112124 - Las Vegas Edition

UNITED States President Joe Biden has announced his intent to nominate Filipina American community leader and philanthropist

Loida Nicolas Lewis to serve on the board of directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).

Created by the U.S. Congress in January 2004 with strong bipartisan support, the MCC partners with the world’s poorest countries that are committed to just and democratic governance, economic freedom and investing in their populations.

The MCC is an independent agency separate from the State Department and USAID.

Lewis serves as Chair and CEO of TLC Beatrice, LLC, a family investment firm. A lawyer by profession, Lewis made history as the first Filipino woman to pass

Marcos, Trump discuss alliance in phone

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

said he and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump discussed their countries’ alliance and their desire to further strengthen the relationship in a phone call on Tuesday, November 19.

Marcos told reporters the call with Trump was “very friendly” and “very productive,” and said he planned to see Trump as soon as he could.

“I think president-elect Trump was happy to hear from the Philippines,” said Marcos,

whose two-year-old administration has strengthened Manila’s defense relationship with Washington as both countries face common security challenges in the region.

“We continued to talk about the relations – the alliance between the United States and the Philippines. And I expressed to him our continuing desire to strengthen that relationship between our two countries, which is a relationship that is as deep as can possibly be because it has been for a very long time,” Marcos told reporters in Catanduanes where he inspected areas hit by Super Typhoon Pepito and distributed

PRESIDENT-ELECT Donald Trump has promised to launch the largest deportation program in U.S. history.

This was estimated by Vice President-elect JD Vance to involve one million removals yearly.

Can the U.S. afford these policies?

What do these crackdowns mean for undocumented and legal immigrants?

Mass deportation

Based on Census data surveys, there are an estimated 11.7 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. as of July 2023 — about 3.5% of the total population, and up 800,000 from the previous July.

The all-time peak is 12 million immigrants, reached in 2008.

The highest year of deportations from the U.S. interior is 238,000 immigrants, reached in 2009.

“Currently, most people we deport are already in detention. The government just picks them up … and figures out whether they’re allowed to

‘Drug war’ witness Garma, daughter detained in US

MANILA — Retired police colonel and former state lottery official Royina Garma, who had made arguably the most damning allegation yet in the ongoing congressional inquiry into former President Rodrigo Duterte’s brutal war on drugs, was arrested in the United States last week after her visa was canceled, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla has instructed the Bureau of Immigration to facilitate the

repatriation of Garma, who was detained by U.S. border control authorities on Nov. 7 in San Francisco, California.

Garma and her daughter flew to San Francisco via Philippine Airlines Flight PR104, and were marked out by the U.S. Immigration and U.S. INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service), Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, brother of the DOJ chief, said on Tuesday, November 19.

“Over the course of the Senate u PAGE 2

"separate from each other."

assistance to affected communities. He also recalled telling Trump of the “overwhelming” support Filipino Americans gave him during the recent U.S. elections.

“So, I’m sure he will remember that when we meet…and I plan to meet him as soon as I can,” Marcos said.

Marcos followed up his remarks with a Facebook post showing a photo of himself sitting at a desk between two Christmas trees and speaking into his smartphone.

The chief executive has sought to rebuild ties that frayed under his predecessor, u PAGE 2

MANILA — The “strength” of the United States’ alliance with the Philippines will “transcend” any changes in the administration of the global superpower.

Outgoing U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III said this as he stopped by Palawan on Tuesday, November 19 to oversee equipment turnover in line with Washington’s pledge of $500 million (P29.3 billion) worth of military and security support to Manila.

Austin was asked if the administration of President-elect Donald Trump would still deliver on providing the half-a-billion worth of military support, which outgoing Secretary of State Antony Blinken once called a “once in a generation investment.”

While refusing to speculate as to what the administration of President-elect Donald Trump would do, Austin noted that he observed

MANILA— Former President Rodrigo Duterte is now being investigated by the task force formed by the Department of Justice to probe the alleged extrajudicial killings committed during his administration, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said in an interview with reporters on Monday, November 18.

He said that the DOJ's task force is looking at possible violations of International Humanitarian Law.

When asked about the scope of the investigation, the Justice chief said that the department wants the charges to be

"What we charge here and what the ICC (International Criminal Court) charges, if possible, do not overlap," Remulla said.

"Everything that can be covered. Of course, you are talking about several laws that will come into play. You have the Revised Penal Code and other special laws and you have the Republic Act 9851,” he also said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Republic Act 9851 is also known as "Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity".

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday, November 18 welcomed the additional $1 million humanitarian aid from the United States government for those affected by the powerful typhoons as he met with visiting Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III in Malacañang.

Austin extended his "condolences, thoughts, and prayers to all those who've

been disadvantaged by these six significant storms that have taken place in a very short period of time."

"Mr. President, I have authorized U.S. troops and all the Philippine forces to provide life-saving aid to the Filipino people. The U.S. has also secured another million dollars in urgent humanitarian aid and that will enhance the work of the USAID (United States Agency for International Development) and the World Food Program," Austin told

US, PH alliance to ‘transcend’ changes...

strong bipartisan support for the Philippines.

“I believe that [the Philippines] will remain an important country to us for many, many years in the future,” Austin said in a press conference at Western Command headquarters in Puerto Princesa City. “And the strength of our alliance, I think, will transcend changes of administration.”

Before this, Austin was in Manila on Monday to meet Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro Jr., who

signed the General Security of Military Information Agreement, a deal allowing the real-time sharing of highly classified intelligence and technology.

Austin’s stop in the country is part of his final trip to the Indo-Pacific region before being succeeded by Trump’s pick Pete Hegseth, a military veteran and television presenter.

Trump also named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, one of the most outspoken senators against Beijing, as the new secretary of state.

Rubio introduced

the U.S.-Philippines Partnership Act of 2024, a bill that sought to prop up support for Manila amid Beijing’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea.

This aligns with Manila and Washington’s Mutual Defense Treaty, which calls for each other’s defense in case of an armed attack.

Beijing asserts sovereignty in almost the entire South China Sea, including most of the West Philippine Sea, even if such a claim has been effectively invalidated by an international tribunal ruling issued in July 2016. n

US to provide $1M aid for typhoon...

Marcos.

The U.S. official, who visited the country last July with U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, lauded Marcos for his decision to utilize all nine Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites for disaster response.

"Prepositioning supplies, food, and other elements, other personal elements in times of urgent need. It

would enable us to serve the Filipino people much faster, much more efficient. And that your vision has come true. So, we're glad we're a part of that," he said.

Marcos stressed "how important the EDCA sites have become" in the rollout of rescue and relief efforts in the wake of calamities.

"They served as staging areas when we know that a storm is coming, we prepositioned as many

assets, material as we can, as close as possible so as not to damage the actual resources that we have.

And the EDCA sites became staging areas because right after the storm, many areas can only be reached by helicopter. And many roads are closed because of landslides and therefore, even the main capital of provinces can only be reached by aircraft," the chief executive said. n

Marcos, Trump discuss alliance...

Rodrigo Duterte, who was openly hostile to the U.S.

Last year, he made the first official visit by a Philippine leader to the U.S. in more than 10 years.

Marcos is the son of the late strongman Ferdinand and former first lady Imelda Marcos, whom Washington helped flee into exile in Hawaii during the 1986 “people power” uprising.

‘How’s Imelda?’

He said Trump had asked about his 95-year-old mother. “He asked, ‘How is Imelda?’ I told him she’s congratulating you,” he said.

The Philippines, a former U.S. colony, is seen as central to Washington’s efforts to counter China’s increasingly assertive policies in the South China Sea and towards Taiwan.

Also on Tuesday, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visited the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Western Command in Palawan, where he reiterated Washington’s commitment to the Philippines under their 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.

“Americans are profoundly committed to the defense of the Philippines,” Austin said at a joint press conference with his Manila counterpart Gilbert Teodoro.

“I can’t imagine a day that the United States of America and the Philippines aren’t closely allied,” Teodoro said.

Austin, meanwhile, reiterated his nation’s “ironclad commitment” to its Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines. “Let me say again that the Mutual Defense Treaty applies to armed attacks on either of our own armed forces, aircraft or public vessels, including our coast guards,

anywhere in the South China Sea,” Austin said.

The U.S. official said he also visited the Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, one of the nine Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in the country.

Teodoro said Tuesday’s activity wrapped up Austin’s two-day visit to the country, with the latter engaging in discussions with WESCOM Commander Rear Admiral Alfonso Torres Jr. and personally witnessing “specific bilateral activities” between Philippine and U.S. soldiers in Palawan.

DND spokesman Director Arsenio Andolong said that in their earlier engagement, President Marcos, Teodoro, and Austin “celebrated the remarkable strides the United States and the Philippines have made to expand and modernize the alliance and reinforced their shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

$1 million Pepito aid

Earlier, Austin announced the U.S. commitment to support the Philippines’ response to Super Typhoon Pepito’s devastation, including $1 million in additional humanitarian assistance from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Andolong said the leaders discussed defense cooperation activities as well as regional security concerns and highlighted the need for deeper coordination to address challenges in the South China Sea, specifically acts of provocation by the Chinese.

