VOTERS in three states — Arizona, Missouri, and Nevada — chose on Tuesday, November 7 to advance protections for abortion rights in their state constitutions. Donald Trump, meanwhile, is likely to win all three states in his victorious bid for the White House.
It’s a conundrum for Democrats, who expected ballot initiatives on abortion rights in those states to boost the prospects of their candidates, including Vice President Kamala Harris. But data from VoteCast, a large survey of U.S. voters conducted by The Associated Press and partners including KFF, found that about 3 in 10 voters in Arizona, Missouri, and Nevada who supported the abortion rights measures also voted for Trump.
“We saw lots of people who voted in favor of abortion access and still voted
TWO Filipino nursing aides accused of patient assault in New Jersey acted in self-defense, according to advocates for Filipino migrant workers.
The advocates, including Migrante New Jersey, have called for the release of certified nursing assistants Jovi Esperanza and Dhenmark Francisco.
Esperanza, 31, of Beachwood and Francisco, 28, from Toms River have been arrested for allegedly assaulting a patient at Crystal Lake Rehabilitation Facility in Berkeley Township, Ocean County in New Jersey on Oct. 14.
They are now facing aggravated assault charges.
Migrante New Jersey has called for justice for the two nursing assistants, highlighting what it described as racial bias in the workplace.
On their website, the group claims Esperanza and Francisco have been arrested and charged “despite acting
MANILA — The Philippine ambassador to the United States will meet with all Philippine consuls next month to discuss possible help for undocumented Filipinos at risk of deportation under the incoming Trump administration.
Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez said the "planning session" with all seven Philippine
Marcos sees no change in PH-US ties under new Trump administration
‘A MONUMENTAL SHIFT IN OUR COUNTRY’ Filipino American organizers react to Trump winning
the 2024 presidential election
by Klarize Medenilla AJPress
WITH another election come and gone, Filipino Americans across all political walks of life are preparing for another presidency with Donald Trump.
As previously reported in the Asian Journal, the Asian American electorate is the fastest-growing voting bloc in the United States, and Filipinos are the third-largest Asian group in the country. (After Chinese Americans and Indian Americans.)
Though polls and surveys leading up to Election Day have poised the Asian American community as a guaranteed bloc for the Democratic Party, the reality of political behavior goes beyond sample sizes and percentages.
In other words, one truly cannot paint an accurate prediction of the outcome until the votes are counted.
As of Friday, Nov. 8, Trump secured 73,693,350 votes (295 electoral votes) and Vice President Kamala Harris received 69,406,833 votes (226 electoral votes), according to the
by AJPress
THE 2024 general election saw impressive returns for Filipino American candidates in key races on the state and local levels across the United States, strengthening the ethnic group’s representation in government. In California, history was made as Jessica Caloza became the first Filipina American elected to the state Legislature. Caloza, a women’s rights advocate, previously worked for California Attorney General Rob Bonta as a special advisor and was the first Filipina American commissioner for the Los Angeles Board of Public Works. She will represent District 52 in the Assembly, which includes the Los Angeles-area neighborhoods of Eagle Rock, Glassell Park, Silver Lake, Echo Park, Los Feliz,
consuls in December will focus on possible plans for hundreds of thousands of Filipinos who are illegally staying in the U.S.
The Philippine officials' meeting will occur around a month before Trump assumes office in January.
"That's one of our top priorities. All the consulates here in America – we'll be gathering in Washington, D.C. to discuss how we'll go about it," Romualdez said in an interview with Radyo DZBB on Monday,
November 11.
The Philippines has consulates in Agana (Guam), Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco.
Romualdez said he is also waiting for the Department of Migrant Workers and Malacañang to issue a directive on how to assist Filipino immigrants at risk of deportation.
The ambassador explained that many of these Filipinos entered the U.S. legally but became undoc-
umented after overstaying their visas. Overall, an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 Filipino nationals could be affected by Trump's mass deportation program, he added.
The envoy advised those without a path to attaining legal status to voluntarily leave the U.S.
"There is often evidence that they left the country voluntarily. This helps them avoid the deportation process," he said.
u PAGE 3
MANILA — Vice President
Sara Duterte on Monday, November 11 said the time would come when she would leave politics, but she needed to address the needs of Filipinos first.
In a press conference, she was asked to comment on her father former President Rodrigo Duterte’s call for her to leave politics.
The Vice President
laughed and then said in Filipino: “After he told me to keep running for public office, I ran for mayor, I ran for vice mayor, and then he told me to step away from politics.”
“But we will get there… The time will come when I won’t be involved in politics anymore. I also want that, but my concern is that I need to answer to the 32.2 million Filipinos who placed their trust and confidence in
Filipino American organizers react to...
Associated Press.
“The landslide speaks volumes about the Trump coalition and how much it has grown in the last decade,” Marc Ang, Filipino American conservative political organizer, told the Asian Journal on Wednesday, Nov. 6.
As a prominent Trump surrogate for the Filipino American community, Ang has been campaigning for the 45th—and now, 47th— president and shared what he expects from a second Trump administration.
Ang asserted that Trump will bring forth “common sense solutions” especially in the arena of foreign trade and economic balance.
“Trump is going to be a
friend and a partner to the protection of the Philippines and our interests back in the home country,” Ang stated, adding that as a seasoned politico in Filipino American conservative politics, he is “excited to go back and push a lot of my initiatives within helping the Asian community.”
Melissa Ramoso, a cofounder and leader of the Filipino Americans for Harris-Walz campaign (FAFHW), lamented Harris’ loss, sharing that many communities in the U.S. may greatly suffer from a second Trump administration.
Ramoso—who previously led FilAm campaigns for Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden—referenced the MAGA conservative’s views
and proposals that harm the rights of vulnerable communities.
“For our rights as women, the future of our children, what this could mean for immigrants, health care, science, education, democracy—it’s all on the line. It’s scary to think that we are going in reverse,” Ramoso said.
In 2020, Biden received a historic 81 million votes, the most votes ever cast for an American presidential candidate, a jarring contrast to the low voter turnout for Harris. Mirroring what many politicos and media analysts have said over the last few days, Ang believes that there were many factors going against the Harris campaign.
“Let’s say this to be very gracious: Kamala Harris had a very, very tough uphill climb for herself to even win this considering the voters blamed the BidenHarris administration for the current bad shape of the economy,” Ang acknowledged.
Ang also stated that Harris’ relatively late entrance into the presidential race could have hurt her chances, saying Harris “was hoisted into this position without much preparation” and that Biden “may have won” if he had stayed the nominee.
“It’s a real slap in the face [to] the Democrats that voted for Joe Biden, for them to see that suddenly switched out,” Ang said.
Filipina American Brooke Santos, a New York Citybased member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), shared that she believes that Harris lost because of a “massive loss of faith” in the Democratic Establishment.
“I do think that there is a certain energy and fire behind MAGA Republicans, but I think it’s less to do with that and more to do with the Democrats not keeping
Fil-Ams advance gov’t representation...
east Los Angeles, and south Glendale.
Christopher Cabaldon, the former mayor of West Sacramento for over two decades, also made history as the first Fil-Am to elected to the state Senate. Cabaldon replaces Senator Bill Dodd to represent District 3, which covers areas like Napa, Vallejo, Sonoma and West Sacramento.
For the Los Angeles City Council, first-time candidate Ysabel Jurado declared victory over incumbent Kevin de León in the race for Council District 14, which includes parts of Northeast LA, Downtown LA, and Boyle Heights. She makes history as the first Fil-Am to serve on the Los Angeles City Council.
Jurado, a tenant rights attorney and daughter of undocumented Filipino immigrants, led with 55.8% of the votes (33,350 votes), while de León received 44.22% (26,442 votes), based on partial returns reported by the LA County RegistrarRecorder/County Clark as of Thursday, November 7.
She wrote in a statement that she was “humbled to officially declare victory in the race.”
“This win is not mine—it belongs to our community,” she wrote, crediting the grassroots community support, adding “Together we built a movement focused on the real issues—affordable housing, our youth and our elders, real public safety, the homelessness crisis, and defending our small businesses.”
In the race for San Diego
mayor, incumbent Todd Gloria leads with 54.88% of the votes (214,327) in his re-election bid against challenger Larry Turner with 45.12% of the vote, according to results from the county Registrar of Voters, as of November 8.
“Please accept my heartfelt thank you for helping me win re-election as San Diego’s mayor,” Gloria wrote in an email to supporters. “With last night’s strong results, we have an incredible opportunity to move San Diego forward on all the critical issues we talked about in this campaign, and that’s in big part thanks to you.”
