gabor (seated, right) with Oly delos Santos (seated, left) and current CITEM Executive Director Leah Pulido Ocampo (standing, 2nd from right).
From left: CITEM’s Kate Pineda, Rogelio Medina, Marjo Factora-Evio, Froilan Miranda and Lhen Visperas.
Multi-awarded, talented child actress Elia Ilano Clockwise, from bottom left: Rogelio Medina with Dr. Fritzie Lexdy Noche; FAMAS president Francia Conrado (seated) with Roger Calvin and Imelda Ilanan; celebrant Boy Lizaso III (extreme left) with Connie & Victor Garcia; Connie Garcia with Pando Manipon. Photos courtesy of Rogelio Medina
Columnist Rogelio Medina predicts that the 2024 SJF will be a huge success.