At Camp Aguinaldo, Austin and Teodoro signed a General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), which aims to

enhance information sharing and deepen interoperability.

Andolong said the two defense chiefs also led the groundbreaking ceremony for a new bilateral Combined Coordination Center (CCC). Andolong said Austin and Teodoro also visited a bilateral C2 Fusion Center –one of several built by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in the Philippines to enhance information sharing.

The two officials observed a demonstration of a T-12 Unmanned Surface Vessel, one of several unmanned aircraft that the U.S. provided to the Philippine Navy through Foreign Military Financing.

Chinese naval and coast guard ships had repeatedly harassed Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea, using water cannons and powerful lasers or engaging the smaller Filipino boats in dangerous maneuvers.

Their frequent encounters at sea have turned the strategic waterway into a potential flashpoint between Washington and Beijing.

China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion in annual ship-borne commerce, putting it at odds with its Southeast Asian neighbors. In 2016 the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that China’s claims had no legal basis, siding with the Philippines which brought the case.

China rejects that ruling, but Washington, which supports it, says that decision is binding. Several other countries including Japan, Australia, Canada and those belonging to the European Union have voiced support for the arbitral ruling. n

‘Drug war’ witness Garma, daughter...

hearings, her visa was canceled. It appears she tried her luck and went to the U.S.,” Jonvic Remulla said in a press briefing, adding: “We don’t know why Garma’s visa was canceled. Actually, it’s the U.S. prerogative to cancel it. From what I know, they will inform you if your visa is canceled. I’m sure she was informed.”

“They are currently detained and they are in the process of being sent home here back in the Philippines,” Jonvic Remulla said of Garma and her daughter.

Called to testify in the House investigation into extrajudicial killings (EJKs) linked to the Duterte drug war, Garma initially denied involvement in the death of three Chinese drug convicts in August 2016.

But she later made a turnaround and revealed the existence of a reward system allegedly put in place by Duterte himself for killing drug suspects during the sixyear crackdown.

In the course of the House probe, Garma was also implicated in the July 2020 ambush that killed then-Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga.

At the time, Garma was the general manager of the PCSO, where she was appointed by Duterte following her retirement from the police service.

No pending PH cases

Garma may be expected to return to the Philippines “anytime within the next 10 days,” Boying Remulla said.

Once back in the country, however, Garma is free to go home since there are no pending charges against her in the Philippines, the justice secretary added.

But the government, he said, plans to “offer her protection” and ensure she remains in contact with authorities to prevent similar issues in the future.

“In any case, she’s considered a very important witness by the quad comm. That’s why we intend to offer her witness protection for that matter,” Boying Remulla told reporters in a chance interview.

He said DOJ prosecutors had already interviewed Garma as part of the ongoing case buildup being handled by a newly established task force looking into the drug war killings.

“We’re still conducting a case buildup. In any case, that’s already included in the task force. The purpose of the case buildup is to ensure that the cases to be filed are strong cases. We cannot just file cases that have no legal basis or evidence,” he said.

“She may be part of it in one way or the other or she may be a suspect in one way or [another]. But just the same, we’re doing this also respecting the wishes of the quad comm. Because we know she’s considered as

an important witness by the quad comm,” Remulla added.

The House quad committee on Tuesday confirmed that it released Garma from weeks of detention since she had finished serving the penalty for her contempt citations in past hearings. Committee chair and Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said the panel had “moved forward” from the issues on which Garma testified, referring to the alleged drug war reward system and the Barayuga killing. The committee did not receive any formal notification about Garma’s trip to the U.S. or why she was arrested, he said.

Earlier bid to enter U.S.

During her first appearance before the quad committee on Sept. 12, Garma said she once attempted to enter the United States in August but was forced to return because her visa was canceled.

In an earlier Inquirer interview, human rights lawyer Kristina Conti, a counsel to the families who lost loved ones in the drug war, said Garma’s visa was canceled possibly because of U.S. restrictions on persons being linked to human rights violations.

Conti saw parallels between Garma’s case and that of former national police chief and now Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, the one-time chief enforcer of the drug war, whose U.S. visa was also canceled.

Super Typhoon Pepito destroyed some P753.6 million worth of roads and public structures and P11.5 million worth of crops and livestock in Pangasinan province, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) reported on Tuesday, November 19. ManilaTimes.net photo

Photo shows President Marcos congratulating Donald Trump in his first phone call with the U.S. president-elect on Tuesday, November 19. In his post, Marcos said ‘the overwhelming support of Filipinos in the United States on your triumphant win is a testament to the deep and enduring friendship between our nations.’ Malacañang photo

Does fluoride cause cancer, IQ loss, and more? Fact-checking Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s claims

by saMantha PutterMan, PolitiFact KFF Health Newa

PRESIDENT-ELECT Donald Trump’s incoming administration could try to remove fluoride from drinking water, according to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Kennedy, who was tapped last week by Trump to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, called fluoride an “industrial waste” and linked it to cancer and other diseases and disorders while campaigning for Trump.

“On January 20, the Trump White House will advise all U.S. water systems to remove fluoride from public water. Fluoride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease,” Kennedy wrote Nov. 2 on X. Kennedy linked to a video from an attorney who recently successfully sued the Environmental Protection Agency to take additional measures to regulate fluoride in drinking water.

Kennedy, who has long advocated ending water fluoridation, persisted with his pledge following Trump’s election win. When asked before the election whether his administration would remove fluoride from drinking water, Trump said, “Well, I haven’t talked to him about it yet, but it sounds OK to me. You know it’s possible.”

Kennedy is an influential vaccine skeptic whose campaign of conspiracy theories earned PolitiFact’s 2023 “Lie of the Year.”

Longtime research has found that adding fluoride to U.S. drinking water is a safe way to boost children’s oral health. Since 2015, the recommended level in the U.S. has been 0.7 milligrams per liter. Public health organizations, including the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, support the practice.

Recent studies, however, have shown possible links between fluoride and bone problems and children’s IQs, particularly when fluoride is above the U.S. recommended levels.

“There is evidence that fluoride exposure has been associated with the diseases [and] disorders that RFK listed, but with caveats,” said Ashley Malin, who is an assistant professor in the University of Florida’s Epidemiology Department and has studied fluoride’s effects in pregnant women.

pregnancy, the studies showed symptoms associated with other neurobehavioral issues, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

However, many of these studies took place in countries other than the U.S. and looked at fluoride in drinking water at sometimes twice the United States’ recommended level. Also, some of the other ailments that Kennedy listed, such as an association with bone cancer, have less robust evidence and need more study.

“Aside from fluoride’s impacts on neurodevelopment, I think that there is more that we don’t know about health effects of low-level fluoride exposure than what we do know, particularly for adult health outcomes,” Malin said.

David Bellinger, a Harvard Medical School neurology professor and professor in Harvard School of Public Health’s Environmental Health Department, said the risk-benefit calculation of added fluoride differs depending on whether typical fluoride exposure levels cause health problems, or if problems occur only when recommended levels are exceeded.

“In toxicology, ‘the dose makes the poison’ is a long-standing principle,” he said. “So a general statement that fluoride is associated with diseases X, Y, and Z is not very helpful unless the dose that might be responsible is specified.”

PolitiFact contacted Kennedy through his Children’s Health Defense organization but received no reply. The organization sued PolitiFact and Meta related to a 2020 fact check. That lawsuit was dismissed by a federal court. The dismissal was upheld on appeal, and the case is pending a possible appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

What is fluoride and what are its benefits?

Fluoride is a mineral naturally occurring in soil, water, and some foods that helps prevent tooth decay and cavities. It strengthens tooth enamel that acid from bacteria, plaque, and sugar can wear away.

Water fluoridation has been happening in the U.S. since 1945. The federal Public Health Service first recommended fluoridation of tap water in 1962, but the decision still lies with states and municipalities. Around 72% of the U.S. population, or about 209 million people, had access to fluoridated water in 2022, the CDC reported. Fluoride also has been added to oral care products such as toothpaste and mouth rinse.

Pres. Biden nominates Fil-Am philanthropist...

the New York Bar without attending law school in the United States. Her landmark discrimination case against the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service paved the way for integration within the agency, where she served as General Attorney from 1978 to 1988.

Lewis was Chair and CEO of TLC Beatrice International, a $2 billion multinational food company with operations across Europe, from 1994-2007. She assumed leadership of the company following the passing of her husband, Reginald F. Lewis, a pioneering financier and the first African American to acquire a billion-dollar company through his leveraged buyout of Beatrice International Foods.

In a statement, NaFFAA celebrated and showed support for Lewis’ nomination.