Also in Southern California, public health advocate Ryyn Schumacher won his bid for Ventura City Council, District 3, becoming the first Fil-Am and first openly gay person of color elected to the city’s council.
Tatiana Yokoyama Bui, a Filipina-Japanese trial attorney, ran for the ABC Unified School District Board of Trustees to represent Area 4, which covers schools in Cerritos.
Yokoyama Bui, who served as a commission on the Cerritos Planning Commission, leads with 54.98% of the votes (2,855 votes) against opponent Anu Gupta with 45% (2,338).
Claremont Mayor Pro Tem Corey Calaycay, who has served for nearly 20 years as a member of the city council, won his re-election bid with 58% of the vote (2,029 votes). In Northern California, Daly City Mayor Juslyn Manalo was the top votegetter in her re-election bid for City Council with 49.98% of the vote (14,792 votes), followed by fellow FilAm councilmember Glenn Sylvester who garnered 38.22% of the vote (11,311 votes).
“I am so grateful for all the support, votes, endorsements, contributions and volunteerism to my reelection to Daly City council,” Manalo wrote in a social media post. “Together
(L-R) San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria won his re-election bid; long-time public servant Jessica Caloza will be the first Filipina
American assemblymember in California; former West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon also makes history as the first Fil-Am in the California state Senate; and Ysabel Jurado wins her historic bid for the Los Angeles City Council.
Angelito Tenorio, Wisconsin state Assemblymember Claremont, CA Mayor Pro Tem Corey Calaycay
Daly City, CA Mayor Juslyn Manalo Genevieve Mina, Alaska state Representative
Hercules, CA Councilmember Alexander Walker-Griffin John Morada, first-time candidate for Dublin, CA City Council
Junelle Harnal Cavero, Arizona state Representative
North Carolina state Representative Maria Cervania
President-elect Donald Trump will return to office as the 47th President of the United States after defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. Photo courtesy of Donald Trump for President campaign
Vice President Kamala Harris spoke to Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community leaders at a special event in Las Vegas on July 9 to launch AANHPIs for Biden-Harris. Less than a month later, Harris became the Democratic presidential nominee after President Joe Biden ended his candidacy. AJPress file photo by Robert Macabagdal
Many voters backed abortion rights and...
for Donald Trump,” said Liz Hamel, director of Public Opinion and Survey Research for KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News.
VoteCast is a survey of more than 115,000 registered voters in all 50 states conducted between Oct. 28 and Nov. 5. It’s intended to be “the most accurate picture possible of who has voted, and why,” according to the AP.
About 1 in 4 of the polled voters said abortion was the “single most important” factor to their vote, though that number was higher among Democrats, young women, Black adults, and Hispanic adults.
Abortion rights referendums passed in seven states on Tuesday, including Missouri and Arizona, where state bans were overturned.
Vice President Kamala Harris made reproductive rights a cornerstone of her campaign, but the VoteCast results reinforce earlier surveys that indicated economic concerns were the foremost issue in the election.
Tuesday’s was the first presidential election since the U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority overturned Roe v. Wade.
During Trump’s first term as president, he nominated three Supreme Court justices who later joined the 2022 ruling that eliminated women’s constitutional right to abortion care.
Mike Islami, 20, voted for Trump in Madison, Wisconsin, where he’s a full-time student. He said abortion is “a woman’s right” that “was definitely in the back of my mind” when he cast his ballot.
“I don’t think much is going to change” about abortion access during Trump’s second term, he said. “I believe his policy is that he’s just going to give it back to the states and from there they could decide how important it was.”
The survey found that the percentage of voters who said abortion was the most
ballot measure in Florida, which fell just short of the 60% threshold needed to amend the state constitution.
“As a grown woman, you’re out and you’re working, living your life,” said Wallace, an executive secretary who lives in Miami. She said the state’s ban, which criminalizes abortion care before many women know they’re pregnant, amounts to unequal treatment for women.
“I pay my taxes. I live good,” she said. “I’m doing everything every other citizen does.”
important factor in their vote was similar in states that had abortion measures on the ballot and states without them.
When voters cast their ballots, they were more motivated by economic anxiety and the cost of filling up their gas tanks, housing, and food, according to the survey results. Trump won those voters as much in hotly contested states such as Pennsylvania and Wisconsin as in reliably red states.
Glen Bolger, a Republican campaign strategist, said the 2022 election results demonstrated that Republican candidates are better off talking about the economy and the cost of living than they are about abortion.
This year, Trump voters who supported abortion rights amendments may have decided to take Trump “at his word that he was not going to support a national ban,” Bolger said. In casting their vote for Trump, he said, those supporters may have thought, “Let’s elect him to deal with the cost of living and health care and gasoline and everything else.”
The VoteCast survey found stronger support for abortion ballot initiatives from female voters: 72% of women in Nevada, 69% in Arizona, 62% in Missouri.
Erica Wallace, 39, of Miami, voted for Harris and in favor of an abortion rights
Men were more likely to vote against protecting abortion rights. Men voted 67% in Nevada, 64% in Arizona, and 55% in Missouri for the abortion rights ballot initiatives.
The VoteCast survey found that, overall, voters believed Harris was better able to handle health care. That is consistent with the long-standing view that “Democrats traditionally have the advantage on health care,” Hamel said. Still, Trump outperformed Harris among more than half of voters who said they were very concerned about health care costs.
Family premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance rose 7% in 2024 to an average of $25,572 annually, according to KFF’s 2024 Employer Health Benefits Survey. On average, workers contribute $6,296 annually to the cost of family coverage.
“Everybody is impacted by high health-care costs, and nobody has a solution to it,” Bolger said. “That’s something voters are very frustrated about.”(Sarah Varney/KFF Health News) Florence Robbins in Madison, Wisconsin, and Denise Hruby in Miami contributed to this report.
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.
VP Duterte on leaving politics: I need to...
me to serve as the vice president for everyone, not just the 32.2 million,” she added.
“The time will come when I will no longer participate in politics, but in life, we never know what will happen tomorrow. You can only plan, but it’s always God’s purpose that shall prevail.”
Former President Duterte made the call during a press conference in Davao City on November 8.
“Inday, just be thankful to God that your father became
president and you became vice president. That’s very rare for one family. Not all families in the Philippines experience that… let’s just be grateful. Now, as fast as you can, get out of politics,” he said in Filipino.
Vice President Duterte is facing allegations of misusing the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) confidential funds in 2022 and 2023.
Last September, the Commission on Audit (COA) flagged P164 million of the P375-million confidential
fund spent by the OVP last year.
COA also issued a notice of disallowance on P73.2 million of the OVP’s P125-million confidential funds for 2022, prompting the House committee on good government and public accountability to probe the OVP’s budget utilization.
House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe said Vice President Duterte may be held liable for graft if she cannot explain how the OVP funds were spent. n
PH consuls to plan help for undocumented...
He cautioned those who choose to stay to seek help from legitimate lawyers, warning against advisers who might exploit their situation with false promises of guaranteed solutions.
The ambassador said in an earlier interview that Trump will likely proceed with his mass deportation policy, based on his conversations with his campaign advisors.
“This time, it might be serious. American sentiments are stronger now. That’s why president Trump won, that’s (immigration) their main
issue. There truly are too many illegal immigrants entering the U.S. right now,” Romualdez said in Filipino.
Senate President Chiz Escudero has joined calls for the Philippine government to prepare for contingencies in case a large number of the hundreds of thousands of undocumented Filipinos are sent home.
Escudero noted that even if just one percent of the 300,000 would be deported, "it would require 10 big airplanes."
Deportation of undocumented migrants was a key campaign promise for Trump, who has pledged to carry out the biggest mass deportation effort in the country if he wins the presidential elections. Trump was elected president on November 6, defeating incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris. n
"If Trump pushes through with his pronouncement to carry out the greatest mass deportation in U.S. history, then how many of the estimated 300,000 vulnerable Filipinos will be in the first wave of expulsion?" he said in a statement on Sunday, November 10.
AFFORDABLE RICE. A worker unloads a sack of rice from a truck in Tondo, Manila on Tuesday, Nov. 12. The Department of Agriculture assured consumers in Metro Manila of ample supply and affordable rice after a meeting with local market association heads.
PNA photo by Yancy Lim
Shimazaki
Meet the Yankees’ Fil-Am player who made World Series history
When the Yankees hit rock bottom, stellar Anthony Volpe kept the team’s World Series hopes alive
by Mary ViLLegas Inquirer.net
IT was a historic night for the Yankees’ Filipino American shortstop Anthony Volpe.