In 2015, U.S. health officials lowered the recommended amount of fluoride in drinking water to 0.7 milligrams per liter, saying a higher level was less necessary given other

Malin referred to studies showing that higher fluoride exposure, particularly during pregnancy, is associated with reduced child IQ, and that prenatal exposure also is linked to decreased intellectual functioning and executive function. For high exposure in u PAGE 4

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Lewis is deeply invested in philanthropy and advocacy. She chairs the Reginald F. Lewis Foundation, which supports institutions like Harvard Law School, the Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture, and Virginia State University. A proud native of Sorsogon, Philippines,

she has also contributed to the Lewis College in her hometown. Lewis has co-founded numerous advocacy organizations, including the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), and U.S. Filipinos for Good Governance.

Her lifelong commitment to justice and equity has inspired generations of leaders.

“Loida Lewis’ nomination is a testament to her unparalleled commitment to service and justice,” said Brendan Flores, NaFFAA National Chairman. “She has been a trailblazer throughout her career, inspiring countless individuals with her unwavering dedication to uplifting communities and fostering meaningful change.” (AJPress)

PUBLIC SERVICE. Volunteers assemble boxes that will be filled with food products for calamity victims at the Department of Social Welfare and Development-National Resource Operations Center in Pasay City on Tuesday, November 19. The facility, formerly the Villamor Air Base Relief Operations Center, stores all donations to and relief goods of the DSWD. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc

President Joe Biden poses with Fil-Am community leader Loida Nicolas Lewis, whom he nominated to serve on the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s board of directors. Contributed photo

Young Fil-Ams invited to apply for 2025 IMPACT! internship program

The application deadline is January 31, 2025

WASHINGTON – The U.S.Asia Institute (USAI) has opened applications for the 2025 IMPACT! internship program for Filipino Americans.

The program, which will run from June 2 to Aug. 1, 2025, is a nine-week professional development initiative created by the USAI in coordination with the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C.

The application deadline is Jan. 31, 2025.

The internship program offers a unique opportunity for young Filipino American adults to gain firsthand experience with the U.S. government and political system in Washington, D.C., engage civically and reflect on their potential role as future leaders in strengthening U.S.-Philippines relations.

IMPACT! provides young adults with the skills and knowledge to transform into leaders in the democratic and

electoral processes, and civil society.

It offers a series of handson and interactive workshops, networking opportunities, placement in professional development and internship positions, one-on-one mentorship and the completion of a civic engagement project.

This program provides young people with the opportunity to intern on a national level in various offices of elected officials, public agencies or in organizations involved in the political, government and policy influencing arena.

This opportunity helps develop a stronger understanding of how government and the political system work by experiencing it from an insider’s perspective.

Not only is this program an invaluable professional experience, but also benefits the Filipino American community by increasing the interest of

Filipino Americans in American politics and civic engagement in the future.

The program is open to all U.S. or dual US/Philippine citizens of Filipino descent, aged 18 to 25, who are either full-time undergraduate or graduate students in good academic standing or recent graduates with an undergraduate degree.

Selected participants will receive the “Filipino American Youth Political Leadership Award” in the form of a $2,000 stipend.

Participants will be responsible for all other expenses, including travel, housing, food and additional costs. After acceptance into the program, participants must also provide proof of health insurance and sign a liability waiver.

For more information, visit the USAI website. Applications must be submitted by Jan. 31, 2025. (Inquirer.net)

What Trump’s immigration plans mean...

be here and how to get them back, and if the country will take them back,” said Jeremy Robbins, executive director of the American Immigration Council, at a Friday, November 15 Ethnic Media Services briefing on Trump’s promised immigration policies.

“With mass deportations, however, we’re talking about finding people in their communities,” he continued.

“The two branches of the Department of Homeland Security that specifically do that do not have the capacity. It’s extremely expensive … Nor do we have the detention capacity. You’d need a whole new set of asylum facilities and judges before even getting people home.”

Deporting all undocumented immigrants, which represent about 4.8% of the U.S. workforce as of 2022, would cost about $315 billion and have between a 4.2% and 6.8% negative impact on GDP, by conservative estimates.

By comparison, the national GDP fell 4.3% during the Great Recession, from 2007 to 2009.

“For most things Congress will fund, they’ll need 60 votes. Budget reconciliation needs 50. It’s far from clear they can fund these measures … but they can repurpose money from elsewhere,” said Robbins. “It’s possible to use forms like the military, but our resources are already strained.”

The existing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) budget — $107.9 billion for fiscal year 2025 — exceeds all other federal law enforcement budgets combined.

The current daily detention capacity is estimated around 50,000.

Congress has provided approximately $3.4 billion to detain a daily average of 41,500 noncitizens in 2024, of which 60.1% have no criminal record.

For comparison, funds in 2023 were $2.9 billion to detain an average of 34,000 noncitizens daily.

Along with difficulties getting bipartisan Congressional support, “Biden has already maximally deployed existing resources for enforcement,” said Greg Chen, senior director of government relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association. “They don’t have the resources to do much more … and contracting with private facilities, or training state and national guards, will mean more expensive delays.”

DHS data from 2023 shows that, in absolute terms, 3.5 times as many people were

removed under Biden than under Trump. Of the 1.4 million arrests made in the 24 months of 2019 and 2020 under Trump, 47% were removed from the U.S.

In the first 26.3 months under Biden, DHS made over 5 million arrests, of which 51% were removed.

Legal immigration

“Trump has been talking so much about mass deportations that we rarely hear about impacts on the legal immigration system, meaning the hundreds of thousands of employment visas, family visas and humanitarian visas coming through every year,” said Chen.

Annual new legal permanent residents fell under Trump from 1,183,500 in 2016 to 707,400 in 2020, according to DHS data; the numbers have shot back up since then to 1,173,000 in 2023.

“During the first Trump administration, we saw retrogression — meaning it took much longer to process these cases,” Chen continued. “For an employment or family visa that might typically take three to six months, we saw those times typically double.”

He added that these backlogs are often created by understaffing departments and by Requests for Evidence, which are “ways of asking for more information on a case to ferret out fraud. But if used unnecessarily, it simply becomes red tape … and if immigration is unavailable to people who are trying to come here through legal means, we’ll be seeing greater amounts of illegal migration.”

Currently, immigrants arriving at official crossing points on the border can make an appointment through the CBP One app and wait months to be processed into the U.S. with temporary humanitarian parole.

“People who try to enter between those points have a very hard time qualifying to begin the process towards asylum,” said Julia Gelatt, associate director of the Migration Policy Institute’s U.S. immigration policy program. “Under Trump, we can expect that the CPB One process at ports of entry will end, meaning that it will be very difficult for people coming to the border to access legal asylum proceedings,” she continued.

“Instead, we’ll likely see what we’ve seen before: people paying smugglers to sneak them into the United States, rather than to the border, where many people now present themselves to border

DOJ-formed task force now investigating...

Meanwhile, the DOJ task force's probe comes after the former president attended the House of Representatives Quad Committee on November 13.

During the Quad Comm hearing, Duterte admitted to giving funds and incentives to police officers who conducted anti-illegal drug operations.

The former president also admitted that planting evidence was his strategy in apprehending drug suspects when he was still the mayor of Davao City.

Duterte also revealed that he tapped an “Iglesia ni Cristo” police official to manage the drug war, a claim previously made by former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) chief Royina Garma during a Quad Comm probe.

The justice department has created a task force consisting of prosecutors along with the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate the alleged extrajudicial killings.

authorities to ask for protection,” she added.

Trump has also suggested that he’ll scale back the use of Temporary Status — which covers over one million immigrants, mostly Venezuelan, Haitian and Salvadoran — and eliminate Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), on which about 580,000 immigrants rely.

The Supreme Court ruled in 2020 that the president can terminate DACA, a policy which gives some people who came to the U.S. illegally as children the right to study and work in the country.

“Most employers want to hire a legal workforce. If their workers lose authorizations like DACA and TPS, they’ll have to let them go,” said Gelatt. “We’re an aging country … and when we lose immigrant workers, it doesn’t necessarily create jobs for U.S. workers. If an employer loses the immigrant workers they rely on, they might contract out their operation or close up shop altogether. Immigrants and U.S. workers are compliments in the labor force.”

Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that the unemployment rate for U.S.-born workers in 2023 was 3.6%, the lowest on record.

That year, the share of employed prime-age (25 to 54) U.S.-born workers was 81.4%, the highest rate since 2001.

While mass crackdowns on these immigrants “will take more resources than the new administration will have, resulting in economic devastation across the country, they’re still counting on instilling fear in communities,” added Chen. “We have people with legal status calling our attorneys because they’re afraid that they’ll be rounded up because they’ll be profiled. Those are legitimate concerns in this new environment.”

“What does it look like when that intimidation campaign is working? It looks like kids not going to school because their parents fear being deported, shortages of health care workers because people move to safer states or are removed from the country, like shortages of teachers here on TPS and DACA,” said Elizabeth Taufa, policy attorney at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center.

“Even if they can’t afford to enforce these policies, they’re unraveling the threads of our American communities,” she added. (Selen Ozturk/Ethnic Media Services)

sources of fluoride, and that the lowered amount would still help protect teeth without staining them.

Pediatric dentists note that applying fluoride with toothpaste and rinses is beneficial, but small amounts circulating in the body via water consumption helps younger children who still have their baby teeth, because it can benefit the developing permanent teeth.

The American Dental Association says studies have shown that fluoride in community water systems prevents at least 25% of tooth decay in children and adults and that “for more than 75 years, the best scientific evidence has consistently shown that fluoridation is safe and effective.”

The association says on its website: “It’s similar to fortifying other foods and beverages — for example, fortifying salt with iodine, milk with vitamin D, orange juice with calcium, and bread with folic acid.”

According to the CDC, health experts and scientists from the U.S. and other countries have so far “not found convincing scientific evidence linking community water fluoridation with any potential adverse health effect or systemic disorder such as an increased risk for cancer, Down syndrome, heart disease, osteoporosis and bone fracture, immune disorders, low intelligence, renal disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, or allergic reactions.”

The agency says risks of water fluoridation are limited to dental fluorosis, which can alter dental enamel and cause white flecks, spots, lines, or brown stains on the teeth when too much fluoride is consumed.

Do studies show fluoride posing any other risks?

Some studies have said that excess fluoride exposure, often at higher levels than the recommended U.S. limit, can harm infants’ and young children’s developing brains and that higher levels of fluoride exposure during pregnancy were associated with declines in children’s IQs.

A study published in May that Malin led with University of Southern California and Indiana University researchers suggested that fluoride exposure during pregnancy was linked to an increased risk of childhood neurobehavioral problems and said more studies were “urgently needed to understand and mitigate the impacts in the entire U.S. population.”

Experts noted prenatal fluoride exposure is most strongly linked to children’s IQ loss, and said timing of fluoride consumption might need to be considered when making recommendations.

A federal review of dozens

The task force also aligns with the ongoing investigations being conducted by the House of Representatives Quad Comm and the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee into the war on drugs.

The government data estimates 6,000 deaths during the implementation anti-narcotics campaign of the Duterte administration. However, an international human rights group estimates up to 30,000 fatalities which usually consist of smalltime drug pushers and users. (With reports from Dominique Nicole Flores)

Does fluoride cause cancer, IQ loss...

of studies published in August by the Department of Health and Human Services’ National Toxicology Program concluded that higher levels of fluoride exposure were linked to lower IQs in children. But the report was based primarily on studies in countries such as Canada, China, India, Iran, Mexico, and Pakistan and involved fluoride levels at or above 1.5 milligrams per liter, twice the recommended U.S. limit. The authors said more research is needed to understand whether lower exposure has any adverse effects.

In the report, researchers said they found no evidence that fluoride exposure adversely affected adult cognition.

Bellinger, of Harvard, pointed to the review as an example of how the amount of fluoride matters. He noted how researchers concluded that a very small percentage of people in the U.S. are exposed to levels that correlate with IQ loss.

“Second, the fact that there are now multiple pathways of exposure to fluoride besides fluoridated water (toothpaste and other dental products, etc.) makes it really difficult to attribute a particular adverse effect to the fluoride added to the water,” he wrote via email. “It is the cumulative exposure from all sources that contribute to any adverse health effects.”

In September, a federal judge ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to further regulate fluoride in drinking water because of the potential risk that higher levels could affect children’s intellectual development.

U.S. District Judge Edward Chen wrote that the court’s finding didn’t “conclude with certainty that fluoridated water is injurious to public health,” saying it’s unclear whether the amount of fluoride typically added to water is causing children’s IQs to drop. But he wrote that there was enough risk to warrant investigation and that the EPA must act to further regulate it. The ruling

did not specify what actions the agency should take, and the EPA is reviewing the decision.

After the ruling, the American Association of Pediatrics issued a statement that fluoride in drinking water is safe for children and said the policy is based on a robust foundation of evidence.

Besides dental fluorosis, experts say that fluoride exposure over many years above the U.S. recommended amount can cause skeletal fluorosis, a rare condition that causes weaker bones, stiffness, and joint pain.

Although the Public Health Service recommends a fluoride concentration of 0.7 milligrams per liter for community water systems, the EPA, under the Safe Drinking Water Act, sets enforceable standards for drinking-water quality. Currently, to prevent skeletal fluorosis, the EPA requires that water systems not exceed 4 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water.

Malin said she and her research team are investigating a potential link between fluoride and bone fractures. She said that although several studies have found high fluoride exposure associated with increased risk of bone fractures, and some have linked fluoride with thyroid disease, rigorous, U.S.-based studies haven’t been done.

The CDC concluded that recent research found no link between cancer risk and high levels of fluoride in drinking water.

The American Cancer Society reviewed a possible link between water fluoridation and cancer risk. An organization spokesperson pointed PolitiFact to its review and said it has no data showing a definitive answer. 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.

VOLUNTEERS. The Philippine National Police-Reactionary Standby Support Force helps repack relief goods at the Department of Social Welfare and Development-National Resource Operations Center in Pasay City on Tuesday, November 19. The agency had already distributed 305,763 family food packs to areas affected by tropical cyclones Marce, Nika, Ofel and Pepito in the Cagayan Valley, Ilocos, Cordillera, Central Luzon and Bicol regions as of Nov. 18. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc

Photo from the US-Asia Institute website

Longtime research has found that adding fluoride to U.S. drinking water is a safe way to boost children’s oral health. Since 2015, the recommended level in the U.S. has been 0.7 milligrams per liter. Public health organizations, including the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, support the practice. Pexels.com photo by Andrea Piacquadio

Let Duterte run again as president – Alvarez

by delon Porcalla Philstar.com

MANILA — Inspired by Donald Trump’s reelection as U.S. president, Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez wants his friend, former President Rodrigo Duterte, to run again and be reelected as president in 2028.

“Let him run. Let the people decide and if there is a legal issue, let the courts resolve it,” Alvarez said in a statement.

A provision in the 1987 Constitution limits presidents to one fixed sixyear term without reelection.

The provision is an offshoot of the dictatorship of the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., who perpetuated himself in power for 20 years until his ouster in 1986.

“The president shall not be eligible for any reelection,” the Constitution states.

But Alvarez, whom Duterte backed as House speaker in mid-2016 until he was ousted in July 2018, believes the prohibition refers only to consecutive presidential terms.

“It refers to the sitting or incumbent president not allowed for reelection,” he stated.

“That shouldn’t apply to our former president because he is no longer incumbent. He can still run as president. As you can see, lawmakers grilled the ex-president for 13 long hours, but he still ended up strong. His heart is in the right place,” Alvarez said, referring to the quad committee’s investigation on Duterte’s drug war.

The presidential reelection issue was raised before the Supreme Court in 2010 when former President Joseph Estrada, following a presidential pardon for his September 2007 conviction for plunder, joined the May 2010 presidential race, wherein he finished second to Benigno Aquino III.

But the high tribunal left the question hanging, saying the issue had been rendered moot with Aquino’s victory.

“Look at our senators. They can always run after their consecutive terms.

The people are allowed to decide whether they want the senator to be reelected.

In the U.S., look at President Trump; he was reelected.

If we really believe in democracy, then let the people decide,” Alvarez said.

U.S. presidents are allowed two four-year terms.

No Duterte bank waiver

Meanwhile, the quad committee is not expecting any bank waiver that Duterte has promised to them during his testimony before the committee last week, Laguna 1st District Rep.Dan Fernandez said on Tuesday, November 19.

In an interview with “Storycon” on One News, Fernandez noted that Duterte had changed his tune and said he would need his wife’s consent since the bank account is conjugal.

“On the issue about the bank waiver, the second day has already passed and it was not signed. There were many reasons that he cited. We are not expecting it anymore,” Fernandez said.

“We are expecting the waiver to be signed. But he has a pronouncement about his wife. He will not really sign the waiver. We are waiting for the AMLC (AntiMoney Laundering Council) also,” he added.

Fernandez said if Duterte is really determined to sign a waiver, he should have signed the document right at the hearing of the quad comm that he attended last week.

“We are depending on (former deputy ombudsman) Art Carandang about this issue on the money in banks. We are trying to find out the whereabouts of Carandang,” Fernandez said.

He stated the quad comm’s investigation on the alleged

extrajudicial killings (EJKs) that allegedly transpired during Duterte’s presidency is already done.

“For me, the EJK probe is already finished. Most likely, we will start tackling Duterte’s Executive Order 13 on POGO (Philippine offshore gaming operators), which has not been tackled yet. If ever we are tackling POGO, we might invite him again,” Fernandez said.

Since all of Duterte’s testimonies were made under oath, the former president’s inconsistencies could constitute perjury, Fernandez said.

“He was under oath. If you closely look at it, there was perjury. He is really liable to his statement that he delivered to quad comm. We are here to find out what laws we can file and legislate in connection with the hearing,” he explained.

He added the invitation of the quad comm to Senators Ronald dela Rosa and Bong Go is “open-ended.”

“It’s really up to them if they want to be present. If they don’t want to attend, it’s their prerogative,” he said.

He said the quad comm is running out of time.

“We have until Dec. 16 (for the regular Congress sessions). After Nov. 28, we have two more remaining hearings. On our return to Congress on Jan. 15, it will be the start of the campaign period already. We might find it difficult to get a member of quad comm to attend the hearing,” he stated.