As his team faced elimination in Game 4 of the World Series after losing the first three games to the Los Angeles Dodgers, he smashed a grand slam, keeping the Yankees’ World Series hopes alive. The signature Yankees moment sent fans into a frenzy, with the sellout crowd
of nearly 50,000 at Yankee Stadium erupting into wild cheers.
He also became the first player ever to register four RBIs and two stolen bases in a World Series game. It was a dream-come-true for Volpe, who adored the New York Yankees as a child.
Born in Manhattan to an Italian father and a Filipina mother, he had been an 8-year-old at the 2009 World Series parade, taking a peek at players like Alex Rodriguez and his idol, Derek Jeter.
His Filipina mother, Isabelle Volpe, described witnessing his son fulfill his childhood dream as “so surreal.”
“We cheered for the Yankees before he was born. This whole thing is a trip. Us taking him to all those events, spending money to meet [Derek] Jeter when he was eight years old, and he wouldn’t even go up to him because he was too shy. Now he’s out there doing it,” Isabelle, an anesthesiologist who was born and raised in the Philippines, told the New York Post
Volpe has been proud of his childhood connection with the team, captioning an Instagram post, “Born a Yankee fan. Raised a Yankee fan.”
Following the grand slam, the 24-year-old shortstop, who debuted with the Yankees in 2023, reflected on his full-circle moment.
With his usual shy demeanor, he told CBS News, “I was hustling. I didn’t know I got it. And then I blacked out.”
The Yankees ended up losing to the Dodgers, which held on for a 7-6 victory in Game 5 and wrapped up their eighth championship, but Volpe made his mark in World Series history.
Volpe will continue to inspire fans with what his former high school coach Bruce Shatel described as the FilAm’s ”tremendous work ethic” and passionate leadership on the field. n
Filipino American organizers react to...
up with their base—and not appealing to the more progressive, left-wing community,” Santos told the Asian Journal on Nov. 7.
As an organizer for leftist, progressive causes, Santos did not campaign for either Harris or Trump, noting that neither party “truly has the working class in mind—especially not the Democrats.”
“There are a lot of young Filipino Americans, even within DSA, whom I’ve spoken to that understand that our community is embedded within the workers rights movements in our country’s history,” Santos said.
She added, “By boasting endorsements from conservatives like Dick Cheney—who is largely responsible for the deaths of many of our troops as well as civilians in other countries— she really alienated a key part of the Democratic base, much of which is furthering left, or divesting from the Democratic Party entirely.”
However, Ramoso said that the lower voter turnout in this presidential election compared to the 2020 presidential election was a crucial factor in the outcome. According to the current vote count, 142.5 million registered voters participated in the 2024 election, a 12.7 million drop from 2020’s overall turnout, which was 155.2 million.
“People did not come out to vote, and that is a big reason why things are different this time,” Ramoso shared, adding that the Harris campaign “did the best they could.”
Santos shared that she saw “major flaws” in both major candidates and that Trump’s second election win was a wake-up call of sorts for liberal Americans.
“I think this will create a monumental shift in our country, especially among Democrats. Already those who have historically voted blue see that the obsolete and out-of-touch way that business has been operating within [the Democratic Party] really doesn’t work anymore,” Santos said, noting the number of progressive candidates that have won elections in the past decade.
Ramoso said that although many Filipinos who campaigned for FAFHW felt dejected in
the aftermath of Election Day, she acknowledged the power that Filipinos have when they mobilize and organize.
As reported in the Asian Journal, Filipino candidates won several major races across all levels of government, including Christopher Cabaldon, the first Filipino elected to the California State Senate, and Jessica Caloza, the first Filipina American elected to the California State Assembly.
“So now we have, in both houses [of the California Legislature], two Filipinos which is history!” Ramoso said. “It shows that although it wasn’t the vice president’s time, it’s our community’s time.” n
Fil-Ams advance gov’t representation...
history as the first Filipina American to hold the mayoral position in Daly City.
Mark Nagales has been reelected to represent District 2 in the South San Francisco City Council with 62.77% of the vote (2,011 votes).
Nagales, a long-time resident of South San Francisco, previously served as the city’s mayor in 2022 and held several leadership roles, such as Parks and Recreation Commissioner and Planning Commissioner prior to being elected to the city council.
First-time candidate John Morada for District 3 of the Dublin City Council leads with 53.41% of the vote against opponent Razi Hasni.
Other Northern California re-election wins include Alexander Walker-Griffin of the Hercules City Council, who is the youngest elected councilmember in the city and previously served as mayor in 2023; and Emily Ann Ramos for the Mountain View City Council.
As ballots continue to be counted, Marjan Philhour could become the first Filipina American and first female Iranian American supervisor in San Francisco. She is currently up against incumbent Connie Chan in a tight race.
Meanwhile, across the United States, several FilAms proved victorious in their respective races at the state and city levels.
Angelito Tenorio, the son of Filipino immigrants who served as an Alderman in West Allis, became the first Fil-Am elected to the Wisconsin State Legislature, representing District 14, with 52.7% of the vote (15,637 votes).
“As a young person and the son of Filipino immigrants, I feel truly blessed to have this opportunity to serve our community in the Wisconsin State Legislature,” he wrote in a statement. “I don’t come from a wealthy, wellconnected family. I’m just a kid from West Allis who deeply cares about his hometown. I entered this race because I’m passionate about building a brighter future for
everyone in our community.”
In Nevada, Assemblymember Erica Mosca — a teacher and nonprofit founder who became the state’s first Filipina in its legislature — easily won re-election unopposed, garnering over 14,000 votes.
Long-time congressmember Bobby Scott, the only member of Congress of Filipino ancestry, was re-elected to represent Virginia’s 3rd congressional district.
In Alaska, Genevieve Mina was re-elected as a state representative for District 19. Mina, a lifelong Alaskan, is a community adocate and political activist with a background in health policy. Her father migrated to Alaska in the 1980s and worked various jos, while her mother was a nurse.
In Arizona, Junelle Harnal Cavero, a political consultant who became the First Filipina American in the state Legislature earlier this year, won her re-election bid for state Representative for District 11. Trisha La Chica will continue to serve as a Hawaii state representative for District 37, which covers Central Oahu.
In New York, Assemblymember Steven Raga, who previously became the first and only Fil-Am elected to the state Legislature in 2023, was re-elected to serve District 30, which includes neighborhoods of Elmhurst and Woodside.
In Tennessee, state Representative Justin Jones won re-election to serve District 52, which includes parts of Nashville. Jones, whose mother is Filipina, became the first Fil-Am
elected to the state Legislature and is the second youngest member of the state House. He made news in April 2023 when he was expelled for violating decorum rules by participating in a gun control protest on the House floor. Maria Cervania, who has experience in public health and education, cemented her place as a state representative for North Carolina.
In Maplewood, Minnesota, councilmember Nikki Villavicencio won re-election for the city council. She became the first disabled FilAm to serve the city. The success of these Fil-Am candidates across the country underscores a powerful trend: the growing visibility and political influence of the Fil-Am community as the third-largest Asian American group in the country. With historic firsts in state legislatures, city councils, and school boards, these leaders reflect a commitment to advocating for diverse communities and addressing critical issues— from affordable housing and public safety to educational equity and environmental justice. n
Filipino nursing aides charged with...
in self-defense.”
“The patient has a recent history of aggressive behavior. Dhenmark, who was already injured from another work-related incident that week, was assigned to this patient,” the group said.
“The patient became aggressive and threw furniture at Dhenmark in a fit of anger when he tried to uphold the facility policy about smoking.”
The group said Francisco could not implement the standard protocol to restrain the patient due to his injured hand, so Esperanza stepped in to assist him.
“Dhenmark and Jovi are assigned the most difficult jobs at Crystal Lake as temporary workers. As Filipino immigrants, they are just trying to make a living but instead face anti-immigrant and racial discrimination in the workplace,” the group said.
“They are now also being discriminated against by the racist criminal justice system and prosecutor of Ocean County, New Jersey, who are punishing them for defending themselves against physical attacks and doing their jobs. They are being described as ‘violent offenders’ when they
were trying to defend themselves during a violent incident in their workplace.”
Esperanza and Francisco were granted temporary release from Ocean County Jail.
However, upon their release, the nursing aides were immediately detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) “and are now being shuffled between different facilities across various states,” added Migrante New Jersey.
The Oct. 24 court hearing was postponed as requested by the state attorney, citing the need to interview the patient.
Community support Migrante New Jersey has
launched a campaign calling for the nursing assistants’ release and exoneration. The organization has mobilized support through fundraising to help cover the nursing assistants’ legal expenses.
“It has been difficult to acquire a pro bono lawyer in New Jersey given the high level of need for legal representation for immigrants without status,” the group said.