Meanwhile, he said that they moved the scheduled hearing of quad comm on Thursday, November 21 to next week, Nov. 28. The hearing next Thursday of the House committee on good government and public accountability chaired by Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua will tackle Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged misuse of P612.5PAGE 7

PNP: No quota on drug war killings, arrests

by Jose rodel claPano Philstar.com

MANILA — As far as the spokesperson of the Philippine National Police can recall, there was no quota on PNP killings or arrests in the implementation of the war on drugs during the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte.

Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo, one of the resource persons invited by the House committee on public order and safety chaired by Sta. Rosa, Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez, said on Tuesday, November 19 that based on her personal experience during her stint as station chief of police at the height of Oplan Double Barrel, she did not receive any order for a quota on “arrests or killings” of drug suspects.

“I will speak in my capacity. During the time of former President Duterte, I was the chief of police. I could say in all honesty, there was no quota for us, or in a week you must have arrest of five or you have killed (someone),” Fajardo said in reply to a question of Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop, a former police officer himself.

The PNP spokesperson hinted that most police officers in the station, who were at the height of their career, may probably just tried to impress their superiors and deliver accomplishments.

“There is no specific policy given to us, either written or verbal ones. In my personal experience during my time as chief of police and even during my time as a provincial director,” she added.

Fajardo confirmed at the hearing the chiefs of police were required to submit a report

on the number of houses, drug pushers or users that they visited in the implementation of Oplan Double Barrel.

Fajardo, when she was still a police station chief, denied that they were required to visit at least 50 houses for tokhang in a month.

“During my time, there was none. The houses that will be the subject for tokhang will depend on the number of drug personalities reported by the BADAC (barangay anti-drug abuse council),” Fajardo explained.

“Like I said, Mr. Chair, there is definitely pressure for the station commanders to deliver accomplishment. So that probably really triggered the intention to really deliver in terms of arrest,” she further explained.

Asked by Acop if the pressure on station commanders contributed on the alleged quota of 50-house visitations, Fajardo answered that it is a possibility. n

MAINTENANCE. A village workers sweeps fallen leaves in Barangay Paligsahan, Quezon City on Monday, November 18. Trash

the streets despite moderate rains

minimal effects of Super Typhoon Pepito the day before. PNA

photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

Members of the Manila Police District (MPD) Philstar.com photo

OPiniOn Features

A test for PH justice

FINALLY, the Philippine government has launched its own probe into possible crimes against international humanitarian law that might have been committed in connection with the bloody campaign against illegal drugs that Rodrigo Duterte launched during his presidency.

Under oath, Duterte had given selfincriminating statements – although peppered with inconsistencies – to both the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee and the quad committee of the House of Representatives. Combined with the sworn testimonies of several witnesses in the congressional probes, state prosecutors should have enough ground to indict Duterte in court for violations of Republic Act 9851. Passed in December 2009, RA 9851 is the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide and Other Crimes Against Humanity.

Editorial

If the case reaches the courts, and the judiciary applies RA 8493 – the Speedy Trial Act of 1998 – plus rules issued by the Supreme Court in line with the constitutional mandate for speedy trial, Duterte and several of his minions could be held accountable for mass killings and penalized within the

BABe roMuAldez

OVER the past week, one of the main topics of discussion not only here in Washington, DC but in many parts of the globe is the immigration policy of president-elect Trump.

Many of our media friends from the Philippines asked us how it will affect many undocumented Filipino immigrants in the United States.

A report published by the Pew Research Center estimates that the number of illegals in the U.S. has grown to 11 million in 2022, although these numbers “do not reflect events since mid2022” as the unauthorized immigrant population “has likely grown over the past two years based on several alternative data sources.”

Based on “Agenda 47” that outlines the policy plans of Donald Trump as the 47th president of the United States plus his pronouncements, there will be mass deportation of illegal immigrants using federal law enforcement agencies and the military.

Undocumented immi-

current administration, long before he dies.

The probe is being undertaken by a task force formed by the Department of Justice to investigate extrajudicial killings believed to have been carried out under Duterte’s so-called war on drugs. It’s unclear if the DOJ probe will include EJKs perpetrated by a so-called Davao death squad when Duterte was the city mayor, and killings that he himself carried out, as he told the quad committee last week.

Also unclear is how the DOJ probe will affect any attempt by the International Criminal Court to get custody of Duterte, who is under ICC investigation for possible murder as a crime against humanity. The ICC probe has been going on for several years now, but the court has failed to get statements from Duterte and his officials who played key roles in his crackdown on drugs, including those who supervised

an alleged cash reward system that encouraged police officers to kill drug suspects. Duterte denied there was such a reward system, but he admitted the existence of a death squad in Davao and killing criminals himself, although he was vague on specifics.

Anticipating the Trump immigration policy

grants will not receive benefits like public housing and shelter, food stamps, health care and welfare checks.

The southern border will be closed to asylum seekers, while the “catch-and-release” practice of releasing migrants while they await immigration hearings will be suspended.

Birthright citizenship (acquiring citizenship by being born in the U.S.) for children of undocumented immigrants will be denied. Tourists who give birth in the U.S. will no longer be allowed to extend their visa – and for the baby to acquire citizenship, one of the parents must be a U.S. citizen or resident. Federal funding will also be blocked for sanctuary cities and counties that allow undocumented immigrants to stay. Under Title 42, which is a public health rule that began in 2020 during the pandemic, border authorities can send back migrants, including children, to their countries of origin. Experts also say that expedited removals could be conducted, which means U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials could swiftly deport illegals.

But while the presidentelect intends to crank up on mass deportation, he also says he wants people to “come in” to the U.S., but legally. Clearly, the top priority for deportation are those who pose a threat to national security and have criminal records.

There’s no doubt, however, that the Trump administration will be strict in its immigration policy, judging from the appointment of former Immigration and Customs Enforcement deputy director Thomas Homan as the “border czar.” Homan, a former police officer who became a U.S. Border Patrol agent, said workplace raids will be conducted to address labor and sex trafficking problems.

We certainly understand the worry and anxiety that our kababayans feel for friends and relatives who may be illegally staying in the US. Which is why we have called all the heads of post at our Philippine consulates in the United States – from Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco as well as Guam – for a meeting in

Washington, DC during the first week of December to discuss prospects under the incoming administration and obviously, number one on the agenda will be the immigration policy of president-elect Trump.

DFA Undersecretary Ed de Vega will be meeting our consuls in Los Angeles end of November to see how DFA’s Assistance to Nationals can be of help to Filipinos facing potential deportation after ascertaining what the new immigration policy will be and the guidelines on its implementation.

Former National Border Patrol Council president Brandon Judd said it’s not as if immigration authorities will just round up people and haul them off – those facing deportation can go before the courts which will hear their cases and rule whether they should be deported or not. We hope to consult an immigration lawyer to help us navigate through this policy.

Long before I even came to Washington, I have been writing about the potential ramifications of evolving U.S. immigration laws and its impact on Filipinos overstaying in the United

States. I knew of so many people who waited until they got deported – completely taking away all chances of ever legally returning to the U.S. Today, more and more countries are facing problems on illegal immigration. There are a number of countries that are now coming out with stricter immigration policies and tightening their borders. Canada, considered to be one of the most immigrant-friendly nations, has reversed its policy due to growing concerns about immigrants contributing to problems related to housing, health care and other social services. Our country is also facing serious problems with illegals coming into the country, which is overwhelming Immigration authorities. An alarming situation is the case of Chinese national Alice Guo using a fake birth certificate and getting elected to public office.

After my initial media interviews regarding undocumented Filipinos in the U.S., there were a few clueless critics who have absolutely no idea of potential problems faced by

victims of human trafficking and those living with the “sword of fear” hanging over their heads. One example is the case of Fedelina Lugasan who I met at our consulate in Los Angeles. She was rescued after being enslaved by her employers.

Nanay Fedelina was recruited from Leyte to work as a domestic helper when she was a teenager and eventually brought to the U.S. – enslaved by a Filipino family for 65 years, unpaid and abused, sleeping on the floor with just a thin blanket. Her plight was discovered in 2018 when she collapsed due to hunger while taking care of her employer in the hospital, prompting the FBI’s Victim Protection Unit to investigate and rescue her. It was a heartbreaking story that is forever etched in my mind. I most certainly do not ever want that to happen to anyone, much less Filipinos. (Philstar.com)

* * *

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

* * *

Email: babeseyeview@gmail.com

Philippine government probes Rody

start for the 2028 race.

MAYBE it’s just my imagination, but there seems to be something akin to panic and dismay in some quarters over the news that the Philippine government has finally launched an investigation of Rodrigo Duterte for possible crimes against humanitarian law.

This is despite the well known animosity between the Dutertes and the current ruling Marcos-Romualdez clan, which could make it likely that domestic prosecution would actually result in a finding of guilt that warrants stiff punishment.

Under this principle, the ICC may exercise jurisdiction over a case only when a country’s legal system fails to do so, when it is shown that legal authorities are unable or unwilling to conduct a credible probe.

Articles 17 and 53 of the Rome Statute, which created the ICC, provides that the court cannot take on a case that is currently under investigation by a country with jurisdiction over it.

Duterte has taunted the ICC to come and get him, but his original statements on the issue seem to be his genuine stand: that he would never submit himself to the jurisdiction of a foreign court.

So shouldn’t we be glad

The panic and dismay seem to spring from the fear that the Philippine probe, launched by the Department of Justice, will trigger the principle of complementarity and keep Duterte and his minions outside the reach of the International Criminal Court.

that a domestic investigation is underway, not only for individual extrajudicial killings, but for possible crimes against humanity carried out in the name of law enforcement?

* * *

We know what’s fueling public dismay and skepticism: trust deficit.

It’s the lack of trust in the integrity and efficiency of the judiciary, which is supervised by the Supreme Court, and of the prosecution service, which is under the executive branch.

If the principle of complementarity is invoked and domestic prosecution takes precedence over the ICC trial, it’s not just Duterte but also many of us who could be dead before a final ruling is handed down.

And even then, there’s no guarantee that he will be found guilty. Only the

minions in this country get thrown under the bus; their bosses go scot-free. We’ve seen this too many times in high-profile cases. Duterte’s aides could go to prison, but he himself could be let off, if only because of advanced age and health. VIPs who face imprisonment always find a health affliction warranting exemption from jail.

Any prosecution of Duterte is likely to be politicized. If he and his relatives haven’t riled the Marcos-Romualdez clan, would he be facing congressional investigations, especially at the House led by BBM’s favorite cousin?

The next leadership change is set in 2028. At this point, Charter change for a shift to a parliamentary system looks dead in the water, so the presidential race is likely to push through. After the midterm elections next year, prepositioning will

What if the political winds blow in the opposite direction while Duterte is still on trial in the Philippines for crimes against humanity?

* * *

Department of Justice

Secretary Jesus Crispin

Remulla said he did not want the DOJ probe to “overlap” with what the ICC is doing –meaning the ICC card is still on the table for the Marcos 2.0 administration.

How this will work out is unclear. Duterte is being probed by the DOJ, for the first time ever, for possible violation of a law passed way back in 2009, Republic Act 9851 – the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide and Other Crimes Against Humanity.

He’s not being probed for genocide, whether by the ICC or the DOJ. The

two bodies are looking at the same possible offense, based on the same pattern of killings arising from the same motives, using (or will be using, in the case of the DOJ) testimonies from the same witnesses, and now the transcripts from the congressional probes.

The ICC has been investigating Duterte and several of his former aides for several years now, for a possible indictment for murder as a crime against humanity. But the court has been unable to get any sworn statement from Duterte and his aides led by his former police chief, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, who said he refused to take calls from persons claiming to be from the ICC. President Marcos has maintained that the Philippine legal system is fully functional and there is PAGE 7

AnA MArie PAMintuAn

He has taunted the ICC to try him before he dies. The Marcos administration has maintained that there is no need for the ICC to step in because the country’s criminal justice system is fully functional. This will be tested by the ongoing DOJ probe of Duterte. (Philstar.com)

Philippines, US sign key military intel pact

by cristina chi Philstar.com

MANILA

– The Philippines and the United States sealed a key military intelligence sharing deal on Monday, November 18, allowing both allies to exchange classified defense information in realtime amid rising regional tensions.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin signed the agreement at a ceremony in Manila — one of the Biden administration's final defense initiatives in Asia before the upcoming change in U.S. leadership in January.

The General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) establishes protocols for sharing military secrets between the two countries, though it stops short of requiring either nation to disclose sensitive data.

Under the agreement, both countries must report any breach of shared classified information immediately. The deal also allows for mutual security inspections and can be modified or suspended if needed, though it has no expiration date.

Timely info exchange, coordination

Monday's signing of the bilateral agreement delivers on a commitment made by both nations during Austin's last visit to Manila in July to finalize the deal before 2025.

The agreement lays the foundation for "enhanced, expanded, and timely sharing of information and defense technology," according to a joint statement by both countries during a meeting between their foreign and defense officials in July.

Teodoro said in a press conference in July that the deal would give the Philippines a way to prepare for "vulnerabilities" and "unpredictabilities" in the future.

“It is an attempt and a continuing exercise to de -

velop our operational security, which is a required stepping stone for our development of an armed force and a defense establishment with increasing sophistication to deal with vulnerabilities and with unpredictabilities in the future defense situation and picture,” Teodoro said.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said during Austin's courtesy call to Malacanang on Monday that the agreement marked an important step for the continued interoperability of Philippine and U.S. military forces.

The Department of National Defense, in a press release, said the deal not only enables mutual access to classified military information but also opens opportunities for the Philippines to forge similar agreements with other "like-minded" nations, or nations who share similar positions with the Philippines on the international rules-based order.

The United States has the same agreement in place with other key Indo-Pacific allies, including India, South Korea, Australia, and Japan.

Coordination center. Teodoro and Austin also led the groundbreaking ceremony for a new combined coordination center at the Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters, a facility designed to enhance military collaboration between both nations.

"This center will give both countries a fuller picture of our shared areas of responsibility and common approaches to threats against both our securities," Teodoro said.

The new center is also "part of the strategic approach to facing our shared threats that both of our countries have invested a lot of resources, a lot of manpower, and a lot of brainpower in," the Philippines' defense chief added.

The new facility will

serve as a combined command center for strategic planning, joint operations, intelligence sharing, and rapid response coordination. According to the U.S. Embassy in Manila, it builds on existing cooperation between the two nations, such as joint exercises like Balikatan and the Multilateral Maritime Combined Activities, and integrates new defense technologies and joint training to address "conventional and unconventional challenges."

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin lead the groundbreaking ceremony for the combined coordination center of both their countries' armed forces at the headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippiens, Nov. 18, 2024.

Growing defense partnerships

The Philippines has actively expanded its defense partnerships this year amid more frequent clashes with Chinese vessels in the South China Sea.

This year alone, the Philippines has conducted 10 joint maritime activities with various countries that support or recognize the 2016 arbitral award that ruled in favor of the Philippines. These are Australia, Japan, Vietnam, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and France.

Relations between the Philippines and the U.S. — the only country with which the Philippines has a mutual defense treaty — have expanded considerably under Marcos.

In July, the U.S. pledged a whopping $500 million in foreign military aid for the Philippines to boost its military.

Before that, the Philippines granted U.S. forces access to four more military sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement — a move that angered China. n

Philippine government probes...

no need for the ICC to step in, thank you. His “little president” Lucas Bersamin said last week that BBM had not changed his position on this.

Remulla at one point said it would be an “insult” for the pillars of the country’s legal system if the ICC would step into offenses committed in the Philippines.

* * * Recently, BBM, Bersamin and Remulla modified their position. Amid reports that the ICC was preparing to issue arrest warrants for Duterte, et al, the three said while the government was not changing its position on noncooperation with the ICC, the country remains a member of the International Criminal

Police Organization, and is committed to cooperate with the Interpol in case it is asked by the ICC to facilitate the arrest of Duterte.

Since last year, the Marcos administration has also not stopped ICC probers from coming to the Philippines for informal talks with witnesses, resource persons and victims’ relatives, and to gather evidence.

As long as the ICC activities are not conducted under a formal setting, they cannot be stopped by the government, according to administration officials. They said ICC personnel could come to the Philippines on tourist visas but do more than sightseeing, as long as the activities don’t break the country’s laws.

By most accounts, ICC personnel continue to do their work informally in the country, both in person and through digital communication.

So what happens now that the government is out to show that the Philippine legal system can also go after Duterte for crimes against humanity?

If Marcos 2.0 won’t invoke ICC complementarity, the Duterte camp could do so in demanding a domestic trial.

The ICC might be unable to get hold of Duterte before he croaks.

(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.

Let Duterte run again as president...

million confidential intelligence funds in the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education when she was the department’s former secretary.

Meanwhile, human rights group Karapatan on Tuesday called on the Department of Justice to fully cooperate

with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in its investigation into thousands of drug war-related killings under Duterte.

Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said ignoring the ICC’s ongoing probe, launched in 2018, would delay justice for victims and allow the process “to be manipulated” by the camp of Duterte.

“The ICC investigation into extrajudicial killings in Duterte’s drug war has been ongoing. Ignoring this reality will prolong the agony of families seeking justice for their loved ones,” Palabay said in a statement. (With reports from Jose Rodel Clapano, Mark Ernest Villeza)

COMPETITIVE. A team races to the next station during the “bahay kubo” (nipa hut) race of the 20th Bayanihan Festival in Pasig City on Saturday, November 16. The annual event promotes the spirit of unity, cooperation, culture and Filipino values.

PNA photo by Joan Bondoc

VEGAS&STYLE

by Armin P. AdinA Inquirer.net

Manalo may not have posted the Philippines’ fifth Miss Universe victory as she had wanted, but she will not go home empty-handed as she was bestowed a special title from the competition after she was named the first continental queen of Asia.