In addition, Filipino human rights movement Malaya NJ has also launched their own fundraising efforts for the nursing aides’ legal defense fund. (Mary Villegas/ Inquirer.net)
Photo from migrantenewjersey/Instagram
RESCUE TEAM. Members of a private group clean “Ondoy boats” at their warehouse in Caloocan City on Tuesday, Nov. 12. The group donates and lends rescue boats to communities, its vessels named after the 2009 tropical storm that caused massive flooding in Metro Manila as a reminder that a united stand can overcome adversities. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc
Anthony Volpe
Photo from Instagram/Anthonyvolpe
Trisha La Chica, Hawaii state Representative
Tennessee state Representative Justin Jones
Tatiana Yokoyama Bui, ABC Unified School District Board Trustee
Members of Filipino Americans for Harris Walz (FAFHW) gathered in Las Vegas for a rally and canvass in support of Vice
President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’ campaign. Notable attendees included Hon. Gina Ortiz, Nevada state Assemblymember Erica Mosca, Tennessee state Representative Justin Jones, FAFHW National Co-Chair Hon. Melissa Ramoso, FAFHW National Co-Chair Genevieve Jopanda, and Nevada community leaders Gloria Caoile and Dr. Rozita Lee. Photo courtesy of Filipino Americans for Harris Walz
Filipino American supporters of President Donald Trump gather during a rally ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Photos courtesy of Marc Ang
Marc Ang, a conservative political organizer, poses before a rally for Trump in Arizona.
DAteline PhiliPPines
Duterte told: Fulfill legal aid promise to drug war cops
by Gabriel Pabico lalu Inquirer.net
MANILA — Former President Rodrigo Duterte should fulfill his promise of providing legal assistance to police officers who implemented his drug war, House of Representatives lawmakers said on Monday, November 11.
In a joint statement, Deputy Majority Leader and Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre as well as House committee on public order and safety chairperson and Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez said it seems Duterte’s promises were gone in the wind.
When he was president, Duterte assured police officers several times that he would claim responsibility for cases that may be filed against them for their role in the drug war. In his final State of the Nation Address (SONA), Duterte said he wants free legal assistance for policemen and soldiers, noting that he will take care of them
“Walk the talk. Puro daldal lang naman siya, palaging, ‘Ako ang bahala sa inyo,’ pero yung pulis na nakabaril ng drug suspect pala ang kawawa,” Acidre said. “[Duterte seems to repeat] the same empty promise every opportunity he gets.”
(He has been nothing but all talk; he always says ‘I’ll take care of you’ but the police officer who shot the drug suspect will be left to fend for himself.)
“Napako ang mga pangako. Puro drawing lang. Mahilig kasi sa budol-budol, pati ‘yung mga pulis na naniwala sa kanyang pangako ay nabudol din,” Fernandez added. “Buti pa ang Pangulong Marcos Jr., may pronouncement
na bubuo ng legal team sa PNP na magbibigay assistance sa mga pulis na nahaharap sa kaso.”
(The promises were broken. All talk, no action. He’s really into scamming — he even fooled the police who believed his promises It’s good that the Marcos Jr. administration has announced that they will build a legal team within the PNP that would provide assistance to cops facing cases.)
Acidre and Fernandez’s statements came after Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Marbil said on Sunday that 214 cops faced 352 criminal cases from July 2016 to June 2022 — the period when Duterte was in office.
According to Marbil, even as the PNP promised to support police officers, many of their personnel “continued to face consequences largely on their own.”
“[A total of] 195 officers [were] dismissed over the six-year period, and a total of 398 facing dismissal for various reasons. Over 20 of these individuals are currently in detention,” Marbil said.
“The numbers remind us that the impact of the anti-drug campaign was deeply felt by our police force as well,” he added.
“The data show that while civilians were affected, many officers also paid the price in various ways.”
Even after leaving office, Duterte reiterated his promise to police officers.
At the hearing of the Senate blue ribbon sub-committee last October 28, the former president said he takes full legal and moral responsibility for the rights and wrongs of the drug war.
Acidre dared Duterte to say this before the International Criminal Court (ICC) where he is facing charges for allegedly committing the crime against humanity of mass murder.
“He should tell that to the ICC. Let us see what happens,” Acidre said.
Furthermore, both lawmakers believe Marbil should tap the PNP’s legal service for police officers “who carried out the drug campaign in good faith and not for the monetary reward it offered.”
Acidre and Fernandez were referring to claims that police officers implementing the drug war got a monetary reward for every suspect killed. This accusation was bolstered by the testimony of former police colonel Royina Garma before the House quad committee.
Last October 11, Garma — who is believed to have close ties to Duterte and his allies — revealed that the former president contacted her in May 2016 about the creation of a national task force that would implement a so-called Davao template on a national scale.
Garma said the Davao template refers to a rewards system. For the national task force, she claimed that cops get monetary rewards ranging from P20,000 to P1 million.
Prior to Garma’s testimonies, another retired PNP official claimed that a rewards system existed. According to ex-police Col. Jovie Espenido, the late mayor David Navarro of Clarin, Misamis Occidental told him before he died that money from Philippine offshore gaming operators was also used to reward cops. n
AMLC probes banks involved in Alice Guo’s money laundering case
by ZaCarian sarao Inquirer.net
MANILA — The An-
ti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has already begun action proceedings against banks involved in the money laundering case of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo (real name: Guo Hua Ping).
Senator Grace Poe made the pronouncement during the Senate plenary debates on the 2025 General Appropriations Act after Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros asked about AMLC’s plans against the banks.
“The AMLC opened the enforcement action proceedings against those banks involved in Alice Guo’s case to determine if they have violated the requirement under AMLA (Anti-Money Laundering Act) to file STRs (suspicious transaction reports) with the AMLC,” said Poe, speaking for the AMLC dur-
ing the plenary session.
“These proceedings are ongoing and should the AMLC find that they indeed violated the said requirement, the AMLC will file formal charges against said banks where they may be liable [for] fines,” she added.
Poe said these fines may range from P250,000 to P500,000 per transaction, but not exceeding P10 million to P20 million.
“This is without prejudice to their criminal liability under AMLA, if their officers are found to have knowingly facilitated a crime of money laundering,” she said.
Additional funding Meanwhile, when asked by Hontiveros what assistance the AMLC would need to compel the banks to flag illegal or STRs and ensure that it can address such reports, Poe responded with needing additional funding for the agency’s artificial intelligence project and a subscription to an IT
service provider.
“This is why we added additional funding under the Senate Committee Report for the Artificial Intelligence Project of AMLC to help them evaluate the great number of suspicious transactions reports that they received,” said Poe. The senator also pushed for the passage of amendments to ATLA “to ensure compliance with the Financial Action Task Force,” which serves as the standards ensuring the Philippine government can cope with money laundering risks.
Guo is currently facing 87 counts of money laundering filed by the Anti-Money Laundering Council, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, and the National Bureau of Investigation before the Department of Justice. Other respondents included her alleged sister Shiela Guo (real name: Zhang Mier). n
SPECIAL GUEST. United States Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson (front) takes souvenir photos during her visit to the 17th Belenismo sa Tarlac in Tarlac City on Saturday, Nov. 9, with Tarlac Heritage Foundation mother and daughter co-
founders Isabel Cojuangco (with cane) and Dr. Isa Cojuangco-Suntay (holding child). The giant belen (Nativity scene)-making contest has 17 entries in the Community category, 13 in the Church category, 14 in the Monumental category, 6 in the Grand
Non-Municipal category and 12 in the Grand Municipal category. PNA photo by Avito Dalan
OPiniOn FeAtures
Who’s afraid of Trump 2.0?
AND so it happened: On Nov. 5, Americans catapulted Donald Trump back to power as the so-called leader of the free world.
As nations reeled at the implications of the former United States president’s stunning political comeback, the U.S.’ top diplomat in Manila was quick to offer assurances that a second Trump administration would not adversely affect her country’s relationship with the Philippines as “steadfast friends and ironclad allies.”
For reasons obvious to all, fears had grown that a Trump-led U.S. might go back on its commitments to come to the Philippines’ aid in the event of an attack by foreign aggressors like China. But as U.S. Ambassador MaryKay Carlson noted, it was during the Trump presidency, in 2016, when Washington first expressed support for the arbitral ruling that recognized the Philippines’ sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea while invalidating China’s sweeping claims to the disputed waters.
Mercurial and populist leaders
“Remember, when you think about the security situation here in the Indo-Pacific, it was under the Trump administration that (then) Secretary of State [Mike] Pompeo came out and lent credence and support to the arbiter ruling that weighed in favor of the Philippines with regard to access and rights (to its exclusive economic zone),” Carlson recalled last week.
Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez seconded his counterpart’s words, saying the ties between the treaty allies would “endure under any U.S. presidency”—even Trump’s.
“We will continue to strengthen and enhance not only our bilateral defense cooperation but our economic ties as well, cognizant that an economically secure and prosperous Philippines will be an even bet-
Babe’s Eye View
BaBe Romualdez
WITH a loud resounding voice, the American people have clearly spoken, electing Donald J. Trump as the 47th president of the United States.
The former president’s victory was so astounding that it was described as a “political comeback for the ages” by Australian journalist Sharri Markson, while vice president-elect JD Vance called it “the greatest political comeback in the history of the United States of America.”
While there was some apprehension, many couldn’t agree more, saying that Trump’s electoral triumph was also a slap on mainstream media that some
Horizons
AS expected, the nail-biter United States elections created an unexpected outcome. In terms of popular vote, Republican nominee Donald Trump won just over 50 percent of the votes, while his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, won 48 percent. But American elections are not decided by total vote tally, but instead the number of electoral college votes–a relic of the Founding Fathers’ aristocratic predilection. Since almost all states adopt a winner-takes-all approach, a few thousand votes can make all the difference in the world.
Nevertheless, Trump’s stunning political come-
ter ally and partner for the United States,” the ambassador said.
But the two envoys’ statements are far from a guarantee, as the circumstances have vastly changed from Trump’s first term, when he dealt with a different Philippine president—Rodrigo Duterte.
During the previous administration, Trump and Duterte, both known as mercurial and populist leaders, had barely interacted, except for a visit by the former to Manila in 2017 for the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit. The latter, on the other hand, spurned repeated invitations to the White House.
Unshakeable alliance
Trump had even praised Duterte for doing an “unbelievable job on the drug problem” in the Philippines, despite official U.S. policy being critical of the anti-narcotics campaign that had left thousands dead.
It was also during that unprecedented period when relations between Manila and Washington soured as Duterte pivoted sharply to Beijing, pursuing trade and bilateral relations with China that had borne little fruit by the time he stepped down in 2022.
The Philippines-U.S. ties thawed under Duterte’s successor President Marcos, who took a contrasting geopolitical approach. Now, however, it remains to be seen what sort of dynamic he would have with the unpredictable Trump.
Amid concerns that the Republican might shift focus from the South China Sea to the conflict in Ukraine and Israel, Mr. Marcos said he was optimistic about the continuity of cooperation between the United States and the Philippines.
“I am hopeful that this unshakeable alli-
say have been obviously partisan in their reportage, with certain journalists and talk show hosts perceived as having a personal dislike for the former president.
On the other hand, the support of Elon Musk and the use of his resources like X (formerly Twitter) tilted the balance in favor of the former president because “he provided an alternative platform that allowed voters to monitor the campaign activities of both presidential candidates,” a political observer told me.
A lot of people admitted to me that instead of watching the news from U.S. media outlets, they chose to monitor the election results from other networks like Al Jazeera which they found to be more objective in its coverage and presentation, and
ance, tested in war and peace, will be a force of good that will blaze a path of prosperity and amity in the region and on both sides of the Pacific,” he said in a statement that mentioned him meeting Trump “as a young man.”
“We look forward to working with President Trump on a wide range of issues that will yield mutual benefits to two nations with deep ties, shared beliefs, common vision, and a long history of working together,” the president said.
Dealing with a loose cannon
Beijing has been cautiously optimistic, with the Chinese state-run newspaper China Daily stating in an editorial that Trump’s second presidency was a potential “new beginning in China-U.S. relations if the chance that has been offered is not wasted.”
But until Trump himself speaks, there is no telling which direction his foreign policy would go. Some questions spring to mind:
Will the annual Balikatan exercises between Filipino and American troops continue? Will the deal for the temporary stay of Afghan refugees in the Philippines proceed as planned? Will the Typhon missile system deployed by the U.S. military to northern Luzon stay there?
While these queries remain unanswered, it’s imperative that the Philippines err on the side of prudence and look outward, building coalitions with like-minded allies like Japan and Australia, as well as its Southeast Asian neighbors.
The Philippines is no stranger to a Trump presidency, but more than familiarity, it needs caution and discernment in dealing with the loose cannon that Trump is perceived to be. Manila cannot afford to put blind faith in the promises of diplomats and officials—it must fortify alliances that can outlast the whims of any one leader, be it an American or a Filipino. (Inquirer.net)
A new day in America
quicker in giving updates.
The outcome was also a repudiation of sorts for the pre-election polls and surveys claiming that the race was going to be very tight, with many predicting “razor-thin margins” in favor of Vice President Harris and a “near dead heat” or “very close” in the swing states.
However, even as the final vote tally has yet to be known as of this writing, there’s no question that Donald Trump has decisively won in a contest that can also be described as momentous for the GOP because they won the majority in the Senate and most likely Congress, too. This is also the first time that a Republican candidate has won both the popular and the electoral college votes
since 2004, when George W. Bush won against John Kerry. The only other instance in recent history of a Republican winning both the popular and electoral college votes was when George H.W. Bush Sr. defeated Michael Dukakis in 1988.
The election of former president Donald Trump can be considered historic as well because he is only the second president in U.S. history to make a successful comeback for a non-consecutive second term – the first one being President Grover Cleveland (a Democrat) who lost his reelection bid to Benjamin Harrison in 1888. Four years later, Cleveland staged a successful comeback in the 1892 presidential election, winning in his rematch against
Harrison who failed in his bid for reelection. Even before the Nov. 5 presidential election, many of my friends in Philippine media have been asking if U.S. economic and foreign policies will change in case of a win by former President Trump. While the economic policy of president-elect Trump may seem isolationist because of his pronouncements that he will bring American businesses back to the United States, especially those that are already or are leaving China, U.S. investors would want to be present in the ASEAN region because it is a growing market, and there are products that the Philippines can supply to the United States. I am also confident that our economic managers will be able to
work out deals that will be mutually beneficial for both countries. After all, business is always a two-way street.
In terms of defense and security, let’s not forget that during the visit to Manila of then secretary of State Mike Pompeo in 2019, he reiterated the message from President Trump that as far as the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty is concerned: “We have your back.”
The defense establishment in the U.S. is clear about the important role the Philippines plays in helping ensure freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, where trillions of dollars in maritime trade pass through annually. Certainly, no nation would want to see one country taking control
After Trump: A Duterte comeback in 2028?
back can’t be overstated. He is not only the first Republican candidate to win the popular vote in two decades, he also swept all seven battleground states after making huge inroads among minority groups, most especially Latino and African American male voters. And yes, it seems that Filipino Americans, including some of my relatives, played a key role in swing states, such as Nevada. And not to mention, the likely Republican Trifecta following the ”Red Wave” across congressional and Senate races. Against the backdrop of a conservative Supreme Court, including three Trump appointees, what we may be facing is a ”Make America Great Again (MAGA) Quad” with immense repercussions for America’s political system
and relationship with the world.
So, the question, dear reader, is this: What went wrong for the Democrats?
And what are the lessons for other besieged democracies like the Philippines?
To be fair, one could make the argument that the 11th hour reshuffle in the Democratic lineup was self-defeating. The Trump campaign team had sufficient time to adjust to Kamala Harris’ late entry to the race, but she also lacked sufficient time to carve her own unique identity. And had Joseph Biden given way earlier this year or even last year, the Democratic Party would have been in a better position to run a proper primary to elect its most competitive candidate.
In an era of ”anti-in-
cumbency” elections amid cost-of-living crises across the West, Harris’ refusal to break with Biden on contentious issues such as the economy, immigration, and the Gaza conflict sealed the deal. And clearly, her prosecutor background may have alienated certain demographic constituencies, most especially African-American male voters. But one could also make the argument that had former president Barack Obama supported Biden back in the 2016 elections, a Trump scenario could have been prevented altogether. After all, Biden won more than 81 million votes in 2020, with a strong performance among white working-class voters in swing states. One could imagine how a more vigorous Biden—a ”white man” with a
folksy touch—could have performed back in 2016. The reality, however, is that something even more fundamental is at play here. In the words of renowned political scientist Francis Fukuyama, this year’s elections represented nothing less than a ”decisive” rejection by American voters of liberalism and the particular way that the understanding of a “free society” has evolved since the 1980s.
The MAGA victory this year has exposed the inherent weakness of contemporary liberalism: both neo-liberalism free market economics–and identity-based liberalism—”woke” culture—have alienated sufficient number of voters to enable Trump’s stunning political comeback.