Aside from Manalo, other continental queens are Miss Finland for Europe & Middle East), Miss Peru for the Americas, and Miss Nigeria for Africa and Oceania, as announced at a press conference held following the coronation night

P.E.P. (People,

WHEN I learned from GMA-7 news of Max Soliven's passing away on November 24, 2006, just three days before Ninoy Aquino’s birthday, I was very sad and tried to control my tears. My personal encounter with Max began on August 2, 1990, the day Kuwait was invaded by Iraq. He told me to join him first in a morning breakfast at the lobby of Manila Peninsula hotel in Makati City before I interviewed him about his fond memories of Ninoy Aquino for the Philippine Daily Globe’s August 21, 1990 special focus feature entitled “…Ninoy, the Men Who Remember Aquino”. (I actually got Max’s residence phone number through Mela Soliven-Pascual who I met during the birthday of Mother Socorro Reyes, former directress of St. Paul College of Manila, sometime in September 1989 at the house of Romy Reyes on breezy Acacia Street in Valle Verde, Pasig.) Later Max brought me to the hotel’s La Bodega (now Nielsen) coffee shop where we saw then Trade Assistant Secretary Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who was taking a cup of coffee. Max right away introduced me to Gloria. As I shook her hand, I candidly said to her that she would be the country’s leader in the next millennium as Max smiled to what I was predicting. Gloria just smiled at me for she had no ambition to be president someday. But I was very sure that it would come true. Meanwhile, I bade her goodbye for I had to interview Max Soliven, a multi-awarded journalist who recalled how Ninoy used to chide him for having started Ninoy’s career by firing Ninoy from The Guidon, the official weekly college organ of the Ateneo de Manila. Max was then the managing editor while Ninoy was a cub reporter who later joined The Manila Times. Ninoy had a keen

on Sunday, in Mexico City where Denmark’s Victoria Kjaer Theilvig won the Miss Universe 2024 title. The Filipino queen was proclaimed as “Miss Universe Asia,” one of the “continental queens” that the organization promised to proclaim when it launched the 2024 competition.

When Miss Universe Organization (MUO) co-owners Raul Rocha and Anna Jakrajutip launched the 2024 pageant, they said that four continental winners will be proclaimed, and will become part of the Top 30. It was not clear, though, if the continental winners had already been predetermined

prior to the announcement of semifinalists. The four ladies all hurdled the first cut. Manalo finished in the Top 30, and so was Finland’s Matilda Wirtavuori who was proclaimed as Miss Universe Europe and Middle East.

Peru’s Tatiana Calmell, who finished in the Top 12, was proclaimed as Miss Universe Americas, while Miss Universe first runner-up Chidimma Adetshina from Nigeria was hailed as the continental queen for Africa and Oceania.

Reports said the continental queens will be traveling with Theilvig in different parts of the world for the Miss Universe Organization.

by ChristinA AlPAd ManilaTimes.net

"Hello, Love, Again," is not only making history in the Philippines. Over the weekend, the Filipino movie broke into the Top 10 box-office hits of North American theaters.

In an AP report citing Comscore's estimated ticket sales from Nov. 15 to Nov. 17, 2024 at US and Canadian theaters, "Hello, Love, Again" earned $2.3 million in the said period, making it the eighth highest-grossing film of the weekend.

On top of the list is Hollywood movie "Red One" with $34.1 million, followed by "Venom: The Last Dance," $7.4 million; "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever," $5.4 million; "Heretic," $5.2 million; "The Wild Robot," $4.3 million; "Smile 2," $3 million; and "Conclave," $2.9 million.

Following "Hello, Love, Again" and completing the Top 10 are "A Real Pain" with $2.3 million and "Anora" at $1.8 million.

Produced by ABS-CBN Films and GMA Pictures, "Hello, Love, Again" sees Joy (Kathryn Bernardo) and Ethan (Alden Richards) — strangers turned lovers in Hong Kong — anew. This time, they are navigating not only the complicated immi-

eye and his guts were terrific, and he had what it took to be a successful newspaperman, the ability to detect what was newsworthy and to analyze the news. “The editor of The Manila Times was so impressed with Ninoy that he would translate Ninoy’s dispatches into English,” said Max, adding that it was only Ninoy’s copy that was edited by the editor-in-chief. At 17, Ninoy Aquino became Manila Times’ youngest war correspondent in Korea, a feat that had certainly made him famous. * * *

Former U.S. President Donald Trump will make a dramatic comeback to the White House as the 47th president of the United States of America.

Among the celebrities who supported him are as follows: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Harrison Ford, Mel Gibson, Joe Rogan, John Schneider, Rob Schneider, Elon Musk, Hulk Hogan, Megyn Kelly, Caitlyn Jenner, boxer Jake Paul, astonaut Dr. Buzz Aldrin, Drae de Matteo, Dr. Phil, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, adult film actress Richelle Ryan, modelAmber Rose, Paula Deen, Brett Favre, Victoria Jackson, Joe Exotic, sportsman Harrison Butker, Britanny Mahomes, John Daly, Kelsey Grammer, Tucker Carlson, Jim Caviezel, Zachary Levi, Danica Patrick, Taryn Manning, Kanye, Dennis Quaid, Randy Quaid, Jason Aldean, Savannah Chrisley, Kodak Black, Dana White, Russel Brand, Roseanne Barr, Kid Rock, Lil Pump, Kevin Sorbo, Chris Janson, James Woods, rapper Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, Lil Wayne, rapper Sexyy Red, Trace Adkins, DaBaby, Jon Voight, Scott Baio, Steve Mnuchin, Dean Cain, Rod Blagojevich, and Vinny Guadagnino.

* * * A new cooking and talk show will satisfy viewers' curiosity and taste buds every afternoon with GMA Public Affairs’ newest talk magazine program, “Lutong Bahay,” which intersects sumptuous yet easy-to-make recipes with feel-good and life-changing memories, bringing together people in the comfort of their homes. It is hosted by Mikee Quintos with our new kapitbahays Hazel Cheffy Anonuevo, Chef Ylyt Manaig, and Kuya Dudut. “Lutong Bahay” airs Mondays to Fridays, 5:45 p.m. on GTV. Global Pinoys can catch it via international channel, GMA Life TV.

Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards in ‘Hello, Love, Again’ ABS-CBN photo grant life in Canada but also the remnants of their relationship. According to American entertainment website variety.com, the movie has surpassed the performance of its predecessor — "Hello, Love, Goodbye" — which earned $1.99 million during its entire North American run in 2019. The website also revealed that "Hello, Love, Again" secured the widest release ever for a Filipino production —

248 cinemas across the US and Canada. In the Philippines, "Hello, Love, Again" has been reported to have already reached P520 million as of November 18. The movie is now playing in 110 cinemas worldwide, including Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada, Guam, Saipan and London. By the end of the month, the movie will also be shown in Singapore, Malaysia, the Middle East, Cambodia, and Hong Kong.

sees to it

“whatever it is, I voice it out and

upon it with some

of advice and

I get from

I make sure

with the

I show up to my

* * * Current Miss Universe Philippines Chelsea Manalo, a dark-skinned beauty from Bulacan, extended her utmost gratitude to fellow Filipinos from all over the world for the whole-out support to her candidacy in the recently-concluded 73rd Miss Universe pageant in Mexico. She was declared 1st Miss Universe Asia 2024. In preparing for the international stage,

rogelio ConstAntino MedinA

1960 TOYM awardees (standing, from left) Oscar Yatco, Leonardo Martin, Benito Legardo Jr., Cirio Santiago, Alberto Florentino; (seated, from left) Gabriel Elorde, Ninoy Aquino, Max Soliven and Sixto Roxas. Photos courtesy of Rogelio C. Medina

At “Pilipinas Ngayon Na!” radio broadcast: (from left) Jamin Lim, Usec. Robert Rivera, Lady Elyza Rivera and Rogelio Medina.

From left: Peps Bernardo, Nuel Manaligod, Queenie Ostulano, Carlos Abalos, Winnie Wong, Pia Lorraine Yater-Dalmazo, Rogelio Medina and Andre Dantis.

“Lutong Bahay” hosts (clockwise, from left) Cheffy Anonuevo, Kuya Dudut, Ylyt Manig and Mikee Quintos.

Miss Universe Asia Chelsea Manalo (left) with 2024 Miss Universe Pageant winner Victoria Kjaer Thelivig of Denmark.

Chelsea Manalo, Miss Universe Asia 2024

47th American President Donald Trump at a campaign trail event at a McDonald’s franchise in Bucks County, Pennsylvania in October 2024.

CHELSEA

Miss Universe 2024 Victoria Kjaer Theilvig and the continental queens.

Photo from from MUPH EVP Voltaire Tayag

PRESIDENT Donald J. Trump, who won a “trifecta” landslide victory – more like a “perfecta” for winning the electoral, popular, and ethnic votes – announced his nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., as secretary of Health and Human Services. RFK is infamous for his anti-vaccine stance, which hopefully is only his personal bias for himself, and not for the public.

Vaccines have been saving lives since it was first created by Dr. Edward Jenner in May of 1796. During this pandemic, more than 12.7 billion shots of the COVID-19 vaccines have been given safely, resulting in 63 percent reduction in the death rate around the world, literally saving billions of lives.

As of April 13, 2024, more than 7 million people in 229 countries have died from COVID-19; more than 1.2 million in the United States and 66,864 in the Philippines. In the United States, 81 percent of the population of 346,123,888, had at least one vaccination, and around 71 percent of the 116,201,488 population in the Philippines.

The 19 percent unvaccinated in the United States translates to about 67.8 million unprotected people. One unvaccinated person (a prime target of the virus) who gets infected is enough to cause a pandemic as shown in Wuhan City, China. The best scenario and the safest situation for the country is obviously for everyone to be vaccinated as early as possible and religiously follow the CDC mitigating guidelines. To achieve this epidemiologically and save the greatest number of lives, the government should implement federal mandates on vaccination and mitigating measures, no matter how unpopular this collision of civil rights versus science. When is saving the greatest number of lives not a noble objective?

RFK could be most useful in reigning in the pharmaceutical industry and put an end to its abuse, lack of transparency, and price gouging. Why drug prices in Canada are about half the price of the same generic drugs in the United States is most revealing. He could also explore the food preservatives-additives health issues. The other area is the 146-billion-dollar food supplement industry, where miracle claims and false data abound and where there is zero scientific oversight and

Is RFK anti-vaccine?

scrutiny of the products as far as efficacy, safety, interaction, side-effects, complications, etc., are concerned. The public is left basically unprotected from corporate greed. Hopefully, when confirmed, RFK would put aside his personal biases, follow medical science, and faithfully carry out the plans for the health of the people and the nation as envisioned by the incoming 47th president of the United States.

Marijuana dangers In the United States alone, there are almost 62 million marijuana users, and about 18 million of them with symptoms of cannabis disorder. In the Philippines, it is around 1.8 million users among its 116 million people, with proportionate malady.

A study in the University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, reported that “cannabis use may lead to thinning of the cerebral cortex in adolescents…The multilevel study demonstrated that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), an active substance in cannabis, causes shrinkage of dendritic arborization — the neurons’ network of antennae that play a critical role in communication between brain cells.” This thinning “makes it harder for the brain to learn new things, interact with people, cope with situations, etc.” This research was published October 9, 2024, in the Journal of Neuroscience

Problems associated with the use of marijuana, some fatal to users and to innocent bystanders, are mounting, since it was legalized. As a society, we need to seriously rethink our approach to the introduction of any new recreational drug that can potentially be harmful to our health and to society.

Tobacco alone has killed an estimated 100 million in the 20th century and projected to kill about 1 billion in the 21st century.

REM sleep – vital Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is a normal part of our sleep cycle, and each of the 4-6 cycles per night cycle lasts about 80-100 minutes.

The first REM lasts for just a few minutes and gets longer with each subsequent cycle. The total may be half an hour of REM sleep, when dreams usually occur. During REM sleep, our breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, and brain activity all increase. While our eyes are closed, our eyes move rapidly. Our muscles in our arms and legs are unable to move, preventing us from acting out our dreams as we experience them. REM sleep decreases from 50 percent in the newborn to 20 percent

among those age 20 and above and down to 17 percent by age 80.

The benefits we get from REM sleep: Mood regulation, improved learning and memory, brain development, and protection against dementia. For every 1 percent reduction in REM sleep, there is a 9 percent increase in the risk of dementia.

To improve sleep, it is best to stick to regular bedtime and wake-up time schedules, even on weekends or on vacation, and to avoid a long nap, watching television, especially violence, or any excitement before bedtime. Tablets and cellphones emit blue lights that interfere with sleep. Limit caffeine to a cup a day, 2 maximum, and alcohol intake to one, as they suppress REM sleep. Take a warm shower, listen to soft music, stretch, and read. Exercise slightly decreases REM, so exercise in the morning, preferably outside. In general, regular exercise increases the amount of restorative sleep, which boosts mood and energy. Sleeping pills may not be safe for some people, especially the elderly.

Social media ban

The prime minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, recently announced his proposal to ban all social media for children under the age of 16. If approved, these platforms will have 12 months to implement blocking measures or face potential fines against them but not the users. He argued the ban is needed “due to social media’s harmful effects on young people’s mental health.” Around “95 percent of teens use social media, spending an average of 4.8 hours a day, and 41 percent of them rate their mental health as poor or very poor.” Indeed, a courageous noble move. This is preventive medicine, pro-active and pre-emptive.

* * *

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.

* * *

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: Today.SPSAtoday. com; Amazon.com (“Where is My America?”); Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com.

Donald Trump, the 47th US president...

Family, the very basic unit of a society, is a vital part of her life. Her parents are very supportive of her dream. “I have always been telling them that I love them and that I am so glad that they have become my parents who are supportive of my dreams.”

During weekend, she has been with her parents and friends going to Mass and dining out. She has also

been supportive of charity work that deals with the youth and indigenous people. She believes that “everything happens for a reason.” As a child, she experienced bullying: “Yes, bullying doesn't stop and still happens to anyone... I keep focusing on what I am more passionate about and on what I can only control.”

She elucidates: “I ignore them. I have always believed that bashing

comes from people who are only hurt and negative.”

Trials and hardships motivate her to be a better person. Through this means, she has learned to excel in whatever pursuit she does and uses this to do the right thing. “I live up to the principles of goodness, greatness and godliness and these are what help me in pursuing whatever I want to achieve in life,” says Chelsea, a B.

Belle Mariano grateful to work with Disney for ‘Moana 2’ theme song

by lykA niCArt Philstar.com

KAPAMILYA star Belle Mariano was handpicked to reinterpret in Filipino the song Beyond from Disney’s animated film “Moana 2.”

The local version, titled Anong Daratnan?, will be showcased in the end credits, making history as the first-ever Tagalized song to be featured on the big screen in a Walt Disney Animation Studios film.

The original English version, which is now available on all streaming platforms, was written by Grammy Award-winning songwriters Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear (Barlow & Bear).

Beyond perfectly encapsulates Moana’s fearless sense of adventure and connecting her island beyond its shores.

Meanwhile, the Filipino version will be available on Nov. 22, alongside the official music video.

In a media release, Belle shared she felt honored to be chosen for the collaboration, which she called a dream come true.

Sobrang grateful ko kasi dream ko maka-work ang Disney. Moana is one of my favorite Disney characters, and I’m really emulating her fearlessness in my rendition of this song,” she said.

alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers.

The sequel to the epic animated musical reunites Moana (voice of Auli‘i Cravalho) and Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson) three years later for an expansive new voyage

After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced.

Billy Crawford’s international music career booming — Coleen Garcia

by deni AfinidAd-BernArdo Philstar.com

A CONCERT in France, 32 more shows in the pipeline, a new album in the works — Christmas is indeed going to be merry for Billy Crawford, Coleen Garcia and their son Amari.

At an exclusive interview with Philstar.com during last week’s Tiffany & Co. Christmas tree lighting in Makati City, Coleen shared that Billy’s international music career is in full swing, with his first solo concert since 2006 going to be held in France.

The Filipino singer has just finished doing 16 shows in France, and has been renewed to do 32 more. As such, Billy is also coming up with a new album, Coleen revealed.

Since Billy has been blessed with many projects, Coleen said that they have been open to many options, but they have not decided to move to France yet.

So far, their family has been staying in central Paris while Billy is busy with his projects. Despite being busy, however, the couple takes turns in doing household chores because in Paris, they have no house help. During Billy’s days off, the family bonds by exploring the outdoors.

S. Tourism alumna of De La Salle Araneta University. “Experiences in life have molded me to look at life more beautiful than being too negative. It made me more stronger.” She reiterates that there is “no label on who I am,” but she has always been kind to other people. Hardships and trials have motivated her to be a better person for “it only makes me better and through it I learn on and apply it in my life.”

* * *

“I pray and I hope that everybody gets to spend as much time as they can with their family, friends,” Coleen said as a Christmas wish for everyone.

Thanks to 2nd Southeast Asian Premier Business and Achiever Award recipients

Usec. Robert Rivera and Lady Elyza Rivera for guesting Jamin C. Lim and me on their show, “Pilipinas Ngayon Na!” on DWIZ. We enjoyed the discussion on photography and journalism.

* * *

I saw young artists, including Winnie Wong (partner of Patrick, the brother of Paul Soriano who’s First Lady Liza Marcos' nephew) at Ronan

She said that this Christmas, all that she wanted is to spend as much time with her family and friends.

“I just pray that in the midst of all the chaos, all of the busyness and even in the middle of all the Mondays, that people celebrate with their loved ones.”

Art Center in San Juan City attending a Christmas showcase that features art pieces. I also saw writers Peps Bernardo, Carlos Abalos, Queenie Ostulano, Andre Dantis, Nuel Manaligod, and Pia Lorraine Yater-Dalmazo.

* * * 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

Billy Crawford Photo from instagram/@billycrawford