Across democracies,
from Argentina to Germany, ”anti-system” candidates have made tremendous inroads. From Silvio Berlusconi in Italy to the Thaksins in Thailand, populists have repeatedly pulled off political comebacks against all odds by aptly exploiting the weaknesses of liberal-centrist rivals. In the Philippines, the Dutertes have been the ultimate manifestation of the enduring appeal of right-wing populism based on the toxic cocktail of fear, grievance, and theatrics. Thanks to a distinct combination of hubris and avarice, former president Rodrigo Duterte has ended up severely weakening his dynasty’s political base by triggering a losing fight with the Marcoses ahead of next year’s elections. But
RichaRd heydaRian
THE Philippine economy is projected to grow by 6.3 percent in 2025, picking up slightly from this year’s forecast, on the back of an anticipated recovery in domestic activity.
This is according to the report released on Monday by BMI Research, a unit of diversified financial information company Fitch Group, which said that resilience in domestic demand will edge up growth.
“A renewed acceleration in private consumption will also be sustained. For one, inflation retreated from a recent peak of 4.4 percent in July to 2.3 percent in October, which will support real
household incomes,” the report said. The report noted that the Philippines’ strong import performance suggests that household spending is recovering.
Additionally, it said that local labor market conditions remain tight relative to historical standards.
“The latest data show the unemployment rate dipping from 4.0 percent in August to 3.7 percent in September despite an increase in the participation rate by around 0.1 percentage point from 64.8 percent in August,” the report noted.
“This essentially means that around 20 percent of
the people who entered the labor force were able to find a job,” it read further.
Despite the optimistic outlook, the BMI Research report noted significant downside risks, citing first and foremost the expected policy decisions from the newly elected US President Donald Trump.
“Throughout his campaign, Trump consistently stated his plan to impose tariffs of up to 20 percent on all goods entering the United States. As one of the Philippines’ largest trading partners, it will not be able to shy away from the impact of these protectionist policies,” the report said. (Inquirer.net)
Labor leaders to President Marcos: Reconsider ICC withdrawal
by Mayen JayMaLin Philstar.com
MANILA — Labor leaders have joined the call for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to reconsider the Philippines’ withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Federation of Free Workers president Sonny Matula said rejoining the ICC is crucial in ensuring justice for the victims of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.
“Me and my fellow workers’ candidates stand with Senator Pimentel in urging
President Marcos to prioritize justice and transparency. The ICC provides an avenue for independent investigation and prosecution of crimes against humanity, ensuring that impunity does not prevail,” Matula said.
Aside from him, four other labor leaders are seeking to run in the senatorial race next year and push for a pro-worker platform.
“As a nation, we cannot turn a blind eye to the cries of the victims. We must hold Duterte and all his cohorts accountable for their crimes
against the Filipino people,” Kilusang Mayo Uno secretary-general and Makabayan senatorial aspirant Jerome Adonis said. For his part, labor leader Leody de Guzman said rejoining the ICC will not only provide justice for victims but also restore the Philippines’ credibility on the global stage.
If they get elected, the labor leaders gave assurance that they will champion the interests of the marginalized and ensure that no one is above the law. n
A new day in America
of that vital global artery, and many of our ASEAN neighbors agree that the presence of the United States in Asia Pacific is important.
Let’s not forget, the Trump administration’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy recognized the strategic significance of the Philippines, with no less than President Trump himself remarking that it was important for the U.S. to remain allied with the Philippines, which he described as the most valuable prime piece of real estate because of its geographic location.
We were pleased President Bongbong Marcos’ post on X was one of the
first – the seventh head of state, to be exact – to congratulate President Trump on winning the U.S. presidential election. The Trump campaign took note of it, and sent word they were thankful to President Marcos for his message.
* * *
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.
* * *
I consider it fortunate as well that I have been here in Washington as Philippine Ambassador to the United States since 2017 during the first presidency of Donald J. Trump, giving me the opportunity to interact and network with friends and officials who worked with the president-elect at the White House. In fact, I met with them the other week and was told a number of them will likely join again the incoming administration of President Trump. No doubt the 2024 election results will usher in a new day for America. But as I have said on many occasions, I am confident that our friendship with the United States will remain strong because of our shared values and the enduring people-to-people ties that have always been the bedrock of our relationship. (Philstar.com)
Email: babeseyeview@gmail.com
After Trump: A Duterte comeback...
should the notorious dynasty politically survive the coming year or two, they will be in a strong position to plot their comeback to power in President Marcos’ lame duck years. Liberal-centrist forces in this country will have to step up their game, abandon
* * *
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.
vacuous and supine sloganeering, avoid anodyne ”pa-cute” candidates, and establish a robust counter-populist coalition with progressives lest they join the ash heap of history. As for Mr. Marcos, he will have to pin down his bête noire for good—or face the music of demagogic vengeance one he steps down from office. (Inquirer.net)
* * * rheydarian@inquirer.com.ph
STARS. A traditional parol (lantern) maker assembles bamboo frames at Plaza Quezon in Las Piñas City. He expects more orders in the coming weeks while hoping that the Philippines already had enough of destructive typhoons this year. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Malacañang file photo
by CharMie Joy Pagulong Philstar.com
ESSAYING the role of President Rafael in the ABSCBN’s family drama “Pamilya Sagrado” has posed some challenges for Piolo Pascual but he nevertheless gleaned some valuable lessons from his character and the series.
“(It was a challenge) playing the president, playing the father of these two kids (Grae Fernandez as Justin and Kyle Echarri as Moises). And playing alongside the greats (actors), Tirso Cruz III, John Arcilla, and of course, watching them, Shaina (Magdayao), Aiko (Melendez), they brought so much passion in their work. Ang sarap ‘pag kasama ka dun,” he said at a presscon. So yun lang yung nakaka-challenge every time to come to the set and you have to prepare for scenes.”
He added that he was able to learn a lot from the show and was also able to apply it to real life. “Being a father, being a person, being a human being, (and) being a son. I guess dedication to the craft, and being willing to learn and be told what to do. I guess, the attitude is important.”
He further cited the younger actors that he was able to collaborate with in the
My P.E.P. (People, Events,Places)
Rogelio constantino medina
A HALL of Fame awardee in journalism, Chino Hansel Philyang is an author of 18 books who started in the radio industry at age 16. Armed with a degree in broadcast communication and mass communication, he took his cultural upbringing and strong ideas to carve a path out of his own in the visual world. His childhood, spent primarily with his grandparents and cousins in Hawaii, was filled with care and generosity, both strengths of character that involve giving to others. His children’s book series,
series and shared how they got close while filming. “It’s very refreshing,” he offered. “’Cause you know growing up, you look up to the senior actors and now you’re working with the younger ones.”
He was amazed by their commitment and their professionalism, he mentioned. “Because it’s difficult to work with some na malaki ulo or may attitude. And I must (say) with these two, wala akong naramdaman na ganung ere.”
“They’re always willing to learn, to grow and just to commit, so masaya. It was a
Zeno, named after his male cat, is developed to help kids learn valuable life skills. Fun, pint-size characters in comedic, coloring books easy enough for young readers, yet witty enough for adults. It is geared for children ages 3 to 11. Perfect for boys, girls, young readers, students in primary school, or toddlers. Excellent resource for counselors, parents, and teachers alike. We all sometimes have lonesome days but don’t fret – whether we are kids or adults.
The “ZENO: Book 1 – The Silver Lining and the Komodo Dragon,” for example, gives helpful advice on how to turn a bad or negative emotion into a good one just by taking the time to look for the things in life that we are grateful for. Sound advice for all ages in a cute kid-friendly package.
good set to be in kasi nagenjoy kami lahat sa process,” he continued.
Piolo and the other members of the cast have also developed a special bond among them. He recalled having a small get together with “Pamilya Sagrado” friends, like visiting Mylene Dizon in Sta. Rosa and holding a reunion gathering with Kyle, Shaina, Joel Torre, among others.
“We are that close. This is the show na talaga tapos na yung show, we are still friends. We have a group chat and we see each other constantly. Ma-mi-miss mo katrabaho. You will miss your work kasi iba talaga yung binibigay nila. I’ve known Mylene for so long and we became close (through the show).”
“Pamilya Sagrado” is now down to its last few episodes. The finale of the series will air on Nov. 15 at 9:30 p.m. on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, TV5, Kapamilya Online Live, and TFC.
The latest episodes can be enjoyed on-demand for up to 21 days after they are first streamed on Kapamilya Online Live on YouTube. The series also streams 48 hours before its TV broadcast on iWantTFC. The show is also available to viewers in and
A former VJ of Channel V Malaysia and Indonesia, Chino is now with the Asian TV Heritage Nexus Broadcast which was created to establish a foothold and deepen comprehension of Asia, proudly aligning itself with respected World Media Organizations and extending its presence across the UK, the U.S., and the Middle East as well as Global Asia Insider-International, the world’s 1st continental digital broadcast, with footprints in Asia, UK, the U.S., and the Caribbean Islands. He has built a network with international reporters from respected outlets like Fox News and BBC London. His role as managing editor of a magazine, which includes ten digital magazines and newspapers, is not merely a job for it is “a lifeline, a way to channel experiences into something meaningful.”
Chino studied at the University of British Columbia Canada. He also pursued international law in UCLouvain in Bruxelles, Belgium and completed a special course at Harvard University. His insights have been shared in law constitution sessions at Ateneo de Manila University, where he hoped to leave a mark, but he has struggled with the lingering question of whether he truly belongs in such esteemed circles not to mention his link with international ambassadors. He has quietly dedicated himself to helping young people secure scholarships, particularly for out-of-school youth and those with disabilities. Giving more of one’s self to others can help one feel better and improve one’s inner harmony. It can also help one to understand what one shares with others, and break down barriers between people. This work, done in silence and without the desire for recognition, has brought him a flicker of hope, reminding him that even in one’s darkest moments, he can still make a difference. As Mother Teresa once said, “Not all of us can
Philstar.com
FILIPINO pop group BINI was named as Best Asia Act of the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) broadcast live across the globe on November 10, from Manchester, the United Kingdom.
BINI competed against South Korea's Illit, Indonesia's Mahalini, Malaysia's Masdo and Japan's Sakurazaka46 for the prize.
BINI is the first Filipino act to have won the award. Other Filipinos who were nominated for the same award included Moira Dela Torre (2023), Maymay Entrata (2022), and Sarah Geronimo (2014).
Dela Torre was also nominated as Best Southeast Asia Act in 2019. Other Filipino artists who were nominated for the same category included SB19 (2021), Ben&Ben (2020), IV of Spades (2018) and Geronimo (2016). In 2017, Filipino-British singer-actor James Reid won the award.
Taylor Swift topped the winners list at the 2024 MTV EMAs, scoring trophies for Best Video for “Fortnight” (feat. Post Malone), as well as Best Artist, Best Live, and Best US Act.
Closely following was MTV EMAs newcomer Tyla, who scooped her first ever MTV EMAs for Best Afrobeats, Best R&B and Best African Act.
Commanding a set inspired by Manchester’s music heritage, and its warehouse party legacy, third time host Rita Ora dazzled fans with several outfit changes and during the show invited global audiences into Rita’s Bar, set in a balcony overlooking thousands of fans.
Along with Tyla, performers Benson Boone and Le Sserafim also accepted their first MTV EMAs. Benson Boone took home Best New, while Le Sserafim won Best Push. After winning Best New in 2023, Peso Pluma continued his MTV EMAs winning streak with a Best Latin win.
for the
legend Liam Gallagher was
Best Rock. Last year, the music video for Filipino-American singer Olivia Rodrigo's "Vampire" won the last professional award Best Editing at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs). In 2021, Rodrigo made a strong MTV VMAs debut, with her "Driver's License" winning Song of the Year and Push Performance of the Year. She was also named Best New Artist. Also in 2021, another Filipino-American, Bruno Mars, alongside Anderson .Paak and Silk Sonic, took home "Best R&B" and "Best Editing" for "Leave the Door Open;” while Filipino-American rapper Saweetie's “Best Friend” music video, featuring Doja Cat, won Best Art Direction by Alec Contestabile.
do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
* * *
Philippine First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos had a recent luncheon at the Goldenberg Mansion, San Miguel, Manila in honor of Her Excellency Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates (where I was a contributing writer for the Gulf News newspaper and the Emirates In-flight Magazine).
* * * The fight for love, family, and country is about to get more heart pounding as Sanya Lopez captivates audiences with her powerful portrayal of Teresita Borromeo in the historical drama series “Pulang Araw.” The gripping moments in which Teresita hears the cries of
fellow Filipinos show not only her character’s dilemma but also the sacrifice that the program aims to show.
“Pulang Araw” is more than just a historical drama; it is a tribute to the unsung heroes of the Philippines, shedding light on the enduring spirit of families who faced the horrors of war. Sanya’s performance is indeed a powerful reminder of the struggles endured by many Filipinos, bringing depth and authenticity to the series. Catch it Mondays to Fridays at 8 p.m. on GMA Prime, Kapuso Stream, and GTV. Global Pinoys can also catch it via GMA Pinoy TV. Viewers can also stream it on Netflix Philippines.
* * * Multi-awarded public school teacher Pilar B. De Mesa has been using her retirement days, travelling the world with some teaching
colleagues, also retirees in government service. She had visited some Asian countries like Japan, South Korea and Vietnam. She stayed in California for two months and will soon visit some European countries.
* * * The Andrean Alumni Association Board of Directors 2024 met recently at the house of RJ Cruz in Paranaque City’s Tahanan Village to discuss preparations for the annual alumni homecoming at Saint Andrew’s School. Famous alumni of this private Catholic
by deni rose afinidad-Bernardo
Piolo Pascual during a mediacon for ABS-CBN’s family drama ‘Pamilya Sagrado.’ Philstar.com photo
P-pop girl group BINI
First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos and Minister of State Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi Photos courtesy of Rogelio Medina
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle and Rogelio Medina
FAMAS member Cristina Aliada with director-actor Efren Reyes Jr.
Chino Hansel Philyang’s works
Retired teacher Pilar de Mesa in (clockwise, from bottom left) Vietnam, Japan, Korea and California (U.S.).
Chino Hansel Philyang
Sanya Lopez
Sarah Liroe Javier (4th from left) with director Vince Tanada (2nd from left) and other friends enjoying the night.
From left: Rogelio Medina, Raymond Gerard de Leon, RJ Cruz, Opee Bernardo, John Carabeo, Eman Mapada and Alvin Tarrosa at Tahanan Village in Sucat, Parañaque discussing preparations for the 2024 SAS alumni homecoming.
paro-
Best Song went to Sabrina Carpenter for her massive hit “Espresso,” while other winners included Ariana Grande (Best Pop), Calvin Harris (Best Electronic), Imagine Dragons (Best Alternative), Eminem (Best Hip-Hop), Jimin (Best K-Pop), and Lisa and Rosalía (Best Collaboration). Fittingly
host city, Manchester
crowned
THE current trend in medicine when it comes to diet is extreme reduction in carbohydrate intake, like rice, bread, desserts, and sweets (candy, ice cream, etc.), and total abstinence from any and all forms of soft drinks, because they increase the risk for the development of Metabolic Syndrome, among adults, and especially children. Avoiding foods high in lectins and glutens is important.
For protein, more on wildcaught (not farmed) fish, like salmon, mackerel, tuna, sardines, shrimp, crab, lobster, scallop, and oysters (preferably cooked). Tilapia and catfish are high in Omega 6 and supposedly high in lead and other chemical contaminations. For meat, pork is also red meat and is less preferred for its high fat and purine contents. Healthier items include chicken, lean red meat, grains, nuts (pistachios, pecans, walnuts), avocados, green leafy vegetables, broccoli, asparagus, various spices, and moderation in fruits (organic berries are wonderful fruits). As always, watching your caloric intake is vital. And do not forget about daily physical exercise, like brisk walking, Tai Chi, Tai Bo, or more strenuous ones you might prefer.
Silent killer
Since blood pressure was measured for the first time by Stephen Hales in 1773, hypertension (high blood pressure) has, to this day, remains one of the commonest diseases in the human race, and continues to be a silent killer of man. More than 110 million people in the United States have high blood pressure (140/90 or higher). About 20 percent (one in five) of people who have hypertension do not know they have it. Thirty percent have pre-hypertension. This is an important personal, family, and public health issue because of the morbidity, complications and mortality associated with hypertension. About 1,000 individuals in the United States die from the complications of hypertension each day. In 2022, there were 685,875 Americans who died from it.
The good news is this illness is a modifiable health risk, and the power is within us and our attending physicians, because modern medicine has available for all of us effective drugs, and pill-combinations to help control our blood pressure to prevent heart attack and stroke. If not treated properly and promptly, hypertension could lead to severe, and even fatal, complications like heart failure,
Diet is key
end-stage kidney failure, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. Besides pills, daily exercise, low-cholesterol, low-carbohydrate and low-salt diet, abstinence from cigarettes and moderation in alcohol intake are fundamental parts of the effective regimen for blood pressure control.
The classification of blood pressure readings for adults aged 18 and older is as follows: Normal - Systolic lower than 120, diastolic lower than 80; Prehypertension - Systolic 120-139, diastolic 80-99; Stage 1 - Systolic 140159, diastolic 90-99; Stage 2 - Systolic equal to or more than 160; diastolic equal to or more than 100. This is based on the average of 2 or more readings taken at each of 2 or more visits, after the initial screening.
Since hypertension today can easily be controlled by living a healthy lifestyle and taking pills, it does not make sense for us not to avail ourselves of the modern progress in medical therapeutics and end up with a heart attack or stroke. More often than not, as far as our health is concerned, the ball is on our court. How we play the game will determine our future score.
Cloned ‘food’ safe
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported that milk and meat from some cloned animals (cattle, pigs and goats, but not sheep) in the United States are safe to eat. The FDA has not found any risk or danger to humans for consuming these “cloned” food products, and most likely not to require any special labeling for them.
Remedial therapy Individuals taking Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) pills for gastro-esophageal reflux (GERD), like Nexium, Prilosec, Prevacid, etc., have reduced stomach absorption of Folic acid and Vitamin B 12. In view of this, physicians prescribing PPI medications also add Folic acid and B 12 in the treatment regimen. Another sample of remedial therapy is co-prescribing CoQ10 for those on cholesterol-lowering drugs, statins, because statins also act to lower the body’s natural CoQ10 as a side-effect. The other is adding medications like Losartan and Bystolic, to protect the kidneys for those taking Metformin for diabetes.
Eye test for stroke Can a simple peek at the eyes help in making a diagnosis? An Australian clinical study reports that “a simple eye test (fundoscopy) might predict the likelihood of stroke.” Persons with “retinopathy,” a condition where the arteries of the retina of the eye becomes weak or damaged by high blood pres-
sure or diabetes, which is a tell-tale sign of an increased risk of stroke development. “People who have tiny lesions on the back of the eye are two to three times more likely to suffer a stroke or stroke-related death, within 7 years, independent of other risk factors,” according to the research, published in Neurology Journal. The eye findings correlate well and reflect the blood vessel changes in the brain.
Drug interaction
A warning from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was issued, informing healthcare professionals and the public that “taking ibuprofen for pain relief may interfere with the benefits of aspirin taken for heart disease.” This non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) ibuprofen could render the desired anti-platelet effect of low-dose aspirin (81 mg once a day) less effective for cardio-protection and stroke prevention. Other NSAID pills should be regarded as having the same effect on aspirin as ibuprofen. Occasional use of this NSAID may have minimal risk. The FDA recommends that even in this situation, the NSAID should be taken at least 8 hours after aspirin is taken to avoid interaction. Acetaminophen and narcotics do not interfere with aspirin’s anti-platelet effects, says the report. We suggest persons who are now taking these two drugs consult with their physicians.
* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
* * * The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people to live a healthier lifestyle, to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation, or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable to or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health.
*
* * Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, medical missionary, newspaper columnist, and chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He was a recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995, presented by then Indiana Governor, U.S. senator, and later a presidential candidate, Evan Bayh. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry S. Truman, President George HW Bush, Muhammad Ali, Astronaut Gus Grissom, scientists, and educators. (Source: Wikipedia). Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com; Amazon.com (“Where is My America?”); Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com.
Piolo Pascual shares fatherhood lessons...
by JessiCa ann evangelista
AWARD-winning broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez is eager to add a fresh and journalistic edge to the tabloid talk show “Face to Face” after she was recently announced as the new host of the program.
During a media conference and special screening of the show’s pilot episode on Monday, Nov. 11, Sanchez emphasized that the format of the show hasn’t changed as they still intend to delve into real-life issues, yet she is now inclined to add a more journalistic touch to it.
“The purpose of “Face to Face” from before until today has not changed, that is, to show the real life, the daily life of ordinary Filipinos. Because fighting really happens, there are serious ones, there are hidden ones. The goal of our program is to find a solution that we can also learn from. We don’t just gossip about the lives of other people,” she said.
Sanchez is the first woman coming from a journalism background to assume the “Face to Face” hosting mantle.
“Because my background is also a little different from Amy Perez, Gelli de Belen, and Karla Estrada, I have a slightly different shape because my background is journalism. As for the journalist’s style, I do a lot of research on each case study. What I want people to learn is information, statistics, and
science; I have something like this that contributes to our discussion,” she added. The veteran journalist shared that people initially questioned her decision to accept the job considering she was known to lean into a more serious or sometimes “upper-class” tone. She said some were concerned that she might lose her “branding,” but the award-winning anchor-host said her brand was for the “masa” (masses). She said one of the reasons why she accepted the hosting job was because she has never before dipped her toes into this kind of program format.
“It’s a challenge. I want to inject my own brand into the format. ‘Korina, do you know they are fighting sometimes they are pulling each other’s hair,’ We actually saw something like that; I was shocked but the challenge is how do you arrive at a resolution that they can agree on and at the same time how do you become a national referee,” she said.
“They keep asking me what about your brand; I never thought about my brand, I just go and go. My brand is the people; to be close to them, even if Rated K was still alive. My forte is really real-life stories,” she further said.
Given that the show is known for the “chaotic” situations that take place on air, Sanchez stressed that it only goes to show that it “mirrors true poverty” in the Philippines.
“I say, this is a reflection of human poverty. When people are so poor, they will really brawl on live TV because their emotions are very raw. This mirrors true poverty in this country. That’s what happens—the lack of knowledge, what the local government can provide, they don’t know. Many things can be learned. And I think this is a great vehicle for people to learn how to resolve problems,” she said.
Nadine Lustre gushes over Christophe Bariou, sparks engagement rumors
FANS of couple Nadine
Lustre and Christophe Bari-
ou were abuzz with engagement speculations, after the actress shared a note from the latter about conquering the world together.
Lustre showed moments of her island life with Bariou through her Instagram page on Sunday, Nov 10. One of the photos shows a note she received from Bariou which reads: “Can’t wait to discover and conquer the world with you.”
“Man, oh man, you’re my best friend. I scream it to the nothingness,” Lustre captioned her post.
Netizens then took to the comments section to gush over the couple, with some speculating if Bariou had already popped the question. Lustre as well as Bariou did
not immediately comment on the engagement speculations as of this writing.
Lustre and Bariou’s relationship was revealed in January 2022. The pair then made their first public appearance as a couple in August 2023.
In October of the same year, the couple launched their wine business, which they regard as their passion project and their “new baby.”
The couple also opened a vegan restaurant last July, then introduced their plant-based milk earlier this month.
Bariou previously opened up about his relationship with Lustre, saying what he loves the most about them is that they both “deeply care” about a lot of things.
“We both deeply care about a lot, and we can’t stand injus-
For journalist Chino Hansel
rah Liroe Javier, recently attended a Halloween party at Philstagers Blackbox Theatre and sang a few songs. Also in attendance were singer Jeffrey Hidalgo, FAMAS president Francia Conrado with Christina Aliada, DZRJ’s Raymond Diamzon, PLDT’s Chris Lim, young performers Pia Caduyac and Reign Lanz, photographer Wilson Fernandez, and writers Robert Manuguid Silverout of the Philippines on iWantTFC, while viewers outside of the Philippines can watch on The Filipino Channel on cable and IPTV. The viewers can watch out for “very explosive revelations and a lot of touching and moving scenes,” Piolo teased. He even sobbed while watching the remaining episodes. “I cried at my own scenes,” he shared. “Because it’s that heavy, intense yung mga nangyayaring revelations. And of course, when you found (out that) he’s my son (Moises) and then he confronted (me) and then I’m estranged with my real son. Of course, they’re both my sons.”
“It’s tough, you’re on the run, you’re a fugitive, and then you have to deal with these things and it was a difficult journey. So, it needs to have a great ending. And asahan ng mga tao na mapapasaya naman sila sa ending because even my mom would tell me, ‘Son, ang bigat bigat naman ng show mo.’”
io and Ymman Jake Biaco. The show was hosted by OJ Ar Ci and director Vince Tanada.
* * *
FAMAS treasurer Christina Aliada was seen recently with “Idol: the April Boy Regino Story” director Efren Reyes Jr., a Filipino actor known for his roles in action films.
Reyes Jr. was first introduced as a child actor in the movie “Eskinita 29” in 1968,
he said. (Inquirer.net)
then later he became an action star in the 1980s, and then took roles as either a main villain or as a supporting character from 1989 up to the present in Philippine films and TV series.
* * * 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
Korina Sanchez at the media conference and special screening of “Face to Face” pilot episode. Inquirer.net phobot by Jessica Ann Evangelista
Nadine Lustre
Photo from Instagram/@nadine
8
PAGE 8
tice and how the Philippines has so much potential but is stuck and slow because of corruption and manipulation,”
